from MAVHUTO BANDA in Lilongwe, Malawi
Malawi Bureau
LILONGWE, (CAJ News) – MALAWI is expediting plans to introduce digital national identity (ID) cards as part of the government’s drive towards digital transformation and improved public service delivery.
The National Registration Bureau (NRB) is steering the transition, which will enable citizens to access their IDs through their mobile phones.
The NRB is therefore backing the Digital Malawi Acceleration Project (DMAP), which has just concluded a stakeholders’ consultative meeting to review the National Registration Act and the Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Act in Lilongwe, where the digital ID plans were disclosed.
“The world is moving towards digital solutions, and Malawi cannot afford to be left behind,” Patrick Machika, NRB Principal Secretary, said at the meeting.
“The digital identity initiative will make it easier for citizens to access their identification documents while improving the efficiency of our systems.”
Machika said the introduction of digital national ID cards was intended to reduce delays in issuing physical IDs, improve the efficiency of registration services and leverage modern technology to make identity services more accessible.
He was speaking at the meeting, which brought together stakeholders including officials from government ministries, departments and agencies, traditional leaders, district commissioners, non-governmental organisations, legal practitioners, academics and representatives of various faith-based organisations.
Apart from introducing digital ID cards, the NRB is implementing several transformative initiatives under the DMAP.
These include reviewing registration laws to support a modern and secure civil registration and identification system.
The administration of President Peter Mutharika, which has been in office since late 2025, is prioritising the Southern African country’s digital transformation in collaboration with partners, including the World Bank.
– CAJ News