The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has rolled out cybersecurity drills in universities and colleges across the country in a bid to strengthen the nation’s defence against growing cybercrime.

Speaking today at the opening of a two-day training at the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) in Thyolo, Head of the Malawi Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) at MACRA, Christopher Banda, said the programme is targeting both students and ICT staff in higher learning institutions.

“The drills will include awareness sessions, hands-on cybersecurity challenges, and incident response training. Our aim is to prepare a new generation of cyber-resilient professionals while also equipping campus network administrators with the tools to better secure their systems,” he said.

Banda added that the initiative is designed to “close the skills gap in the fight against cybercrime and protect the nation’s growing digital economy.”

Head of the Department of Computer Science and Information Technology at MUST, Associate Professor Bennard Kamkuzi, said the university is ready to lead the fight against cyber threats.

"MUST was the first institution in Malawi to introduce a dedicated cybersecurity course back in 2016. Today, our graduates are working across sectors to safeguard systems and data. We are committed to defending the country from these crimes,” he said.

The programme will also roll out in institutions such as the University of Malawi, Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), Mzuzu University, the University of Livingstonia, and others. It is being implemented with technical support from the Malawi Research and Education Network (MAREN) and with input from the Data Protection Authority and MUUNI Fund.