In a significant milestone, the Parliament of Malawi launched its cutting-edge e-Chamber system on Thursday, 12 September 2024. Supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the digital system aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of parliamentary proceedings.
The e-Chamber boasts advanced features such as sound management, electronic document handling, and e-voting capabilities. The Speaker of Parliament, Right Honourable Catherine Gotani-Hara, MP, announced that the system has undergone successful testing and is now ready for partial implementation.
“As you recall, following yesterday’s training, I reported that today we would begin using the new e-Chamber system, focusing on two functionalities, microphones and electronic document management. Full usage of all the system’s features will commence in our subsequent meetings,” she said.
To ensure a smooth transition, Cabinet Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and Honourable Members of Parliament received comprehensive training on the system’s usage. The training emphasized the key functionalities of the new digital platform.
This digital transformation aligns with the Parliament’s 2021-2026 Strategic Plan, which prioritizes improving service delivery to the people of Malawi through technological advancements. The e-Chamber system is expected to streamline parliamentary deliberations and improve overall service delivery.
With the support of the UNDP, the Malawi Parliament acquired the system to replace the outdated infrastructure as part of the global shift toward more advanced technology.
On Thursday morning, members began using the new system, although some minor technical challenges were encountered. Despite this, they were able to speak and access documents through the e-Chamber, while the technical team worked on finalizing the system’s configuration and customization.
Malawi was one of the few African countries still relying on an old chamber system, and this transition marks a step toward modernizing the country’s legislative processes.
