Malawi justice minister vows tougher cybercrime laws
Charles Mhango announced new legislation to trace bank accounts and identify online fraudsters.
Malawi's Justice Minister Charles Mhango announced plans for tougher laws to combat online scammers. The proposed legislation aims to equip authorities with the ability to trace suspicious bank accounts and identify cybercriminals. Mhango made the vow on Tuesday at the National Cyber Drill and Cybersecurity Conference 2026 in Lilongwe.
The minister stated that cybercrime poses a serious and growing threat to Malawians, necessitating urgent action to bolster the nation's digital defenses. He emphasized that new laws must provide investigators with tools to follow money trails and apprehend those behind fraudulent transactions. Mhango called for enhanced cooperation among banks, mobile money operators, MACRA, and law enforcement agencies to defeat cybercrime.
The conference, themed “Strengthening National Cyber Resilience Through Collaboration and Preparedness,” gathered cybersecurity stakeholders including MACRA, banks, mobile money operators, and law enforcement. Mhango specifically highlighted the need to protect vulnerable groups like women, girls, and rural residents from online exploitation.
Why it mattersMalawians face new laws designed to track and prosecute online scammers.