Macra to work with Google and Facebook to Monetize digital content

By Staff Reporter

The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) says it is in discussions with big online platforms such as Google and Meta, owners of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, to facilitate monetisation of Malawian digital content.

Macra director general Daud Suleman disclosed this in Blantyre during the handover of content production equipment worth K400 million to Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (Mubas).

He said producers of content in Malawi are not economically benefiting from content that is shared online due to the gap that has been there in terms of monetisation of the digital content directly between the consumers and the producers.

Macra Director General Daudi Suleman

“Producers need to earn something out of the content they produce. There are a number of models that exist. The gap can be filled by Macra, Reserve Bank of Malawi and the big online platforms such as Google and Meta,” said Suleman.

He said Macra is working with institutions such as Mubas to make sure that they become centres where digital content can be produced across Malawi for consumption thereby uplifting the economy.

The donated items include sound proofing (acoustic) equipment, cameras, multimedia editing suites, media storage servers, lighting equipment and network switches.

Receiving the equipment, Mubas vice- chancellor Nancy Chitera hailed Macra for the donation saying the equipment will help the university achieve its goal of widening access and producing students that are able to create jobs after graduation.