Malawi ICT Minister Urges End to 10% Internet Surtax, Review of 17.5% Smartphone VAT
Updated
Updated · Telecompaper EN · Aug 25
Malawi ICT Minister Urges End to 10% Internet Surtax, Review of 17.5% Smartphone VAT
1 articles · Updated · Telecompaper EN · Aug 25
Summary
Shadric Namalomba used the GSMA Digital Africa summit in Lilongwe to press for scrapping Malawi’s 10% internet surtax and reassessing the 17.5% VAT on smartphones.
The ICT minister said lower taxes should take priority to make internet access and devices more affordable, arguing that digital uptake depends on cost as much as network coverage.
Namalomba also called on officials and industry leaders to focus on digital literacy and wider device access rather than concentrating mainly on infrastructure expansion.
His appeal, directed publicly at Finance Minister Joseph Mwanamvekha, signals a push inside government to align tax policy with Malawi’s broader digital inclusion goals.