As an instant messaging application accessed through smartphones, WhatsApp is currently used by millions of people across the world to share information in various formats such as audio, photos, videos and text. The higher education is one of the sectors where the hype of WhatsApp has been acknowledged and consequently, students and lecturers continue to embrace this technology. Using the decomposed theory of planned behaviour model, the study investigated the use of WhatsApp technology by information and communication technology students and land management students at Mzuzu University in Malawi. In order to collect both, qualitative and quantitative data, researchers used a questionnaire with predominantly closed ended questions and semi structured interviews. Findings showed that 51 (92.7%) students own smartphones and the majority use WhatsApp to accomplish various academic activities including sharing academic information, communicating with fellow students and lecturers, and conducting collaborative learning activities. According to the study, the benefits associated with WhatsApp use by students included instant sharing of information, academic collaboration, and ability to learn beyond classroom hours. Challenges include costs of ICT gadgets, frequent electricity outages and unreliable Internet connection from mobile network service providers. The study recommends that Mzuzu University should improve Internet bandwidths and install more Wi-Fi access points across the campus. The study recommends further that mobile network service providers in Malawi should offer special or competitive smartphones prices to students in addition to improving their network signal.

The study aimed at finding out the adoption of digital marketing in estate agency companies in Malawi. The key issue in this study is to check if the companies have embraced the current dominating use of online advertising of the services that they offer to the community they serve through digital marketing. Specifically, the study focused on finding out the digital marketing channels that are used in the industry, the challenges and the strategies in place to achieve the digital marketing goals. The study targeted 10 major real estate companies in Lilongwe city, the capital of Malawi. Out of these 10, six (60%) companies responded to the questionnaire. The study established that estate agency companies in Malawi have adopted online use of digital marketing in selling their services. The channels that are currently in use include Email, Affiliate Marketing, Website and Social Media. On social media, the companies are using Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and WhatsApp. Further, the study revealed that the companies face numerous challenges in their digital marketing drive. These include expensive purchase costs for digital gadgets, lack of well-trained personnel in digital marketing, high operating cost on data usage from Internet service providers and unreliable Internet connectivity. Considering these challenges, some organizations have put in place measures aimed at minimizing the current situation and increasing their customer base through development of mobile apps, linking of websites to other news websites for broader access and frequent updates of their respective websites. Lastly, the study therefore recommends that organizations should aim at equipping their personnel with digital marketing skills, investing more finances in purchase of digital gadgets to increase the level of interaction with the consumers on the property market.

Background: In recent years, Africa has experienced a boom in information and communication technologies (ICTs). These ICTs have been hailed by the health sector as impetus for heath service delivery in rural areas. In this regard, stakeholders in the health sector have made attempts to reinforce frontline health workers with technological tools. Although there is much evidence that ICTs play a key role in the health sector, it remains unknown how the health sector in Malawi is exploiting ICTs in its delivery of day-to-day operations.Objectives: In this study, we investigate the role that ICTs play in rural health. This study will specifically determine the purposes that health surveillance assistants (HSAs) use ICTs for, assess the ICT skills and expertise of HSAs, analyse benefits of ICTs and study the problems faced by HSAs in the effective use of ICTs.Method: In this study, a quantitative research method approach was adopted to address the research objectives. Both research sites and respondents were selected using a convenient sampling method. We self-administered and collected the questionnaire from the respondents. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse the data.Results: We find that HSAs have made headways in the adoption of various forms of ICTs such as mobile phones alongside their applications (Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp). However, efforts to maximise the appropriation of ICTs by HSAs are punctuated by various hindrances including high cost of ICT gadgets, high cost of Internet bundles, inadequate training in ICTs and lack of support from senior management in the Ministry of Health.Conclusion: Use of ICTs in community health is slowly but surely possible. In a nutshell, the study has shown that, regardless of perceivable hindrances associated with use of ICTs, HSAs use some ICTs in their work and personal activities. It is evident that using mobile phones to improve performance is an important area and that there is little interest in evaluating such interventions.

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In Malawi, the judiciary rolled out an electronic case management system in 2015 in response to the ongoing public sector reforms being championed by the Malawi Government. In this study, we employed the information systems (IS) success model to systematically investigate the benefits that an electronic case management system has brought about to the judiciary of Malawi. Specifically, three themes are pursued as follows: the services offered through an electronic case management system in the judiciary of Malawi; benefits of an electronic case management system; and challenges affecting the use of an electronic case management system in the judiciary of Malawi. Methodologically, the study is guided by a survey design and a questionnaire was used to collect data from various staff in the judiciary including judges, court clerks, court registrars, and information technology personnel. The study reveals that the implementation of an electronic case management system has impacted positively on the security of court files by easing the tracking and retrieving of case files thereby contributing to efficiency in justice delivery. However, the implementation of an electronic case management system has not been spared from challenges, which include frequent loss of network and poor Internet connection.