It might have come to your mind why I got a .org for my site being more of a personal site not a non profit organization. m-hi.org that is "aim high" was initially thought up as a forum to stir up ideas especially for young malawians to achieve great things for our nation. My greatest desire is to have Malawi successful in all areas be it health, faith, economy, ICT, etc. I can't think up these things alone I need people with brilliant ideas to come together share them and help each other implement them. Sometimes it might need only one statement that revolutionizes the mindset of a generation and solutions to problems that have been there for a long time could be found. Our Education system is well structured: some do engineering, some do agriculture, some do ICT, some are medical doctors. Each of these can benefit from the other. For example, those who study agriculture could share a design problem for some irrigation pump(eg. Treddle pump) and an engineer could be able to help design the pump for him. An economist with the help of a computer scientist could be able to devise an ICT solution that is fit for our economy(just a thought: Is it economical to buy a computer Quad Core, 180Gig just so that you can create word documents?).
I can use my logic/reasoning I learned from programming in some other areas too. They say some concepts are the same quantum physics, quantum mechanics, quantum computing, quantum cryptography, quantum me(take me as a computer scientist I will give a computer science solution, as a Mathematician, a maths solution; a thinker i will think you up any solution if you give me basic facts. So thats the quantum me measured in different 'bases').
For those of you interested you could email me at ideas@m-hi.org
Friday, November 23, 2007
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Things Retarding Development
Our national anthem rightly puts njala, nthenda, nsanje(hunger,disease, envy). I think the root of the former two could is also nsanje. For if there is no nsanje there is progress which means food availability better standards of living therefore no diseases.
I am doing my Masters of Science Information Theory, Cryptography and Coding but it seems people don't appreciate the course even though its being done in very few countries in Africa(I know Malawi and South Africa so far). And as a Malawian I feel privileged that I have done it right here in Malawi while students from other countries have to come here to Malawi to do the Masters Programme which others take it 'Father Ryans programme' and are not willing to take it as their own and so support it.
This is not the only thing. The opposition ,I think for the same reason nsanje, can't work together with the government. But they take every opportunity to frustrate what the government is doing. This would make one think the one party system is better. We could make democracy work too.
The following things contribute to nsanje: greed, pride, lack of patriotism, selfishness and these may be induced by competition(which is it seems defines democracy which shouldn't be the case). To us the people in a democracy we are trying to find a person who can help us. But to the politician(at least the present politicians) they are competing (for whatever reasons) for presidency which in their greed, selfishness and pride they see it as an opportunity to make money(I want this mindset to go. I don't want it in Malawi at least). Because they see it this way whoever becomes the president they wouldn't want to help(Its never in their intentions most of the times). I think the two 5-year term presidency should be applied in the parties too. And I would also love it if the continuance of the party presidency on each term should be determined by how much that leader has helped the government. This would help promote the desire for the Opposition(I think a better word should be used) to help the government in developing.
On the term "opposition": it is duty defining name. If one forgot his duty he is reminded by this 'label' that he is supposed to oppose the government thats why maybe we are having problems with the opposition here in Malawi. I would rather think of them as the helping hand of the government. co-governers/co-government thats what I think the opposition should be.
On Muluzi whether he should stand again: The constitution is meant to protect. Muluzi so far in his presidency has made so many things worse for Malawi. And most of his actions have shown him more of an exploiter than a helper. His intentions for continuing to rule is more for selfish reasons than helping Malawi. Because he has money and lies the constitution is supposed to protect Malawi from his exploitation. Supposed we have a good leader, should he be given a chance to rule again? I think NO! He doesn't need to be the president to help. In fact the succeeding president would be more willing to receive advice from a leader who has been good and has given himself respect by letting others rule. Besides there is a saying "too much power corrupts". Every human is corruptible. We do not know if he will continue being the good leader he has been. And he can't be the only good leader: new people bring new ideas. So Dr Muluzi, sir, mupume otherwise I pray for Red Sea(Exodus 14)
I am doing my Masters of Science Information Theory, Cryptography and Coding but it seems people don't appreciate the course even though its being done in very few countries in Africa(I know Malawi and South Africa so far). And as a Malawian I feel privileged that I have done it right here in Malawi while students from other countries have to come here to Malawi to do the Masters Programme which others take it 'Father Ryans programme' and are not willing to take it as their own and so support it.
This is not the only thing. The opposition ,I think for the same reason nsanje, can't work together with the government. But they take every opportunity to frustrate what the government is doing. This would make one think the one party system is better. We could make democracy work too.
The following things contribute to nsanje: greed, pride, lack of patriotism, selfishness and these may be induced by competition(which is it seems defines democracy which shouldn't be the case). To us the people in a democracy we are trying to find a person who can help us. But to the politician(at least the present politicians) they are competing (for whatever reasons) for presidency which in their greed, selfishness and pride they see it as an opportunity to make money(I want this mindset to go. I don't want it in Malawi at least). Because they see it this way whoever becomes the president they wouldn't want to help(Its never in their intentions most of the times). I think the two 5-year term presidency should be applied in the parties too. And I would also love it if the continuance of the party presidency on each term should be determined by how much that leader has helped the government. This would help promote the desire for the Opposition(I think a better word should be used) to help the government in developing.
On the term "opposition": it is duty defining name. If one forgot his duty he is reminded by this 'label' that he is supposed to oppose the government thats why maybe we are having problems with the opposition here in Malawi. I would rather think of them as the helping hand of the government. co-governers/co-government thats what I think the opposition should be.
On Muluzi whether he should stand again: The constitution is meant to protect. Muluzi so far in his presidency has made so many things worse for Malawi. And most of his actions have shown him more of an exploiter than a helper. His intentions for continuing to rule is more for selfish reasons than helping Malawi. Because he has money and lies the constitution is supposed to protect Malawi from his exploitation. Supposed we have a good leader, should he be given a chance to rule again? I think NO! He doesn't need to be the president to help. In fact the succeeding president would be more willing to receive advice from a leader who has been good and has given himself respect by letting others rule. Besides there is a saying "too much power corrupts". Every human is corruptible. We do not know if he will continue being the good leader he has been. And he can't be the only good leader: new people bring new ideas. So Dr Muluzi, sir, mupume otherwise I pray for Red Sea(Exodus 14)
Monday, November 5, 2007
ICT Development in Malawi
We got brains whats our problem?
I keep on asking myself why nobody doesn't seem to find a solution for so many things wrong in our ICT sector. Is it greed(for Service Providers)? Is it fear for the people to speak out.
I wrote once on my first personal website that I wanna be able to browse the internet from my home village in Mzimba. Thanks to Celtel I am able to do that now on my phone though I am still limited to checking a few pages and emails only. Still I wanna browse everything and be able to download software on my laptop when I am there so that my software development isn't limited to location.
High Cost of ICT Services. I wonder why something that somewhere else is very cheap could cost so much here? I don't get it. A domain name. I bought mine about $9 which here is $35 and in Malawi it doesn't matter if it is .org .net or .com. OK at least we gotta promote ourselves but still .mw you get it $50? Are we Malawians so poor to cover the cost of promoting ourselves? Think about the benefits we will get after promoting oursevels. Is that so impossible? Think about about .tk a small Island Tokelau somewhere in the pacific is known world over and I knew about it because they offer their domain free. Of course its a URL redirection but it would allow Victor Kaonga (and me and many others) blog with an identity of a Malawian if we had a free .MW URL redirection to our blog for instance ndagha.blogspot.com(too long) would now be ndagha.mw or at least ndagha.co.mw (as is co.nr and co.cc) and Victor Would be very proud to carry a malawian identity.
My understanding of SDNP as the registrar of . mw would have been the first one to lower the prices and so set a standard on provision of ICT services in Malawi. But despite being a non profit organization they are also trying to compete with other services providers in charging the prohibitive prices. I don't get it? Are they managing to develop ICT in Malawi? How are they justifying their pricing?
Poor service provision. Even though these companies charge so much for their services their services are still so poor that most companies prefer to have their software or other services developed by foreign companies. Money going outside of Malawi. When are we going to stand up and aim high for our nation?
Poor e-commerce facilities. I would like to be able to sell my services outside Malawi through the internet. But how do I get paid for my services? I was hoping pay265.net would materialize into something but I wonder where the good dream has gone(or is it working? I can't use my account).
National Bank allows one to cash credit cards why not allow me to receive money paid through credit cards as well? I think its just a matter of partenering with foreign institutions which offer these services, is it not?
Malawian Policies maybe would not allow money to go outside Malawi any how but it should be able to allow Money to come in. With a Paypal account in some nations one is allowed to recieve money but not to buy that's good enough for me If I am being paid for Technical Support I offer to people from other nations through the internet. But we could do better. I should be able to buy tools that will help my software devlepment so that the quality of software that I develop is at par with those developed outside Malawi and So be exportable. This will now let Bingu ask me to develop the Government Website and keep Malawian Money in at the same time I am bringing in More Money.
Whoever implements ICT Policies please think about these things. Time is not waiting for us. We need to catch up.
I keep on asking myself why nobody doesn't seem to find a solution for so many things wrong in our ICT sector. Is it greed(for Service Providers)? Is it fear for the people to speak out.
I wrote once on my first personal website that I wanna be able to browse the internet from my home village in Mzimba. Thanks to Celtel I am able to do that now on my phone though I am still limited to checking a few pages and emails only. Still I wanna browse everything and be able to download software on my laptop when I am there so that my software development isn't limited to location.
High Cost of ICT Services. I wonder why something that somewhere else is very cheap could cost so much here? I don't get it. A domain name. I bought mine about $9 which here is $35 and in Malawi it doesn't matter if it is .org .net or .com. OK at least we gotta promote ourselves but still .mw you get it $50? Are we Malawians so poor to cover the cost of promoting ourselves? Think about the benefits we will get after promoting oursevels. Is that so impossible? Think about about .tk a small Island Tokelau somewhere in the pacific is known world over and I knew about it because they offer their domain free. Of course its a URL redirection but it would allow Victor Kaonga (and me and many others) blog with an identity of a Malawian if we had a free .MW URL redirection to our blog for instance ndagha.blogspot.com(too long) would now be ndagha.mw or at least ndagha.co.mw (as is co.nr and co.cc) and Victor Would be very proud to carry a malawian identity.
My understanding of SDNP as the registrar of . mw would have been the first one to lower the prices and so set a standard on provision of ICT services in Malawi. But despite being a non profit organization they are also trying to compete with other services providers in charging the prohibitive prices. I don't get it? Are they managing to develop ICT in Malawi? How are they justifying their pricing?
Poor service provision. Even though these companies charge so much for their services their services are still so poor that most companies prefer to have their software or other services developed by foreign companies. Money going outside of Malawi. When are we going to stand up and aim high for our nation?
Poor e-commerce facilities. I would like to be able to sell my services outside Malawi through the internet. But how do I get paid for my services? I was hoping pay265.net would materialize into something but I wonder where the good dream has gone(or is it working? I can't use my account).
National Bank allows one to cash credit cards why not allow me to receive money paid through credit cards as well? I think its just a matter of partenering with foreign institutions which offer these services, is it not?
Malawian Policies maybe would not allow money to go outside Malawi any how but it should be able to allow Money to come in. With a Paypal account in some nations one is allowed to recieve money but not to buy that's good enough for me If I am being paid for Technical Support I offer to people from other nations through the internet. But we could do better. I should be able to buy tools that will help my software devlepment so that the quality of software that I develop is at par with those developed outside Malawi and So be exportable. This will now let Bingu ask me to develop the Government Website and keep Malawian Money in at the same time I am bringing in More Money.
Whoever implements ICT Policies please think about these things. Time is not waiting for us. We need to catch up.
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