Three Business Information Technology students from the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) have been awarded K800,000 for developing an Identity Card tracker designed to assist the National Registration Bureau (NRB) and citizens in monitoring the progress of ID card production.
The innovation, created under the university’s MUST 2030 initiative, seeks to address long-standing challenges such as long queues and unnecessary travel by clients to NRB offices to collect their cards.
Representative of the team, Taina Mfune, said the tracker could change the way Malawians access their identity cards.
“If the technology is adopted, it will ease the pressure on NRB offices by allowing people to check the status of their cards remotely. This means fewer queues, reduced travel costs, and more convenience for citizens,” said Mfune.
The MUST 2030 programme encourages students to design solutions that respond to real-life challenges facing the country.
In a related development, Malumbo Thindwa, 21, has been recognised for inventing a Courier Tracker System that enables easy tracing of parcels.
MUST officials say such innovations are a testament to the university’s commitment to nurturing young talent and promoting problem-solving skills among students.
“Our aim is to equip students not only with academic knowledge but also with the creativity and innovation needed to solve Malawi’s pressing challenges,” a university spokesperson James Mphande said.
Both projects have been hailed as practical tools that could transform service delivery in the public and private sectors if adopted.
