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The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) is lobbying government for the mandatory registration of mobile handsets by SIM card holders in a bid to strengthen the security of electronic transactions and curb rising cybercrime cases.
Speaking at a recent ICT stakeholder engagement, POTRAZ’s competition and standards manager, Engineer Hasha Myambo, said the initiative seeks to complement existing SIM card registration policies by creating a centralised system that links users to their devices.
“There is a need for appropriate policies to address the different vices that happen in cyberspace,” Eng Myambo said.
“While operators are compelled to register all issued SIM cards, we are lobbying for a corresponding instrument that puts in place a Central Equipment Identification Database for handsets to which operators subscribe.”
The proposed database would allow for the rapid deactivation of stolen or lost mobile devices across all networks once reported, helping deter mobile-related crimes and restoring trust in the country’s ICT ecosystem.
Eng Myambo added that the regulatory approach was shifting from a command-and-control model to a more collaborative framework designed to stimulate innovation and build a competitive digital economy.
“The regulator is engaging ICT stakeholders, particularly other regulators, to come up with coherent national plans that integrate ICT-based development to maximise the impact of ICTs on economic growth and social development,” he said.
