HARARE – The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) has turned up the heat in the fight against cybercrime, urging the government to introduce mandatory registration of mobile phone handsets. The proposed move would see SIM card holders registering their devices to bolster the security of digital transactions across the country.
Engineer Hasha Myambo, POTRAZ’s Competition and Standards Manager, told stakeholders that a Central Equipment Identification Database (CEID) is key to safeguarding the ICT landscape. The database, he explained, would work hand-in-hand with existing SIM card registration protocols to clamp down on fraudulent activities.
“This will allow stolen or lost handsets to be swiftly blacklisted and disabled from accessing any local mobile network,” said Eng Myambo. He added that the absence of such a mechanism continues to expose users to risks in an increasingly digitized economy.
POTRAZ is actively engaging telecom operators and ICT stakeholders in drafting policies that align with global standards. Myambo emphasized that collaboration across sectors is crucial in crafting a national ICT security plan that supports development and economic resilience.
The call for handset registration signals a strategic shift by the regulator—from a traditional command-and-control approach to a more integrated and cooperative model aimed at boosting digital trust and enabling a secure, competitive tech-driven economy
