Zimbabwe through the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) is considering the development of a single database where every citizen’s mobile device will be recorded through their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers.
The alleged reason is to clamp down on cybercrime and other fraudulent activities in the country.
As good as it may sound, not everyone buys this idea.
Some believe the government has other reasons beyond the intended purpose – surveillance and control.
For instance, an article featured in local media described the move as politically motivated – the government wants absolute control to oppress the cries of citizens.
Others argue that the government can collaborate with mobile network operators (MNOs), who have already collected the data the government is seeking.
Moreover, they are yet to provide convincing evidence as to why existing data is insufficient hence the call for a new re-registration.
The Mistrust Created by the Government
Establishing a Central Equipment Identification Database (CEID) that tracks every mobile handset through its unique IMEI number is not something new.
African countries like Kenya and South Africa have already taken the lead.
However, in the context of Zimbabwe, there’s already a history of surveillance which proves a point.
In a recent ZANU-PF meeting broadcast on state-controlled television, officials of the ruling party allegedly lied that they monitor Whatsapp conservations even though the platform is end-to-end encrypted. It appears as a psychological trick to refrain others from criticizing the current government.
Another instance shared featured the country’s last election where citizens were told that “biometric registration enabled the authorities to trace how each person voted.”
Again, another tactic this time “a very strategic one—meant to terrorize voters into choosing ZANU-PF or risk retribution.”
Aside that, there’s no legal backing for POTRAZ to mandate mobile handset registration – a different source reporting.
Whatever the case may be, one thing is clear here: The people of Zimbabwe don’t trust the government with the data they are calling for.
Something they presume will suppress their digital freedom and expose their privacy.
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