Notice To All Mobile Phone Users

The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) wishes to advise the public that all mobile service providers have been directed to ensure that all postpaid and prepaid mobile phone users should be registered with their mobile operators by 31st August 2010.
This will help to:

- Increase security for the users.

- Combat criminal activity and abuse of mobile phones by certain individuals.

- Combat transmission of messages or making of telephone calls that are or do the following: a) Grossly offensive, obscene or threatening in nature. b) Spread falsehoods for the purposes of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to any other person. c) Making a series or combination of telephone calls without reasonable cause for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or anxiety.

For more information on registration, please contact the customer service department of your mobile operators: Econet 111, Net.One 123 and Telecel 150/153.

Failure to comply will result in the disconnection of lines. Be guided accordingly.

BUT as a Kubatana subscriber recently shared:

My 17-year-old daughter has asked me whether the current mobile line registration by mobile networks as directed by the regulator, POTRAZ is lawful and not a violation of rights as per the constitution. I am not a legal guru and I seek advice on whether this is not another AIPPA in the making. The concept of a prepaid mobile line, the world over, has been that of confidentiality. If subscribers are forced to register, that element of confidentiality is lost. What do the experts say about this? What shall I tell my daughter? Please let constitutional law experts respond.

Please share your opinion with Kubatana on: info@kubatana.net