Zimbabwe’s telecoms regulator, POTRAZ, has proposed a law requiring all mobile phones, not just SIM cards to be registered in a national database using their unique IMEI numbers. Officially, the move aims to fight cybercrime, boost mobile security, and curb the sale of stolen phones.
However, given Zimbabwe’s history of surveillance and political control, critics fear the plan could expand state monitoring of citizens under the guise of security. Many argue that since mobile operators already collect IMEI data during SIM registration, the push for a separate database raises serious questions about government intentions.
The debate highlights growing public concern over digital privacy, surveillance, and the future of civil liberties in Zimbabwe.
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