Zimbabwe to trace every mobile handset in the fight against cybercrime
Zimbabwe’s telecommunications regulator is pushing for the creation of a nationwide database that can track and block stolen or illegal mobile phones — in a move officials say will help combat rising cybercrime and protect digital financial transactions.
The initiative, proposed by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz), aims to go beyond SIM card registration and require all mobile phone users to also register their handsets. The plan would create a Central Equipment Identification Database (CEID) — a live system capable of disabling handsets flagged as stolen or lost.
“We are lobbying for a database to track handsets”
Engineer Hasha Myambo, Potraz’s competition and standards manager, confirmed that the regulator is engaging Government and stakeholders across the telecommunications sector to make handset registration mandatory.
“There is a need for appropriate policies to address the different vices that happen in cyberspace,” said Eng Myambo.
“While there is an instrument compelling operators 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 CEID would allow mobile network operators to identify and block any phone reported stolen or lost, rendering it useless even if the SIM card is changed.
Tracking phones to protect digital money
The rise in mobile money use across Zimbabwe has increased the risks of cybercrime, fraud, and identity theft, according to Potraz.
Criminals often exploit weaknesses in mobile phone identification to commit scams and fraud.
Eng Myambo said a registered handset system could help restore public confidence in mobile financial services.
“The registration of handsets alongside SIM cards is essential for securing mobile-based transactions,”Eng Myambo explained.
Potraz believes that being able to blacklist devices swiftly after they are reported missing will also deter phone theft — a crime that continues to rise in both urban and rural parts of Zimbabwe.
The CEID proposal would bring Zimbabwe in line with countries like South Africa and Kenya, which already run similar systems to detect and block cloned or stolen phones.
From regulation to collaboration
The initiative marks a shift in how Potraz wants to manage Zimbabwe’s digital ecosystem. Eng Myambo said the authority is moving away from a traditional “command and control” approach to a more inclusive and collaborative model that brings together regulators, mobile networks, law enforcement, and financial institutions.
“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,” said Eng Myambo speaking to The Herald.
The CEID could also assist police investigations by tracing devices linked to criminal activities, as each phone’s unique IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number would be registered and trackable.
Although no timeline has been given for when the system could be rolled out, discussions with the Government and ICT stakeholders are already underway. Potraz says it is committed to laying the groundwork for a secure and competitive digital economy.
“This registration initiative signifies a shift from a command-and-control regulatory approach to a collaborative model, fostering a competitive digital economy,” said Eng Myambo.
What’s next?
While Zimbabweans have grown accustomed to SIM registration, mandatory phone registration might raise new concerns around privacy and implementation logistics. However, Potraz insists the system is not for surveillance, but for security and anti-theft protection.
The proposal comes at a time when mobile phone use in Zimbabwe is at an all-time high, with smartphones increasingly becoming essential tools for communication, banking, education, and health services.
If approved, the Central Equipment Identification Database could be one of the country’s most significant steps yet in securing its digital future.