ZICTA will not again extend SIM card registration period

The Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) has reiterated that it will not extend the SIM card registration period beyond the 31^st January 2014 deadline.

ZICTA Director-General Margret Mudenda said the authority has re-positioned itself and sent teams across the country on a vigorous sensitization drive and to register SIM cards.

Mrs. Mudenda said ZICTA has put media alerts on both electronic and print media to sensitize the public about the final deadline for SIM registration.

She told ZANIS in an interview today that ZICTA had invested a lot money and time in SIM card registration exercise in order for all Zambians to comply.

She further reiterated that the SIM card registration exercise was not aimed at invading privacy but at enhancing national security.

Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Minister Yamfwa Mukanga had earlier set 30^th

December 2013 as the deadline for SIM card registration.

A total of 6.8 million subscribers had registered their SIM cards out of a mobile service subscriber base of 10.3 million of all mobile phone users in Zambia for all the three service providers namely Airtel, Zamtel and MTN.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Mudenda has supported government on plans to pursue online authors and publishers who publish criminal, libelous, defamatory, treasonous and seditious statements.

She said the authority was equally irritated by some authors and publishers of articles and pledged to work with its stakeholders, government and the law enforcement agencies to bring perpetrators to book.