Zim taps SIM cards in WhatsApp clampdown

Source: Memory Mataranyika, Fin24, 06/07/2016

Harare – Zimbabwe`s telecoms regulator has threatened to disconnect
mobile subscribers it says are spreading information via WhatsApp
about the protests that have rocked the country.


Zimbabwe is battling to contain public outrage over economic
mismanagement, alleged police heavy handedness and delayed salaries
for civil servants.


Public workers and other citizens called for job actions, stayaways
and protests on Wednesday and Thursday via WhatsApp and other social
messaging platforms.


However, there was an outage of WhatsApp early on Wednesday with
accessibility to the service only restored later in the day.


The Posts and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe has
now taken a swipe at those sharing and spreading information about the
protests, saying they will be disconnected from mobile networks inside
Zimbabwe.


"All SIM cards in Zimbabwe are registered in the name of the user.
Perpetrators can easily be identified," Potraz said in a public notice
on Wednesday.


The notice further stated that "any person caught in possession of,
generating, sharing or passing on abusive, threatening, subversive or
offensive telecommunication messages, including WhatsApp or any other
social media messages" will be arrested.


Zimbabweans now have to be wary over arrest for any social media or
telecom messages that "may be deemed to cause despondency, incite
violence, threaten citizens and cause unrest," according to the state
telecom industry regulator.


Potraz said it had noted the irresponsible use of social media and
mobile telecommunications services in the past few days.


Social media in Zimbabwe has splashed pictures of protests in
Beitbridge and Harare over import restrictions and outrage in the
public transport sector over police roadblocks.


Zimbabweans took to Twitter and other social media platforms on
Wednesday to complain over the gagging of over the top services.



The government has previously hinted at moves to regulate usage of
social media platforms in Zimbabwe, saying it would lean on technology
from China.


This has however, been criticised, with campaigners saying this
infringes on rights to the free flow and access of information.



Meanwhile, mobile companies in Zimbabwe have recorded surging revenues
from internet usage via mobile platforms as voice revenues continue to
slow down.


All of the country`s mobile operators, Econet Wireless, Telecel
Zimbabwe and state controlled NetOne have bundle options for social
media and internet access through smartphones and other mobile devices.