Blantyre City Mayor expresses reservations over MACRA using National IDs for SIM card registration; Asks if exercise be postponed till after elections

Councillor Joseph Makwinja

* I am afraid this will create a lot of speculations in the public. People are already speculating a lot on use of machines in the elections

* This is despite the majority of MACRA’s stakeholders including Mzuzu City Mayor embracing the initiative

By Evance Chisiano, MANA & edited by Duncan Mlanjira, Maravi Express

Blantyre City Mayor, Councillor Joseph Makwinja has expressed his reservations over Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) using National IDs for SIM card registration, saying the Bio-metric system “is tricky and politically sensitive”.

He observed this yesterday, May 20, during MACRA’s engagement with stakeholders in Blantyre on the Authority’s intention to embark on the Bio-metric SIM registration from July 1 ahead of the September 16 General Elections.

The exercise is in line with the 2024 Data Protection Law to ensure that the Malawi nation is safer from various cybercrimes, which has been applauded by various stakeholders including Mzuzu City Mayor, Councillor Kondwani Brian Nyasulu, who supported MACRA’s initiative when the Authority had a similar engagement in his City on May 13 — saying it will help bring sanity and protect people from falling victims to online fraud.

“If we join hands and work together, it is possible to have a safer digital landscape in Malawi,” Nyasulu said in Mzuzu — but at the Blantyre engagement, Councillor Makwinja said: “I am afraid this will create a lot of speculations in the public.

“People are already speculating a lot on use of machines in the elections and you’re bringing in the issue of Bio-metric SIM registration,” said the Mayor, while asking MACRA to consider shifting the exercise to a later date, preferably after the September 16 General Elections.

MACRA also held a similar consultations in Lilongwe where stakeholders said the Bio-metric SIM card registration is a way to go in addressing fraud and other digital crimes.

Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Network chairperson, Herbert Chakwawa — who also works with the Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEIN) — acknowledged the significant impact of fraud and scams, noting that criminals have been stealing money from people using SIM cards registered under false identities.

Malawi News Agency (MANA) quoted Chakwawa last week as saying the introduction of the new regulation brings hope for improved safety in mobile banking: “This is a very crucial engagement, as it will help dispel misconceptions surrounding SIM card registration and build public trust in digital banking platforms such as Airtel Money and TNM Mpamba for financial transactions.

“A lot of challenges will be addressed concerning SIM cards registration as MACRA has impacted us with knowledge on how this initiative will benefit citizens,” he said.

MANA further reported that Senior Chief Kalungu from Lilongwe also commended MACRA for the new development that will easily track people electronically thereby promoting transparency and accountability.

“This project will help people in our communities to know and understand the importance of SIM card registration and also it will make them feel safe to use the internet for business and online banking that is free from frauds and scammers,” he explained.

Participants to the meeting included civil society organisations (CSOs), social media influencers, religious leaders, traditional leaders, university students, Police, Malawi Defence Force, Immigration, councillors and the media, among others.

Topics discussed included operationalising Sim registration in Malawi, enhancing consumer protection and counterfeit device enforcement among others.

MACRA’s Head of ICT, Steven Perete said the Authority has the mandate to protect ICT consumers, adding that this was the reason the Data Protection Act was passed.    

He added that MACRA will do the Bio-metric SIM registration, which will involve finger printing and facial recognition, following concerns from consumers on increased digital fraud and many forms of cybercrime.

“Bio-metric SIM registration is not about surveillance of ICT consumers rather is about security and trust,” he assured the delegates, adding that law enforcement agents will be able to trace fraudsters easily — thus creating a safer zone for consumers.

An individual will be allowed to register less than 10 sim cards per mobile provider and Perete called on people to comply by registering their SIMs bio-metrically for improved service delivery and ensure safer digital society — when the exercise rolls out on July 1 this year.

Communication & advocacy officer for Blantyre-based Young Voices, Jacquline Butao, assured that the CSO will carry out a series of public awareness on importance and benefits of registering SIM cards bio-metrically

in Mzuzu, MACRA’s Director of Legal & Consumer Protection, Kelious Mlenga emphasised that SIM card registration will help track culprits behind online frauds in Malawi, which is worryingly rampant.

Mlenga enlightened the stakeholders that currently, the digital landscape in Malawi is saturated with fraudulent individuals, who are duping innocent Malawians of their financial resources without being traced — hence formulation of regulations for SIM registration to address the problem.

He said the new sim registration regulations will help law enforcers track criminals, enhance accuracy and improve service delivery of telecommunication companies — among other benefits.

“It is paramount that the process is in line with the Communications Act,” he said. “This process requires that individuals must be honest with the information they provide and keep their personal information security by not sharing with others.”

Mlenga further said the regulations have outlined offences and penalties such as fines of up to K50,000 on a daily basis for individuals and K150,000 per day for companies,” he said, adding that these are meant to deter criminal conducts.

On matters of security, Mlenga said the regulations have put in place a biometric registration procedure which will help trace those perpetrating the crimes who mostly use other people’s National IDs to register their SIM cards.