BY SARAH TEMBO –

UNSCRUPULOUS people are now charging K2 for SIM card registration following expiry of the deadline.
The Zambia Information Communication and Technology Authority (ZICTA) had set January 31, as deadline for subscribers to register their SIM cards.
However, subscribers have been allowed to register their SIM cards that have been blocked before the service providers could reactivate their numbers.
But a random check in Lusaka revealed that some agents are asking people to pay up to K5 in order to register the SIM cards.
ZICTA public relations manager, Ngabo Nankonde said any payment for SIM card registration was illegal and warned those responsible of stern action.
Ms Nakonde also urged the general public to refuse to pay for the exercise and report all those found charging to the police.
“Those charging are conmen who want to take advantage of the public, it has come to our attention that this was happening hence we have sent our inspectors on the ground,” she said.
“Those people are not even contracted by these mobile service providers, so those who register with them, their SIM cards will not even be registered and activated,” she added.
And MTN public relations officer, Eugene Phiri said the phone provider did not have agents charging subscribers for SIM card registration and warned of legal action against individuals soliciting money for the exercise.
And Zamtel public relations manager Kennedy Mambwe said those who were charging were committing a criminal offence because the exercise was free even now after the 31st January deadline.
He urged the general public to report to the police anyone found committing the offence so that they could be penalised and stop stealing from innocent people.