Rampant cyber crime due to inertia - Mwamba

THE rampant cybercrime in Zambia is a deliberate failure by the Zambia Police, the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) and mobile companies to arrest the perpetrators, former Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Emmanuel Mwamba, has said.

Mr Mwamba said the perpetrators of these crimes have their security details in the database of ZICTA and mobile service providers.

He said it is very strange that the entities responsible are failing to stop the vice.

Mr Mwamba, who is also a Patriotic Front Presidential hopeful, said the police and ZICTA are quick to arrest those criticising the President on social media but failing to arrest those involved in criminal activities.

“To buy and register a phone, subscriber Identity Module (simcard), one needs to produce a national identity card, number and proof of residence. To register and hold mobile money account, one needs a valid simcard.

“And every simcard that a phone uses, registers the International Mobile Equipment Identity to the simcard provider, the telecom company. This gives an opportunity to identify the user, type of phone used and opportunity to track and locate such a phone. Even if the user swaps and changes simcards, it is easy to trace the user. “Don’t you wonder how those insulting the President on social-media are quickly identified and nabbed. Pamela Chisupa was abducted 12 days ago and to date this matter has not been resolved. This is unacceptable,” Mr Mwamba said.

He urged the Zambia Police to wake up to this reality and provide security, especially to the booths, like they do to banks, and other key security and sensitive installations.

“Let’s treat this growing financial sub-sector as part of the economy. Let’s nab the perpetrators, let’s resolve the Pamela Chisupa case,” Mr Mwamba said.