Mobile operators to start disconnecting unregistered subscribers

There’s been silence on what happens now that the registration deadline has expired. Emails to POTRAZ didn’t yield anything, and asking the mobile operators left us no closer to the answer. Only NetOne responded yesterday with “POTRAZ is yet to give us a clear position on what course of action to take now that we have passed the deadline for SIM registration”

But today, that clear position seems to just have been communicated. We read in the NewsDay this morning that POTRAZ has instructed the mobile operators to start disconnecting subscribers that haven’t registered. Potraz director-general Engineer Charles Sibanda gave an explanation for the delayed disconnections; “The companies are compiling data as to who registered by 28 February. There are a number of people that made last-minute efforts to register and we do not want to inconvenience them.”

We are not sure if this means there is any penalty for subscribers who would like to register now or if they will be allowed to do so at all. Incidentally, we have an unregistered line. It’s unregistered not because we didn’t want it registered but several efforts to do so failed. Efforts included filling out a form at an Econet office, sending the “REG” SMS to 747, calling their helpdesk and using their registration website www.subscriber.econet.co.zw.

It’s a number we’d like to keep so if it does get cut off, it’s sure to make us unhappy, especially after all the effort. I mention this not to make excuses but because I think we’re hardly the only ones in this situation.