The Patriotic Front (PF) has rubbished claims by ADD President Charles Milupi on Radio Phoenix’s Let The People Talk programme that the PF has introduced SIM card registration as a way of using registration details to pursue political opponents.
In a statement made available to the media by Chanda Mfula, the Media and Publicity Director, the PF said that SIM CARD registration exercise was introduced by the former ruling party, MMD in a ministerial statement in Parliament on “Infrastructure Development and Policy Interventions to Grow the Communications Industry” in November 2010.
Below is the full statement
MEDIA STATEMENT
1 SEPTEMBER 2012
CHARLES MILUPI’S MALICIOUS LIES ABOUT PF EXPOSED
The malicious lies by Mr. Charles Milupi of the ADD on Radio Phoenix’s “Let The People Talk” programme on Friday, 31 August 2012, that the PF government has introduced mobile SIM card registration so as to capture information about opponents and use it to silence or intimidate them are extremely embarrassing and hypocritical, and goes to show why his party has continued to be a one-seater.
Consultations on SIM registration date back to the time the MMD was in government and Mr. Milupi was in parliament.
On the afternoon of Thursday, 18th November 2010, the former Minister of Communications and Transport in the MMD government, Professor Geoffrey Lungwangwa delivered a ministerial statement in Parliament on “Infrastructure Development and Policy Interventions to Grow the Communications Industry”, in which he announced government’s intentions to introduce SIM card registration to enhance the security of the mobile phone GSM technology systems.
Mr. Milupi was present in Parliament when this ministerial statement was delivered and he even commented on it, but DID NOT EVEN RAISE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THE SIM REGISTRATION.
Instead, in his comments that afternoon, Mr. Milupi urged the government to move beyond words to implement what he described as the “good things” that were contained in the ministerial statement.
It is therefore surprising that Mr. Milupi should hypocritically raise alarm about intentions he supported only two years ago, just because it is the PF who are now in government.
The PF wishes to warn Zambians to be careful with criticism against President Michael Sata and the PF coming from Mr. Milupi, as most of it is not genuine but aimed at discrediting the government to achieve his political ambitions.
The PF is aware of attempts by Mr. Milupi and his friends to sabotage the economy by creating false perceptions that there is political instability in the country.
This is aimed at tarnishing the country’s image by raising false alarms of political risks, so that they can frustrate investment since they know very well that investment, especially Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), is sensitive to speculations and uncertainty.
It is unacceptable and beneath the dignity of politics for Mr. Milupi to take advantage of his unfettered access to media platforms to tell a pack of malicious lies about President Sata and the PF government while posturing himself like a saint.
Mr. Milupi and his cohorts will earn the respect of the people only if they limit their criticisms to factual information that can help the government deliver to the people of Zambia.
Most countries have introduced SIM card Registration, and Mr. Milupi is enlightened and well-travelled enough to know that this is a global phenomenon which is done even in the United States and Europe, but he would rather use any lie to tarnish the image of the PF.
Even in the unlikely event that Mr. Milupi was ignorant of this fact, a visit to ZICTA would have been a more constructive approach than raising malicious falsehoods.
[The media and members of the public are encouraged to read the ministerial statement delivered on 18 November 2010 and Mr. Charles Milupi’s subsequent comments that have revealed his cheap politicking by following the link below: http://www.parliament.gov.zm/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1334&Itemid=86]
Issued by:
Chanda Mfula
Media and Publicity Director
Patriotic Front (PF)
Ba Milupi, since the heighten activities of terrorism in the world, countries resolved implementation of Mobile SIM Card registration as one way of monitoring criminal activities. It make it easy to track down criminals through their communication trails left. MMD just didn’t have enough time to implement this so PF is not doing what is not being done elsewhere.
Is that terrorism is start only in cnp gorvenment,why registration of sim card.we dont need that!!!!!!!,bambushi imwe
mulapin is ok.
U can buy throw away cell phones in the USA…phones where u dont register anything! Will u be able to do the same in Zed? They have a very big terrorist problem, does Zambia have such a problem?
Why does PF has to respond to each and every statement made by the opposition? Â Chanda Mfula in short you are telling us that PF depends on MMD plans?Â
Yes, its called continuity. Good things that were done by a previous government need to be continued; and am sure you know that. A government and a party are two different things, need we say that? But out of malice, condemnation can continue, and we, the Kaponya government know that and we will soon be thick skinned against such malicious criticism. Truth be told, the educated politicians can be stupid at times; because they can even deny what they said 2 years ago, just so try and impress. Shaaa!!
Kibinda is right. Besides, when journalists ask what we think about what someone says, dont you think it would be impolite if we dont answer that question? And why does the opposition have to open their mouths about every move the government makes? Have you asked yourself that? Condemning even the good things? Think little bit, even if that is all you can manage.
iwee ! if you dont follow events in zambia just keep quite !
MMD started this and you expect
PF to throw it away !
bustardddy !
As an example, since last year, in South Africa, one is not be able to use their mobile sim card without registering it. Have a little trust and support your govt.
Correct your example, SIM registration did nt start last year in South Africa, I first registered mine in April 2010 just nt sure of wen exactly they startd. As fr Zim, its been going on I ve registerd countless SIMs ea tym am there.
So PF has no plans of its own and every decision is based on what MMD put in place? What a pity the voters did not realise that indeed they have no plan for the country. Many cricisms will be made by the opposition and there are more opposition parties who all likely to make one cricism or another. Will PF react to each and every criticism? sometimes silence is golden.
PF responds officially to everything. Cowards Indeed!!!!! Certain things you have to ignore. SIM registration is there in many countries. Something wrong with PF not ADD. Yes it is one seater party, so what. That is democracy!!
Just get prepared for your exit in 2012. Western, Southern and Northwestern provinces assisted SATAn to unseat Banda with votes that never happened in previous years.
SATAn you will not collect votes in Isoka my home especially with those crooked ama coloureds in the name your in laws; the Sichingas.
Mr Speaker, electronic payment systems are the cornerstone of e-commerce development by ensuring convenience and flexibility when undertaking commercial transactions and trade. Indeed, mobile commerce solutions via GSM phones are increasing on the market mainly due to the convenience, flexibility and increase in the use of mobile phones. In order to enhance the proliferation of such technologies to support that business, there is a need to enhance security of the systems. My ministry is holding consultative talks with ZICTA and the mobile operators on the possibility of introducing Sim registration.
Most countries are introducing Sim card Registration. Sim registration is simply the capturing of identity details of a person to who the Sim card and number are assigned. Therefore, as one
Sorry I meant 2016
In Tanzania and Kenya this process was implemented a long time ago. It is safer and criminals can be tracked down easily. In Kenya they have gone a step further i to have only genuine phones on the market. If one gets a cheap Chinese phone, then you can not use it in Kenya.
Pa Zed we tend to criticize anything but I think this is the right move by PF.
Why is this news?
I am going back to concentrate on my Phd research, this is doing my heading right now if I am being honest
Thanks
Is this issue even debatable sure mwebantu? Am sure everytime this fo.ol travels to Europe he registers his sim card so why is raisinig dust over nothing unless  of course as hes rich he roams. Please Mr Milupi dont disappoint some of us who have some respect for you by not always without need opening your wet mouth all the time like confused HH. This before you talk.
The problem will come when the ruling government through the OP start harassing people for accessing websites like Zambian Watchdog and Lusaka Times through their phones. It is not just what happens in South Africa blah blah blah. In Zambia these Pama Fi chaps are so desperate they want to catch you and me for the critical comments we make on these websites.
Please Ba PF don’t waste your time and energy on such useless exercise in uk u just pick a sim and through it out next day why do u want to make this country like ZimbabweÂ
Yangu ba Milupi, so you are a liar! You supported the issue in 2010 and now suddenly because it is being implemented by PF you are in front condemning. Quite clearly you have no credibility, no integrity at all.
Just like your tribal leader who promised to introduce a windfall tax and chase away the Chinese ‘infestors’. What happened to a small cabinet? And all those 90 days promises. Liars and lack of integrity? Why look far when your tribal govt is defined by the same vices!
Milupi is becoming useless in politics
Open letter to pf.
We dont know were you are taking us, we are following blindmen blindly, especialy if you move away from from mmd’s plans then we are lost in the wildernes, the children of israel demanded for a king God gave them SOUL before DAVID, zambians are looking for a president same we have him SATA anyway thats what we wanted before HICILEMA.
PF is really a tribal party. Just look at the people who issue party and govt statements. When are we going to hear names like Kamizhi, Mundia, Hangunyu, Phiri, etc issuing govt statements. PF a tribal and regional govt indeed.
You reap what you sow change your way of thinking respect ohers then you will be given the mandate to rule.Lambas are good people no wonder ,Mwanawasa became a leader but not some of the tribes leading one region.Majority will prevail its the power of numbers that count
Where ever you go in the world telecom companies register sims, how can politics brainwash Milupi like that? Think of security for a momment
Just register with fake ID.Â
yes,yes,yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssssss.
Don’t apologize about this issue. In Europe and USA and many other developed countries mobile phones or cellphones and tthe simcards are registered with your phone service provider, whether uding the phone on contract or a pay ad you go. The registration is important for many reasons. At basic id for the phone service to hhold on to their clients anand at advanced level it for survaillance for security reasons. Thats how they manage to catch suspects in many criminal activities and terrorist threats. In Zambia you have people insulting others vviolating ttheir rights because of pseudo names and un rregistered simcards. People must do what they mean without hiding, thats how you enshrine honesty in people’s minds. Just introduce simcard registration. It is done in all western countrie.
this man is crazy, he needs prayers.
Milupi has been caught pants down. Now we know that you are a cheap politician.Â
Charles Milupi is a NUT, that’s why hair can’t grow on his head!!
Its not every former gvt intention that the incumbet gvt has to implement.Even then it shows how greed and selfish leaders are because PF may have objected then but now they are for it cos they are in power and vice versa
Register all details of anyone including NRC numbers. It will give people principles of honesty when using cell/mobile phones. It will curtail loose tertorist activities, loose talk, responsibility and accountabilities in people’s minds. In fact you are too late. All western countries do it, some African nations do it. Catch up with technology, move with the trend. Criminal use cell phones with impunity why have you delayed registering simcards? If you buy a cell phone from UK and want tu use it in Zambia you notice what is done before it can work – they ublock may be three levels just because the phone, the simcard etc is registered and blocked. The GRZ must just wake up to reality. Make cellphone providers register phones and simcards. Pseudos are for ssecurity wings.Â
Hahaa really I have lost the respect I had for Milupi…he is also like the confused HH. Lies in the morning and lies in the night , what a bunch of liars these present politicians are. Really now we know that you Malupi is a liar liar….shaaaa.
This is the danger of the opposition who dont have support. Liars.
A gun being brandished in public by a police officer is different to a gun brandished in public by a jerabo or ngwangwazi. MMD had noble intentions for the registration of simcards whilst PF’s motives are not honorable. PF cannot be trusted with instruments of power.
I THOUGHT MR MILUPI WAS AN ENGINEER. SIM CARD REGISTRATION CAN COMBAT MOBILE PHONE THEFT CRIME,= AND MANY MORE OTHER CRIME.
#2 PF HAS TO RESPOND ESPECIALLY WHEN THE NONE ENLIGHTENED MASSES ARE ABOUT OR BEING MISLED BY THE OPPOSITION, SECONDLY BECAUSE THERE’S A MINISTRY CALLED INFORMATION MINISTRY WHICH IS THERE TO INFORM THE PEOPLE. AS YOU KNOW MOST PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY ARE NOT EDUCATED TO A CERTAIN MINIMUM LEVEL- THEY CAN EASILY BE MISLED BY MOST LOSING BITTER PARTIES.
#4, THE REGISTRATION OF SIM CARDS IS A VERY IMPORTANT EXERCISE IN WHICHEVER WAY YOU LOOK AT IT. PEOPLE WILL SIMPLY NOT REGISTER IF THE MIS-INFORMATION IS NOT CORRECTED.
#5 YEH, 2012, BECAUSE IN THE FIRST PLACE YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. LEAVE THE TOPIC TO THE EXPERTS.
#14, ARE YOU REALLY IN THE STATES? REGISTERING WITH A FAKE ID OR NAME IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. BY REGISTERING WITH A FAKE ID AUTOMATICALLY YOU TELL THE WORLD THAT YOU ARE INVOLVED IN CERTAIN CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES OR YOU PLAN TO BE INVOLVED IN THOSE ACTIVITIES. IN FACT IT IS MOST LIKELY THAT EVEN ‘YOUR’ MOBILE PHONE IS A STOLEN ONE.
Bo Milupi lumisweli pants down. You supported the issue in 2010 and now wants to fool us through your cheap opposition and propaganda. Bo Milupi dont be like HH who just opens his mouth and yarps at anything without facts. Zazi lelimu – one day bakamiswala niku mibeya mwa tolongo mukulwange. Mutokolomohe – Watchout Bo Milupi. Miniswabisezi haulu. Luitumezi sha.
Iwe chimudala chi Milupi why are you trying to fool people around,that is the reason why you are a liar.Liars easily forget,shameless liar olo nikonda kupanga ma headlines in ZambianWatchdog nichoncho kuipa bati pamenso,everyday bwete bwete bwete who wants to hear such rhetorics grow up
MR MILUPI’S OWN WORDS IN 2010:
“Mr Milupi (Luena): Mr Speaker, let me congratulate the hon. Minister for his extensive statement. In congratulating him, let me state that I hope that we will move beyond words to implement the good things that are contained in his statement. In this line, would the hon. Minister explain what measures the Government intends to take to ensure that we have a penetration greater than the 38.5 per cent that he has given us by, for example, increasing the universal access and service fund.”
People, I don’t in which countries you live. Â You definitely cannot have a contract phone without registering your details. In some countries, when you buy a phone, they offer you nominal talk time and encourage you to pay by card. Otherwise, you can buy a Pay-As-You-Go sim card from some outlets without anybody having to ask you for your details. I don’t know what “security” you are talking about in the PF Ukwanite case. What these guys are doing is more nefarious than meets the eye!
The card you buy is rrgistered. by your card provider. you give them all personal details. so in uk they register all cards and phones by you service provider and the state machinery can have access if need arises. do not cheat yourself let alone the likes of Milupi.
As far as I know if you buy a PAY-AS-YOU-GO sim card you do not have to give anybody your personal details in the UK. If you have a contract obviously you have to provide the mobile phone company your personal details. Today I can buy a mobile phone on eBay and buy a pay-as-you-go sim card without having to inform the authorities. I have done it many times. I completely agree with you Ku Masangalatoni–Lekeni HH ateke. Floyd Chitalu has got his facts wrong.
This is a “tit for tac” scheme where the SIM card owner will benefit from acquiring much needed customer data on the cheap and the gov’t will able to monitor the sheep in that name of security….this is an outdated scheme!!
Sadly the sheep are too oblivious to know what’s happening around them!
*know.
It is the only development you have accepted to be MMD programme
instead of wasting TAX payers Money in counterfeit Phone confisication operations as they always do the government can actually use this information to block out all non genuine phone users its what they have done in Kenya. so every phone user is has no choice but to buy a genuine phone.
i cant blame milupi about his claim. i even something developmental can be exploited. look at the how the patriot act was abused here in the U.S
Is this exercise debatable sure ?
this is good move by MMD and not PF because they are doing what MMD left. its unfortunately people like milupi cannot understand the  importance of sim registration.that is why in zambia the system is porous crminals can do what they want and go free.BRAVO PF!!!!!!!
Charles Milupi maybe on something here; I for one don’t see any need for SIM card registration, its an utterly pointless exercise which is going to benefit the mobile phone service companies only, and in the wrong hands the government can monitor you on the cheap and if they can’t they will come knocking and inquire why your phone is not registered. I’m surprised people can’t see the long-term effects of such “big brother” schemes on the people. FYI only dull criminals use a smartphone for committing illegal activities as the device is a sponge for gathering incriminating data registered or unregistered. People in the UK and Europe do not register prepaid SIM Cards & the police still manage to curb down on illegal activities with the help of SIM card providers.
Wake up people.Â
You have to put every statement in context for you to fully comprehend what is happening and why. These statements cannot be simply categorised into truth and lies, or into black and white, without considering the prevailing environment.
Why are Zambian politicians so lazy? They are incapable of raising the quality of debate. Instead they resort to alarmist statements which have no basis in fact. Is it dullness or just plain laziness? A new approach to politics is needed. To start with, the government must produce their legislative program. Parliament must then debate and pass or reject the legislation. This way we can all have a clear view of where the country is heading. Instead, no one knows where we are heading. Politicians just make false and contradictory statements. The government and country lack direction. Debate must take place in parliament and parliament against a well publicized program of legislative activities.
Registration of sim cards in Zambia is meant to be a vehicle to pursue and criminalize political opponents of Mr Sata.  Why should mobile phone users surrender sensitive data just to use a pay as go number? I have got several pay as you sim cards and never once was I asked to register them. Just two weeks ago Sylvia Masebo, a cabinet minister instructed ZICTA to close down the ZWD website. Why is the PF so scared with people freely communicating? In the UK you are not required to register your pay as go  simcard, however if your phone is on contract you are required by the service providers to show proof of your address purely because this is a commercial transaction. Anyway Zambians deserve the oxymoron leadership of Sata and his PF. Zambians voted for this nonsense, please enjoy.
Sadly the sheep are too oblivious to know what’s happening around them.
Wake up people this is an outdated scheme!!
BA LT Y DELETE MY COMMENT,WAS IT THAT IT WAS NAIL ON THE HEAD
Wake up people the SIM Card owners and the gov’t are in bed together on this one as they all benefit massively and no SIM Card owner will risk his profits and deactivate your card.
Wake up!!
#7, Mushota, I think you should concentrate of obtaining a grade 12 qualification before you start making university pipedreams! You’re a disaster that won’t just stop exposing your ignorance…
I was highly critical of this statute under BUFFOON RB and I’m still critical of it now as this is going to come back to bite you the people!!
Wake up people!!
hey guys, mr milupi didnt say sim registration is necessarily bad. what the gentleman did is to express serious concern with the security of our personal details that will be sitting with airtel or mtn. this governmnet has proved beyond all reasonable doubt that they can sort you out if they know you as an enemy. this country needs strong confidentiality laws and institutions. In america and other developed countries, citizens who law abiding and are politically conscious, have their constitutional rights assured and guaranteed. Can we say the same for Zambia?
Surely friends ,let us support the government of the day possibly to our own benefit. Thisis not about partisan politics but about delivering to the people of Zambia.Development must start with the present available resources,so there is nothing wrong with any part in power to start implementing what others left on the way.It also means building on what was planned and not completed by ushering in new plans by the sitting government.
I don’t think it will help us to frustrate any good efforts by government,and yet there is nothing wrong with critisizing government constructively to make it deliver on its promises. By the way where is the famous Bob Sichinga? Has he already reached the climax?
CHI MILUPI:((:((:((:((
People wake up i work on smartphones and I’m always up to date on this technology…this is UTTERLY POINTLESS AND USELESS SCHEME which we only benefit the gov’t and the mobile phone service providers.Â
FOR CRYING OUT LOUD…WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
People this is an infringement on our rights.
If it aint broke dont fix fix it!, what is the problem PF is trying to fix?…apart from the numerous bloggers who think they are a bunch of tribalistic and incompetent monkey eating *****s?
I had great respect for Milupi until now. He has travelled far and wide and he knows you can no longer enter into another country and buy a sim card and start calling. His association with one Bantustan is really taking a toll on him. I guess this man should have just stayed in Parliament where he was relevant. Go to Zim, SA, Kenya, Nigeria this is in full force. I have not been to other african countires of late and I am sure it is the same as well. Lets have sanity in politics ba Milupi. Mwatusebanya. Nokunkonkaisha abanenu.
So MMD plans are still valid and PF is busy using them or riding on them even after critcising MMD all over the show. If it was not for MMD this country could have grounded to halt with PamaFi government’s own wild ideas! I end here!
only people with criminal intentions can be afraid of registering their sim cards.
Milupi you are slowly becoming like U5! Grow up man and learn to support what is right.
The registration sim card is done in Tanzania already and Kenya and many other countries please politicians in Zambia travel to other countries not just to eat money of people
Lie. I bought several phones (with sim cards) in the UK, but was not asked to register them. Something sinster is planned for this country. As we do not have the resources or the technology to imbed chips in our skins, sim registration is the best alternative in mass control, and limiting population growth. It is a known fact that NWO gurus want to reduce world population to 3 billion, and contol the 3 billion.
ndanji, you and your one seater party! you can’t even tell which year are the next elections sure!
I totally disagree with the assertion that those refusing to succumb to the dictatorial tendencies of registering sim cards are hiding or committing crime. Firstly those pushing this line of thought must provide  statistical proof to show that for instance that the majority of crime being committed is done by use of unregistered sim cards. What if I buy a sim card in Europe which has a roaming facility, should that phone be registered in Zambia and to which organisation? Those providing internet are being asked to register with ZICTA, why is this government scared of free people?
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