Government refutes reports of tapping into citizens phone conversations

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PATRIOTIC Front Malole Member of Parliament Christopher Yaluma explains details of the new rebased currencies to his electorates in Finshe ward in Mungwi district
Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister Christopher Yaluma
PATRIOTIC Front Malole Member of Parliament Christopher Yaluma explains details of the new rebased currencies to his electorates in Finshe ward in Mungwi district
 Christopher Yaluma

Government has refuted reports that the Special division of the office of the President is tapping into phone conversations of citizens.

Communication and Transport Minister Christopher Yaluma said that the rumors are not true, stating that government can never authorize such because it respects the rights of citizens.

Mr. Yaluma said that  it is time some citizens let go of their speculating mentality and concentrated on issues that are of more importance.

Speaking to QFM NEWS, Mr. Yaluma has since appealed to citizens not to believe the speculations and be discouraged to register their SIM cards.

He stated that it is important that citizens realize the many benefits that come with the SIM card registration exercise instead of listening to liars who only want to paint a bad picture of what the PF government is working on.

Mr. Yaluma has further reminded members of the public to have their SIM cards registered as the deadline is approaching.

78 COMMENTS

    • I woke up just to insult any of your PF ministers, you are saved that its Chris Yaluma. Let me check other news stories… maybe I will find PF minister or their boss, then can get what they deserve from me.

    • When were you last there? You can actually buy a sim at the airport with your passport without registering for RICA.And mind you,there it is number for life.So how many are un registered? You can call me on 082 804 8342 in the next two weeks when am back there,check any where this numbers is not RICA registered but I use it.

    • @Jobvu…RICA down here is a law and if you are telling the truth then boast about it openly in two weeks when you come. Moreover do you guys argue just for the sake of arguing or what just do what is required of you simple.

    • @Njovu, so what do u think they do with your passport when u hand it to them?? That’s registration.. If you do it at the airport, you are registered as a visitor, but they have your details from the passport. By the way, there’s no number for life; if it stays inactive for over 3 months, they deregister your sim

    • @Gandix you are a liar in uk it’s not mandatory to register a SIM card unless you are getting a contract phone so as to effect direct debit . You can easily just walk in the street and buy a sim without a passport or nrc

  2. Not a far fetched possibility in the age of overeaching Sata’s tyranical regime.He has probably tapped the phones of HH and Nevers Mumba already.With its short history of excessive repression i’d say don’t trust this govt.

  3. Well while SIM card regitration is a noble exercise, the behaviour of this government just makes this process look suspicious.

    If our bank accounts, which are more private and personal , are at the messy of the OP wing, as evidenced by HH’s banks records , who will trust this government to be resposible with information from SIM card registration?

    So Mr Yaluma, this is not just about spreading rumours, this is about facts. We have solid evidence that the Government abuses our private data to fix enemies and so why should we trust them to do a noble thing with SIM card registration.

    You first need to come clean right from the top for people to trust you with their private information

    • You are right MMD Chief Bootlicker. And am wondering why there taking too long to announce their final stance on Given. Let people of Livingstone vote for either MMD or UPND. The Mpomgwe electorates must do the same. This is a one term party.

    • MMD boot licker I thought when MMD was in power you had time to visit other countries like South Africa where you have to register your sim card just when you are buying.If you dont register your sim card in RSA you cannot use it and you cannot buy one.This is now a requirement in most countries.Its is not just in Zambia.You should ask people who travel what happens in other countries!!Ubututu

    • Bootlicker oways spot on!! PF Ever lies,pure doublethink 1984 by George Orwell. Constitution in 90days lie….In 90 days all corrupt elements in prison,another lie (Kabimba,GBM,14billion DBZ cash etc all free on the streets) ,

      American ambassador S dribbled ,another lie..Public order Act changed within 90days another lie….no more flying VIPs for medicals outside zambia another lie…Within 90days

      Sata-PF will clean Zambian streets sparkling clean,keep Zambia clean yet another lie, PF lies ,lies lies…how can you trust them with your phone details and who is more of a liar here, the whistle blowers or the lying PF as evidenced and witnessed??? Who can Trust PF Look at Lubinda’s treatment, why not just hand him the letter instead secrecy?? Can PF be trusted and inspire…

    • What are you fearing bane. In the UK it is a requirement to register your simcard at point of purchase or at time of activation with your chosen network.

      It is good for countries just in case people use them for crime related activities. Also, should one go missing, the people responsible for our safety can help trace our location.

      If we do not use our phones for crime, there is no need to fear.

    • @MMD Bootlicker, did you mean “…at the mercy of…” or it is indeed as you put it, “…at the messy of…”. You are good with your expressions, just like one Goncalves although I differ with you in terms your political views. I respect the likes of Yambayamba, BR Mumba and other gents for their expressions and political views.

      You see guys, in a democracy, we ought to agree to disagree. We can thrash one another on the political front but we remain Zambians at the end of the day.

      Bootlicker this time you sound sombre and I guess you have realised that your MMD is not gonna come back. Just defect my friend. Stop bootlicking a moribund entity… Even if you hold on to it you will never ever get another chance to manage the Zambia Enterprise based on your MMD principles,…

    • Iwe GUNDIXY don’t cheat people abroad ala you don’t register Pay as You or prepaid SIM cards in the UK in fact they give them out free. You only register it if you top-up using your debit card.

    • They help security wings to carry out their tasks swiftly and can easily tell if there is foul play or crime related activities.

  7. Yaluma shut up! This is not an era of UNIP when everyone belonged to that monster called PF and become “useful i-d-o.-t which Sakeni has continued to be. Patriotic Officers do not pay their allegiance to PF but Zambians whom they brief on every an constitutional act of these PF failures.

  9. I have decided to comment even before reading the full story. Let me be a useful idiot here. As long as the OP do not distort, break, terminate, delay or deny me the telephone service to converse with my associates, friends and relatives they can tap my phone permanently if they want. They can go to ZICTA or mobile service provider and get my details since my SIM is registered. They will find that I am an ordinary Zambian citizen who is responsible, patriotic and in Love with the motherland. I personally want a strong, sharp yet professional OP like the Mossad, for Zambia. Do it, if it makes you achieve. It is done all around the globe!

  10. If you are clueless of what 1, 2, 3, 4 are not mentioning branches and units then you will be honorable if you chose to just shut up. Zambians know their country systems better than you do. We do not want to endanger fellow Zambians merely following orders to feed their families but to jointly expose these cancerous regime doomed with its medieval tyrannical options from day one . If those officers continue to be this patriotic by keeping up with every detail shared, then they are valued patriots deserving full protection from the citizens. PF despots are and will remain vulnerable unless they build a new Zambia of prosperity for all youths.

  11. @Ulemona, day in day out the PF or govt shoot themselves in the foot you say? Are they like Tom or Jerry that their feet(foot) heal(s) instantly and are available for another shooting on the morrow (the following day)? I bet the PF are a magical entity…mmmm. I would like to see how their feet(foot) look(s) like after one year six months of self shooting. Can they even stand I wonder?

  12. Our docile country men and women are finally starting to wake up now…surely how can you trust a gov’t where the head of state can not publicly reassure the masses himself via a press conference.

  14. Take it easy, there is no reason to be afraid, Sim registration in some developed countries started way back. I would be shocked to learn that the govt has employed someone to be listening to citizen’s conversations. Even if that govt was so insecure that would be a futile exercise. Just be a responsible citizen then you won’t have those fears! We are just complicating what is supposed to be a simple thing. If you insult people or misuse the phone service then you have cause to panic. This is the way forward!

  15. well even fictitious emails can be traced to sender complete with GPS of where sent from and time with a pic of the sender on web cam…it is an open world

  17. In livingstone people are receiving campaign text on their phones.

    Does it mean the party has a list of all L/stone cell numbers?

  18. Do not be afraid of your own shadow as exposure to light will make you unnecessarily paranoid. Agree with Chindakwa and Kwindilo. We give up our info all day long so it’s there whether we register the sim or not simply through the services we choose to subscribe to and we do leave digital prints. Ask LT. They know who we are even if they don’t know who we are… chuckle.

  20. “Christopher Yaluma said that … government can never authorize such because it respects the rights of citizens.”

    Yeah, right – after this government proudly ran on the platform of donchi kubeba people should believe PF “promises” now. How gullible, docile, and conveniently foo’lish does the Minister think we are?

    If PF were serious about respecting our rights, why doesn’t Mr. Yaluma introduce legislation to protect people’s privacy and make it a criminal offense for GRZ to misuse our personal details?

    Else, Guy Scott told HH just this week to ask his banks why they abused his private information meaning all anyone can expect from PF would be to tell us to ask the phone companies why they abused our information. Conveniently foo’lish or what?

  21. Unless you hv some thing to hide I see nothing wrong in telephone tapping.No wonder you are having press conferences outside zambia

    • You have just answered your question ar.sewho.re! Yes we hold press conferences outside Zambia for fear of victimisation by the PF government! Also we dont want to register our SIM cards again for fear of political victimisation by the PF Govt….does that make sense to idi.ots like you [fchibs]?

    • silly number 19 don’t you know you need your privacy???do you want them to enter in your knickers or boxers to get every detail of you??

  22. Believe you me, this ka Chap Yaluma doesnt even know what his job is as a minister. We discussed a few issues when he was in London recently, and God, I realised his head is empty. Just look at what he was saying in this article….no substance…just like a kama Village Headman…shame on Zambia!!

    • How i wish i could believe yo big talk.which yaluma has an empty head.do u even know his .CV?anyway since we hide our identities here we can say anything

    • Why go for the person, leaving the issue he is talking about? Some of these projects are not about a person, but the system.Don’t be trivial man.

  23. That is the reason y they ask for yo passport my brother they get all yo details .just register it is for the well bing of the nation.remember Richard sakala and others the law visited them so let them make it one day it ll bite

  24. Hahahaha fellas if you know there’s something wrong you are doing then you need to worry about a lot of things its not just sim registrationif the government wants to nail u there are so many ways they can do it..bank accounts is one other way they can do it..what are u hiding.?

    • Lon not necessary…my point is if they have a problem with u they will find u u simply can’t hide…its no big deal good for security purposes.

  26. The SIM registration exercise should be supported by all well meaning citizens. While we may have different opinions and views about the challenges of upholding the rights to privacy, I think that we also have a responsibility to make our country remain competitive. Last week I was in Nairobi and had left my airtel SIM card and failed to roam, I bought a new SIM card and to enable me use the phone it had to be registered instantly.
    While some may be concerned about the abuse of the system on balance I see it as a mechanism for enabling Zambia to address some of the limitations in obtaining citizens information and retrieval for use on projects and programs of national interest.

    • @David the problem with bloggers here are always quick to type without being logical,some chaps even criticise without reading an article.. how can a country develop with youths who are always insulting,negative,bitter,they refuse to think..the list goes on..its great exercise and must be treated as such.

  27. Honourable Minister, please do not mislead the innocent citizens and let them engange in crime on your assurance that the data is and will not be used for tapping dangerous people to society. Just admit that where necessary it will, so that good citizens can refrain from both crime and tort (civil) wrongs. It is common knowledge that all systems in the world including, cctv cameras, speed traps, road blocks, tax registration are meant to scan both right and wrong (surveilance) for their good or bad. It is well known fact the colonial masters even made use of religoius systems like confession to track criminals. SIM registarion should be history and now regulate registration of blogs and bloggers to be registered by their blogs to end insults on both innocent citizens and leaders alike.

  28. The following minimum data on bloggers should be held by their blogs and real names used to end un necessary insults and hatred from uncivilised bloggers:-
    1) Personal Details:
    Title:
    Surname:
    Forename(s):
    Date of birth:
    National Identity Card / Passport No.:
    Daytime telephone (Work): Ext:
    Residential (Home) Telephone:
    Mobile:
    2) Residential Details:
    Home address 1:
    Home address 2:
    Postcode:
    Suburb / Village / Township:
    Chief / District / City:
    State / Province:
    Country:
    This will now put more money into lawyers’ and their clients’pockets.

    • What most people who dish out insults on this site dont reliase is that each computer they are using has a unique IP address. When you buy a computer and before you use it for the 1st time you have to register your operating system(unless you are using LInux) during the registration process you have to submit your details. Each time you send an e – mail there is some one out there who knows where that e – mail was sent from. The USA govt uses the same method to track down terrorists.

  32. this pf thing is very insincere and quite dangerous.sim reg may be a good thing but not in the hands of this dog savage regime

  33. there is nothing sinister to register your sims but how about emerging issues that the exercise has bin abused by the pf in Livingstone as they send sms to pipo to vote for Evans.can’t pipo live with a suspicious mind?think about this…….

    • I am not a lawyer but enlightened consumer. It is wrong to receive a phone call or SMS or whatever from a person, entity or government, you do not know for whatever reason, unless your phone is publicly listed for example in public phone directly or you appreciate the purpose of the communication. It must be at reasonable hour of the day. The caller should first of all introduce himself, disclose the source where he got your phone number from and the subject of the call. If you are not happy about such cold call, express it immediately and reasonably to the caller and / or stop the conversation, instantly. Always, be reasonable and polite, otherwise the law will not support you. The caller should apolgise if you are not happy otherwise you are free to seek legal redress. Thanks.

    • In South Africa the ANC and other parties do that. If you become a citizen, come election time, you will get a phone call from the ANC call centre, trying to convince you to vote for the ANC. There is nothing wrong with that. It just shows that the PF are moving with the times

  34. Temperament Njovu, it pipo like u that the govt is targetting becoz we attached yo name to face but u dont want yo name to be attached to sim. For yo own information, govt has so many ways of getting in yo privacy should they want, therefore stop this nosense of tapping yo phone.
    Stop lying about SA which u have never visited.
    You r the type who do not accept change for the seek of development. Ask the British where they shifted the prisons in order to develop UK.

    Sim registration is like naming a newly born baby.

  37. Gundixy, You are not honest. We dont register SIM card here in UK in the sense of PF govt request to register citizens Sim cards in Zambia. You can pick free SIM cards and use it for most network providers. Where does registration come in?
    Even if you provide particulars for a Sim card you purchase has nothing to make one fearful as in a police govt of PF. DO NOT TELL LIES LIKE YOUR PF GOVT.

  38. Why are people fearful???? There are so many ways to get round this sil.ly requirement!! one doesn’t even need to go to school!! Give them an address in a shanty compound, fictitious of course – WHO’S GOING TO GO OUT TO VERIFY IT????
    Kids, stop fighting & insulting each other – problem solved!!!!!!!!

    • Here in the good SA when registering your sim card you have to present your identity document and proof of residency. So you can not give a false address. But then again you can buy a sim card from Hillbrow without presenting your ID and the sim card works.

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  40. SIM registration is in itself a noble exercise but the Pama Fi has shown that it is an intolerant govt. As somebody posted on FB, a simple romantic exchange between a couple could result in these–what did Amsterdam call them again–bursting into your house. These guys should come clean before they pursuade citizens to register their SIMs. Believe the Pama Fi and you can believe anything. The Muchinganites say Akakunyelele takalabwa!

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