Simcard Registeration: The last Post

Brig. Gen. Miyanda

By Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda

Fellow internet partners and the Social Media family, I wish to inform you that the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) have reminded me that by midnight this day they will cut me off from civilisation by arbitrarily deactivating my SIM cards without just cause.

I have NOT committed any crime, neither is there a credible record of the prevalence and/or abuse of these communications gadgets to justify any derogation from the said guaranteed rights.

By this single act ZICTA is attaching the condition that before I can enjoy my guaranteed freedom of expression I should first apply to the Authority or their agents to be registered. By the same token ZICTA are infringing my right to privacy and other proprietary rights. I contend that these freedoms and liberties cannot be taken away arbitrarily or traded for a few minutes of airtime.

My communications to ZICTA and the Mobile Service Providers have remained unanswered. This means thatby midnight I shall not be able to communicate or use my purchased implements for such communication. In short until this issue is resolved I shall be off air, including off the internet.  This is my Last Post for now.

GODFREY MIYANDA,
BRIGADIER GENERAL,
ONE OF THE CONCERNED CITIZENS
[31ST JANUARY 2014]