Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) says it is making strides towards the implementation of Central Equipment Identification Registry (Ceir), an initiative that will enable people to register their gadgets and sim cards to curb digital fraud.

Speaking in Mangochi last week during the Mobile Money Fraud Prevention Task Force meeting for Macra officials, mobile service providers and companies, Macra director general Daud Suleman said they have made huge in-roads towards the initiative.

“So far, Macra has connected the system to Airtel Malawi and TNM networks, completed the consultation for the sim cards regulations which will bring a new layer of security to safeguard sim cards and gadgets used in the country,” he said.

Suleman attributed the success to collaboration among network operators and mobile money operators.

He said Macra in partnership with the Ministry of Information and Digitisation are working on five new laws aimed at providing proper legal safeguards for Malawians that are becoming digitally enabled.

Mobile Money Fraud Prevention Task Force chairperson Khumbo Phiri hailed Macra for the system, saying it will enhance the fight against the escalating criminal activities in the digital space.

“It is a welcome development because it will help us to locate the fraudsters and the gadgets they are using. This will curb fraudulent acts,” he said.

Phiri said the absence of the system has resulted in Malawians being abused by scammers, but expressed hope the system will change the narrative.

When fully implemented, Ceir is expected to curb theft, fraud and other criminal activities that happen on the digital space.

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