Zimbabwe wants to track every mobile phone to tackle cybercrime

Nǐ hǎo,

Victoria from Techpoint here,

Here’s what I’ve got for you today:

Zimbabwe wants to track every mobile phone
Lesotho rethinks foreign ownership for Starlink launch
Somalia gets the green light to launch Starlink

Zimbabwe wants to track every mobile phone

Zimbabwe’s telecoms regulator, the Post and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), is pushing for a new law that would require every mobile phone in the country, not just SIM cards, to be registered. They want to collect and store each phone’s IMEI number (basically its unique ID) in a national database. The official reason? To tackle cybercrime, improve mobile transaction security, and stop stolen phones from being reused.

Countries like South Africa and Kenya have similar systems, so on the surface, it doesn’t sound like a big deal. But Zimbabwe isn’t either of those countries, and the political context here makes this feel a bit different. Talk of the town is that this isn’t just about crime; it could be about control.

There’s already a history of surveillance in Zimbabwe. Just recently, state TV aired a ZANU-PF meeting where party officials allegedly claimed they could read WhatsApp messages. Whether that’s true or not, the message felt more like a warning: “We’re watching you.” It’s hard not to see this handset registration move as part of a wider pattern.

Some Zimbabweans still reportedly remember the rumours during past elections: claims that biometric voter data could reveal who you voted for. It wasn’t true, but it was enough to scare people into playing it safe and staying loyal to the ruling party. Could this new registration system be used in the same way?

Even if you give the government the benefit of the doubt, it’s unclear why this is necessary. Mobile providers already collect IMEI numbers when SIMs are registered or phones are bought. Why build another database? It seems redundant unless there’s another motive behind it.

At the end of the day, many people in the Southern African country see this proposal as less about security and more about surveillance. In a time of growing dissatisfaction with the government, moves like this only add to the mistrust. Whether it passes or not, it’s sparking serious conversations about privacy, control, and digital freedom in Zimbabwe.

Lesotho rethinks foreign ownership for Starlink launch

A Starlink dish placed on a fence next to a house — Gbadebo’s Starlink setup

Lesotho’s government is caught in a tough spot over whether to allow Elon Musk’s Starlink to launch in the country without any local ownership. Even though the country usually requires foreign companies to include local investors, it’s now under pressure, especially after the United States slapped a 50% tariff on its exports. The government says it’s working to remove investment barriers for US companies like Starlink, despite local pushback.

Starlink applied for a network services licence earlier this year, but the Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA) said it would need to include Basotho ownership first. At a recent public consultation, Vodacom Lesotho’s CEO backed this stance, saying local involvement is key for economic growth and inclusive partnerships.

A civil society group called Section Two also weighed in, strongly opposing Starlink’s licence. They argue that since all of Starlink Lesotho’s shares are owned by a foreign entity and all directors are American, there’s zero opportunity for Basotho to benefit or have a stake in the company.

Despite the resistance, Prime Minister Matekane appears to be aligning with US interests to save Lesotho’s economy. The recent US tariffs have already hit local jobs hard, and the PM says removing roadblocks for companies like Starlink is part of their broader plan to attract US investment and aid.

However, Section Two isn’t buying it. They say the government shouldn’t link Starlink’s licence approval to the US tariff issue. For them, the concern is clear: foreign companies shouldn’t get a free pass that leaves locals behind. Plus, they warn that giving Starlink a licence could strain Lesotho’s relationship with South Africa, which has already rejected Starlink for similar reasons.

The tension mirrors what’s happening in South Africa, where the Communications Minister faces backlash for trying to bend the rules in Starlink’s favour. The same thing could be happening in Lesotho; foreign pressure is mounting, but the real question is whether the government will prioritise national interest or give in.

Somalia gets the green light to launch Starlink

Starlink just got the green light to launch in Somalia. Yeah, Elon Musk’s satellite Internet company has officially been licensed by the Somali National Communications Authority, per Bloomberg.

The announcement came after a signing ceremony in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital. Government officials and reps from Starlink were all there to make it official. Starlink was represented by Ryan Goodnight, a Senior Director, and Micaela Pawlak, a Manager on the team. They shared that satellite Internet will be rolling out across Somalia pretty soon.

Mustafa Yasin Sheikh, the head of Somalia’s Communications Authority, said Starlink coming in will help boost Internet access across the country, especially in places that are hard to reach with regular infrastructure.

Thing is, Somalia already has some internet infrastructure in place, including undersea cables. But with Starlink’s satellite service in the mix, it means people in more remote parts of the country could finally get connected.

Meanwhile, over in South Africa, Starlink’s still not available. Elon Musk recently made headlines when he said the reason is that he’s “not black.” According to him, South Africa’s policies around local ownership and equity are what’s holding things up.

So yeah, while Somalia’s opening the door wide for Starlink, it’s a different story further south.

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