In the early hours of Sunday, the Tanzanian government banned fake phones in a bid to improve security and address health concerns in the country.
People who use fake phones in the East African country have now been forced to replace them with genuine phones following the enforcement of the ban.
Official figures show that 3% of Tanzania’s phones are fake hence the move has seen at least 1.2 million fake phones facing disconnection.
However, Tanzania is not the only African country to switch off fake phones as Cameroon, South Africa and Nigeria have also enforced bans on fake phones in the past.
Counterfeit handsets lack authentic International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers that are crucial to identifying and tracking mobile phones, making it easier for criminals to escape detection.
Tanzania also claimed that the ban is aimed at protecting users’ health. The fear is that fake handsets, which are not subjected to safety tests, emit more radiation and contain harmful elements such as lead.
The mobile phones have been switched off using a number called International Mobile Station Equipment Identity (IMEI). All mobile phones are assigned one.
Tanzania’s communication agency launched a new system in December called the Central Equipment Identification Register, which is a database of all IMEI numbers.
When paired with systems at the network providers, it is able to block all counterfeit phones.
Mobile phone users in Tanzania can check whether their phones are genuine or fake by:
1 – Dialling *#06# to get the handset’s IMEI
2 – Sending a text with the IMEI number to 15090
3 – The text reply lists phone’s model name – if the correct name is not given, the phone is a fake.
Iwo koma adule msonkho and abe ndalamazo then
nothing new here!!!!! fake, fake we dont eat phones thus why always we are behind,,,,,Riched countries like RSA and Botswana cant do that rubbish because akudziwa meaning of #ecomomy mpaka mu #PEP fake phones they sell
Not Malawi
I think this is a genius initiative! Malawi should really follow suit!
The country has become a dumping site for counterfeit goods!
All fake phones will shortly be flooding the Malawian market from TZ.
how many people can remain online in Malawi????
I wish they could do same ku-zambia?
I don’t know if this can happen here in Malawi, where foreigners treat as their dust bin. Even our party presidents are using the very same fake phones. kkkkk!
If its like this they must chez chanis pipo. Bcoz fake phons come with them.
Not sunday, it was on Thursday when about 2,9millions of fake phones was switched off by the TANZANIA GOVERNMENT
Aa
Only 630 000 are we sayin that the rest of the population uses original phons,,,,,,com’on ppo osamangonyadila,,,,,
ndiye????????
That’s true
zikufunika pa nyasalandetu zimenezi abale!!
But what defines “fake” ?
Criminals are in hot water kkkkk
What about Malawi full of fake phones,fake clothes,fake food,fake cars,fake p
Bt now we talking about tanzania not malawi
So
You Are Also Fake Item
Kkkkkk
Well done Tanzania government
thumbs up…..