TANZANIA – A 10-year jail term, 30m/- fine or both awaits mobile phone traders who will attempt to change the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers. The warning was issued on Wednesday, a few hours before the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) switched off all fake mobile phones in the country. Addressing reporters in Dar es Salaam of Wednesday, the communications watchdog’s Acting Director General, Mr James Kilaba, cautioned that it was against the law to change the IMEI numbers.

He said that as of Wednesday, 2.9 per cent of people owning fake gadgets and a closely one per cent with duplicate devices were at risk of losing communication. Mr Kilaba said to ensure close monitoring, all mobile phone technicians were supposed to get licences from the authority for maintenance and repair of mobile phones. He said the move, aimed at controlling mobile phone theft, meant that technicians should record the numbers of all customers who send their gadgets to them for repair.(allafrica)…[+]