The Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA), has assured the people of Zambia of its commitment to stamp out fraudulent activities from the cyberspace by collaborating with the Ministry of Information and Media and other security wings. 

ZICTA Acting Director General, Collins Mbulo says the authority is actively collaborating with law enforcement agencies such as the police and the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) to bring scammers to book. 

Speaking when he led an entourage in paying a courtesy call on Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary, Thabo Kawana in Lusaka, Mr Mbulo said by working in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Media, a lot of sensitisation will be done on people. 

“Through collaboration with the law enforcement agencies, ZICTA is able to give support to consumers, we are also aware that consumers must be educated about their rights because most of the fraud that happens to consumers is due to lack of knowledge, ” he said. 

He explained that in its journey to educate the general public on the unscrupulous activities on the social media platforms, ZICTA has engaged the Ministry of Information to see how  best consumers can be sensitised.

Mr Mbulo urged consumers to use Information Communication Technology responsibly and to exercise caution each time they are online.

He added that consumers should report any fraudulent activities to ZICTA by dialing 7070, which is the toll free line at ZICTA. 

Mr Mbulo further urged people to dial star 7070 and block any suspected number from scammers that want to swindle a consumer.

He has since warned scammers that their days are numbered as the Authority is working with DEC, police and other security agencies to bring them to book.

And Mr Mbulo has refuted claims that ZICTA applies the law selectively by protecting only the elite in society and that the Authority executes its mandate fairly regardless of one’s status. 

In welcoming ZICTA to the Ministry of Information and Media, Information Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana bemoaned the rise in fraudulent activities on cyber space. 

Mr Kawana, however, expressed hope that ZICTA will do everything possible to protect citizens from Scammers who have swindled many citizens of their hard earned money. 

He observed that the Zambian people have a lot of questions on whether ZICTA is doing its rightful mandate to protect consumers.