Zambezi Residents Struggle to Register SIM Cards, Face Deactivation

Michael Mayumbelo, a pensioner based on Impalila Island, recounts spending N$250 per trip hitch-hiking to Katima Mulilo multiple times in efforts to register his SIM card. Like many others in Zambezi, Mayumbelo failed to register his SIM card during the country’s mandatory registration period and the subsequent extension due to various challenges. The initial registration period spanned from January 1 to December 31, 2023, with a three-month extension granted until March 31 this year. Failure to register during these periods has resulted in the deactivation of customers’ SIM cards by mobile communication companies.