MPs support Cirms machine
Members of Parliament (MPs) on Monday overwhelmingly supported the controversial Consolidated ICT Regulatory Management Systems (Cirms) machine, widely known as the ‘spy’ machine, after adopting a report from the House’s Committee on Media and Communications.
The committee’s report of the Cirms was tabled in the House during the last meeting of Parliament in February and all the MPs who debated on it yesterday supported the committee’s position to allow the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) implement the system.
The report followed meetings the committee had with stakeholders in the communications i n d u s t r y, i n c l u d i n g operators, as well as field visits between October 2011 and June 2012.
In his contribution on the report, Lilongwe Central MP Lobin Lowe, who is also a member of the committee, said contrary to the operators’ position that the machine would be used to listen to subscribers’ private conversations and that their opposition to it was in the interest of the consumers, following an interface with all stakeholders, i t was clear that the system will benefit the consumer in a number of ways.
He said: “The machine is important as it will be able, through lawful interception, to trace stolen phones, reduce call drops and also charges will go down.” Nsanje North MP Frank Viyazyi said although the operators argued that they were already installing solutions to monitor revenue and minimise fraud, he felt that this was a task best left in the hands of Macra, the regulator, if the country is to fully realise benefits from the telecommunications industry.
He said: “There were fears that Macra could abuse the machine to overhear conversations and that Macra was that time not functioning independently, we feel the machine if implemented in the way Macra proposes then it will benefit the consumer.”
Zomba Ma l o s a MP Anderson Undani said the machine is very important, e spe c i a l l y now whe n operators are involved in various cash transaction activities. Chitipa North MP Nick Masebo said since the machine raised eyebrows when the Democrat i c Progressive Party (DPP) wanted it implemented, the position of the House was a vindication that DPP had the welfare of the consumers at heart.
Winding up the debate before the House gave a nod to the report, vicechairperson of the Media and Communi c a t ion Committee of the House, Ellen Chisale, said it was clear that the Cirms will not only benefit Macra, but also the operators and the consumers.
Chi s a l e a l s o s a i d following the interaction wi t h Ma c r a i t wa s es tabl i shed that the country will be making a profit of almost $3 million (K1.05 billion) a year following installation of the machine through Macra remittances.
Soon a f t e r i t wa s known that Macra has acquired the machine, communications operators in the country went up in arms, fighting against the acquisition claiming that the machine was meant to spy over people’s phone conversations, a position which Macra and government disputed.
