Poor quality service by mobile operators in Zambia has become such a problem that the local telecoms watchdog has complained to the nation’s director of public prosecution.

The Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) hopes to prosecute in court the country’s three operators -- which include MTN and Airtel -- over alleged provision of poor services to their customers.

ZICTA claims the provisions of poor services by the operators are ‘criminal in nature’.

And ZICTA wants Zambia’s director of public prosecution (DPP) to determine the matter and send it to the court for prosecution.

ZICTA says it has previously sued the operators to seek remedial measures relating to the enforcement of quality service pursuant to the country’s Information and Communication Technology law of 2009.

Protection of the rights and interests of customers is one of ZICTA’s mandates under the same law.

ZICTA public relations manager Ngabo Nankonde said the organisation has sent the docket to the DPP for perusal.

“The Director of Public Prosecution has requested for the docket for his perusal and ZICTA is waiting for the DPP’s guidance,” Nankonde said.

She said the authority is conducting the analysis to thoroughly determine the root cause of the poor services by the operators and the need to revise the framework on the provision of quality services to customers.

It is the first time; however, that ZICTA is dragging operators to court as a result of poor services. ZICTA is hoping that the potential prosecution of the three companies could force them to provide better communication services to the public.