<p>How much more BLOOD</p><p>How many more SCARS</p><p>ENOUGH is ENOUGH</p><p>Bring Back our Gadgets</p><p> </p><p><strong>Say NO to BLOOD Electronics</strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>‘Victims against Violence’ <strong><em>Consumer protection campaign</em></strong></strong></p><p>Every one of us know of someone close to us (if we are not the victims personally) who at one point was a victim of burglary, mugging, got their phones, tablet, laptop or Television stolen. Where do all these gadgets go? Have you ever asked yourself this question? The reality is that most of these gadgets are sold back to us on the street (black market) for a few bucks. This is absolutely insane considering the fact that in the process of stealing these assets victims are stabbed, beaten or even raped. Another human being will have to live with both physical and emotional scars for the rest of their live, and you are excited to buy an expensive gadget for next to nothing.</p><p> We allow ourselves to continue being victims of this inhumane treatment even though the power to stop it is in our own hands. There is lack of action on the part of the networks, they are just turning a blind eye to it (after all they have nothing to lose as they benefit both ways, whether the phone is stolen or not we still buy their airtime). We have proposed as innovators to work with these networks to fight phone theft but up to this day their doors remain closed. All this they do, despite the fact that they have the power via their platforms to help trace or block stolen phones when used in their networks, thereby rendering those gadgets useless to the thief. This in turn would lead to reduced cases in mobile theft as it would be unprofitable to buy a stolen phone.</p><p> Local innovators have developed a tool Adams Database, the most robust mechanism which enables communities, local organisations and Police to work in partnership in tackling this scourge which has come to take human lives in theft situations. Botswana’s small and medium enterprises now have an opportunity to build on this ecosystem in areas such as software, apps and local content, adding value and creating jobs.</p><p> In times like this action becomes necessary as we are faced by social issues which the industry has yet to see the need to do something. Many of the western countries have long dealt with this problem way back (UK, Argentina, Latin America, US etc). And as it is always the case in Africa many lives have to be sacrificed while we wait for someone from overseas to come solve the problem for us.</p><p> The regulatory bodies can only be empowered to act if we send out our voices, if we use our numbers as consumers to say ENOUGH is ENOUGH. Until we speak nothing will be done.</p><p> Let’s send a message to those making decisions that we are tired of this senseless muggins, at the same time LETS STOP BUYING GADGETS IN THE BLACK (<em>verify asset ownership</em>).</p><p> We are launching a national online petition across every industry to the networks in an effort to eliminate mobile phone crime.</p><p> If you are really tired of these thieves, join us by sharing this petition, tag every victim you know, post your story, your friend’s story, and post a photo image of the scars you got from these thugs.</p>
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