Katavi student develops mobile app to combat online fraudsters

MPANDA: A Form Six student at Kabungu Secondary School in Katavi Region, Emmanuel Mwandele, has developed a mobile application aimed at helping combat online fraudsters who use deceptive messages to steal money from unsuspecting members of the public.

Mwandele said the idea for the application came after his mother was scammed by unidentified individuals who used a text message to persuade her to send money to a different phone number. At the time, the student had asked his mother to send him money for school expenses.

He explained that his mother received a message reading, “Send that money to this number,” which led to the money intended for his school expenses being diverted to the fraudsters.

The incident, he said, motivated him to explore how technology could be used to help members of the public protect themselves against online scams.

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Speaking on the second day of the Mwanakatavi Exhibition, the Mlele District Commissioner, who represented Katavi Regional Commissioner Mwanamvua Mrindoko as the guest of honour, pledged to provide Mwandele with a computer worth 1.5m/- to support the development of his technology innovation skills.

The pledge is intended to give the student access to the tools needed to advance his innovation and improve the application so that it can contribute to efforts to tackle online fraud.

The initiative also highlights the importance of identifying and supporting young people’s talents, particularly those that offer technological solutions to challenges facing society.

Separately, the district commissioner urged parents and guardians to ensure that children are enrolled in school on time and that their educational progress is closely monitored.

He also emphasised the importance of ensuring a reliable supply of food in schools to provide students with a better learning environment.