Oct. 3 (Bloomberg) -- Zimbabwe’s telecommunications regulator wants to allow authorities access to encrypted data or e-mails sent via Research in Motion Ltd.’s Blackberry devices, an official said.

“In terms of the law, there should be a facility to allow for such interception as well as decryption of the encrypted messages/e-mails,” Hilda Mutseyekwa, an official with the Postal Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe, said today in a written response to questions.

Two local mobile operators, Econet Wireless Zimbabwe Ltd. and Telecell, have formally applied with the regulator to offer Blackberry services.

--Editors: Hilton Shone, Alastair Reed

To contact the reporter on this story: Godfrey Marawanyika in Johannesburg at gmarawanyika@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Antony Sguazzin at asguazzin@bloomberg.net