Econet wades into political fray
INFORMATION Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister Supa Mandiwanzira has called on mobile service provider, Econet Wireless, to avoid dabbling in politics following the release of its statement yesterday.
The minister also said the company is the brains behind the failed plot to increase mobile data tariffs.
The company seems to be entrapped in panic mode after it issued a bizarre statement yesterday attacking Minister Mandiwanzira and seemingly going out of its way to create division between the Minister and Potraz Director General Dr Gift Machengete.
In the statement publicised by Econet, the company accused Minister Mandiwanzira of attempting to “capture the industry”.
Minister Mandiwanzira said in a statement yesterday, “I have noted a public statement by Econet Wireless which is highly political and defamatory. The political undertones of the statement, which takes a dig at the Ministry of ICT, Postal & Courier Services and myself, are alarming.
“I urge the company to stay away from politics and stick to its core mandate of business.”
“Econet must accept that they took the lead in determining the recent price hikes
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“In fact, had it not been for Potraz, Econet wanted to charge far much more than the tariffs they eventually implemented before the ministry intervened. Documentary evidence is available to prove this.
“I would also like to advise that instead of issuing statements attacking Government and my person, the company must take responsibility for its active role in seeking to draw more revenue from its subscribers, details of which are now public knowledge.”
Minister Mandiwanzira suggested that Econet was bent on enforcing the tariff hikes to raise money to pay off its huge debts with European banks.
“It is also on record that Econet’s top management have been to my office, not only once, pleading that I do not approve proposals to decrease tariffs and that they be increased instead because their business was suffering and on the verge of being called out by European Banks from which they have received loans,” he said.
Minister Mandiwanzira said Econet owes its subscribers an explanation on why it rushed to implement the new tariffs above the floor.