Faith Ncube
ZIM GBC REPORTER
Zimbabwe’s largest telecommunications company’s users have revealed their discontentment over the spontaneous data price hike.
This comes in light of the revised data prices by a staggering 300% by Econet Holdings this Tuesday due to the prevailing the continued southwards dive of Zimbabwe economy which has the local currency’s rate free-fall over the past days.
The Strive Masiyiwa headed company issued a statement on it’s social media handles informing it’s customers of the action.
“Dear Customers,
We are reviewing our ZWL Data & SMS Bundle Prices, effective Tuesday, 20 June 2023.”Read the statement.
The minimum price for private WiFi data rose from ZW$37 114 up to ZW$111 343.
Zim GBC News crew spoke to some of Econet Wireless’s dejected customers who expressed their disappointments in the galloping prices of data which they said that would be a threat to their day to day businesses.
Survivor Nyasulu who is a Wildlife official criticized the instantaneous hike of data prices by Econet Holdings as he stressed out that it threatens flow of information as most people would be facing challenges in affording the data charges, while also blaming poor service delivery by the Telecoms company evidenced by poor networks.
“Econet charges are very expensive, some of us cannot afford them. Many people are not working but they need to keep in touch with family, friends and relatives who are within and outside the country. On top of that there is poor network connection which makes it difficult for us to access online services.” He said.
Valentine Banda who claimed to be a civil servant reiterated Nyasulu’s sentiments as she also stated that the continuous revision of data poses a real danger to smooth flow of services and affects communication whilst also demeaning those receiving salaries in local currency.
“I almost fainted, when I realized the new data prices, as a user it is very difficult to catch up with the continuous reviewing of prices. It affects our workflow, school, and personal communication. The half a million RTGS for 50gb is a huge mountain to climb for us who receive salaries in RTGS payment.”Banda said
The galloping inflation over the past weeks has seen the sporadic hike of prices in most sectors countrywide which has seriously undermined people’s living standards as a result of an economic crisis.