Following Econet Wireless’ latest hike of the cost of mobile data, Zimbabweans have taken to social media to vent their anger, with some accusing the company of exploitation.
The majority of Zimbabweans use mobile data to access the internet and any increase in the cost of data is immediately felt by the majority.
According to journalist Hopewell Chin’no, Econet Wireless is not to blame for the astronomical rise in the cost of data. The buck stops with the government and not the telecoms company. Said Chin’ono:
As usual, Zimbabweans are attacking the wrong person.
Mnangagwa is the one who has refused to implement Political Reforms, that is why we are in this economic mess.
Mthuli Ncube said so in his letter to the International Monetary Fund.
It is not Strive Masiyiwa’s problem that we are afraid to confront the root cause of our problems.
He is running a business, not a charity shop, if we fail to understand that, then our education is again useless!
Econet borrowed money in US Dollars from abroad to fix its network by buying equipment, that money must be paid back in US Dollars!
The problem is not the prices, they are reasonable in US Dollar terms.
The problem is that you are being underpaid because the economy is dead!
That is not Strive’s problem, that is Mnangagwa’s and ZANU-PF.
Deal with Mnangagwa and ZANU-PF, and not use a sideshow as an excuse!
Below is the cost of Econet’s private wifi bundles:
| Data allocation | old price | new price | % increase |
| 25GB | ZW$400 | ZW$1300 | 225% |
| 50GB | ZW$800 | ZW$2000 | 150% |
Meanwhile, NetOne has advised its customers that it will hike the cost of data tomorrow.