EcoCash agents are part of the 60,000 jobs created
The issue of jobs has been a very sore subject recently, and despite a strong performance in the past when other sectors suffered, the local telecoms industry hasn’t been spared the controversies around employment contract terminations.
Econet Wireless, the country’s largest operator also let go of some of its employees this year. A termination letter circulated on social media and there were reports that the operator had let go of hundreds of employees, something that Econet went on to deny clarify.
Now, in its latest effort to highlight its position as a job creator, Econet has published a full page press statement outlining its support of more than 60,000 jobs in the Zimbabwean economy.
The statement, quoting the Econet CEO, Douglas Mboweni, demonstrates this by outlining jobs created through the ventures that Econet has entered into over the past year like ConnectedCar and EcoSure.
The following points were raised in the statement:
- EcoSure has created more than 1,000 jobs indirectly and its coverage of over 1 million unique users makes it the largest insurance business in the country. This user total exceeds all Zimbabwean insurance companies combined.
- EcoSure is expected to grow to be as big as EcoCash, which is making close to $100 million a year
- ConnectedCar is now the largest vehicle tracking company in the country and has created more than 250 jobs and is expected to create another 250 jobs this year
- EcoFarmer now has 650,000 customers and has created over 200 jobs
- the Steward Bank Agent banking model now has 250 distribution agents which employ at least 2 agents each
- Liquid Telecom Zimbabwe, which is 51% owned by Econet Wireless Zimbabwe (though run by Liquid Telecom) supports more than 500 jobs and Econet has invested over $100 million in the company.(though run by Liquid Telecom) supports more than 500 jobs and Econet has invested over $100 million in the company.
- Econet has paid out $1.136 billion in taxes to date, against $109 million paid to its shareholders
- There’s also the mention of the $1,2 billion that Econet has invested in Zimbabwe over the past 6 years.
Is this just another case of plain corporate vanity from Econet? It’s easy to assume that, but there seems to be more behind this.
It’s no coincidence that this latest announcement comes after another statement of clarification a week ago, where the operator defended its position on employment termination and strongly denied any links of that action to cost cutting. Econet didn’t want people to be under the impression that it just sheds jobs for no reason.
The efforts didn’t end there. Also making it to the media is the press release that states how Econet is training 1,000 computer specialists at its Muzinda Hub.
The operator has always held on to its job creator and biggest investor tag, and rightfully so. Without wading deeply into the numbers on downstream investments and the billions poured into Zimbabwe, it’s easy to appreciate the huge contribution the operator has made. So, this can’t be just about self-promotion or setting the facts straight.
I could be wrong here, but this latest press and media blitz seems to suggest something more than that. Could be it be part of Econet’s efforts to lobby for the loosening of regulation which has been handicapping the industry? Is the operator trying to clearly indicate its contribution to the fiscus?
Whatever the reason is, this is too much noise to just talk about jobs, even if the topic is trending in Zimbabwe right now.
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14 comments
Impressive numbers. Despite its detractors, we should all appreciate what Econet have done against a bleak economic backdrop. Without them the economy would be in a even worse situation.
Yep! Can we also have numbers from other ISP who are always favoured by our Minister
wow this means their payroll dishes out more than 60 million bucks a month
Awesome stuff Econet well done whatever the the motivation behind the stats.
This is bullying if you ask me. They are just trying to highlight how big they are and as such they don’t want to be regulated! They are still angry about the reduced tariffs yet they made very good profits! Typical bully capitalist!
If you had said showing off with a bit of salt added we might have agreed.
Generally, I like your comments and critiques on this forum but I must say that in this particular one, you are definitely biased against Econet. Methinks that the stats contained in the press statement are very informative and revealing even to the authorities who spare no moment to directly or indirectly denigrate this organisation and its founder, Strive Masiiwa, at every turn. Sometimes in life you have to do away with modesty and blow your own trumpet. Why don’t you invite Econet’s competitors to profile their own achievements in and contributions to Zimbabwean economy like what @macd chip suggests?
Although it looks like a first in Zim for Telco companies to publish its employment figures, its not a first http://www.implats.co.za/implats/downloads/2003/annual_report/zimplats.htm check the community section.
Every company which want to be relevant world in the country they are operating in always sing loudest about job creation and employment.
Just listen here how DFI(direct foreign investment) is meant to create jobs etc. What wrong with Econet singing LDI(local direct investment)?
@macd chip, not to mention the government trumpeting the Zim-Asset mantra although we all know of course that nothing will ever come out of it.
The timing here is everything. had they flighted this press release a year ago, no one was going to give a hoot. Now after a well documented noises about POTRAZ destabilising the sector, refusal to share infrastructure, for us to think this is one of those informative releases is really scratching the surface! There is definitely more to this without a shred of doubt!
In business, timing is everything
Got a question Mr Mboweni – in what way is ConnectedCar the “largest” vehicle tracking company in Zimbabwe? EW may be a big mobile operator, but it is very naive to expect that everything they do will become “big”. Look at Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, Amazon etc Can we have quantifiable and verifiable figures like how many vehicles they are tracking, their QoS, the jobs they have disrupted in this sector etc so that we have all pros & cons clear enough to make a balanced analysis. There other tracking companies that are very quiet but tracking huge corporate fleets right now, personally, I doubt that there is anyone who fully appreciates the business of tracking in EW right now.
lol dude r ok?
Just so you know, a lot of these Fleet Mgmt companies, if not all, use GSM/WCDMA Technology to transfer the ‘tracking data’ back to server. As a result our operator would pretty much know what number of Tracking Units are out there belonging to Competition