Zimbabweans outraged by mobile tariff hikes, blame government & vent frustrations on social media

Econet Wireless’ adoption of mobile broadband tariffs which have made the internet one of the most expensive services for the average Zimbabweans has caused an outrage among subscribers and triggered a flood of criticism for the mobile operator as well as POTRAZ, the telecoms regulator that approved the increase in the first place.

Comments in the articles related to this development raised concerns about how this will affect development. One reader called Chris Mberi said,

This will retard development. Our pockets are already strained and now we have to cut communication too. Many Zimbabweans have just been pushed out of the digital age. I thought Telcos would survive through increased volumes not by extortionist pricing per Meg.

Others like a reader only signed in as Moyo said,

…a direct attack on our civil liberties by a government that is at war with its people

Then there was a number of people who have called this a political tactic. A Techzim reader going by the name Kanyika Kanovava said,

You are all turning a blind eye on the fact of exactly whats happening, this is a Political Move by our Gvt to ensure that they control Social Media. You have been sendign too many videos and whats apps etc to your relatives and our Gvt found the perfect way of managing that,

Professor Jonathan Moyo, the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education also shared his own thought on this,

Use of over pricing, instead of technology, to curb Internet access or manage social media is primitive elitism & promotes underdevelopment! https://t.co/nKf2GrRGW4

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) January 11, 2017

On social media, specifically, Twitter and Facebook, as well as various WhatsApp groups, there was a fair share of criticism for the price increase with people expressing shock and questioning the idea behind the increase in a tough economy.

@HMviringi @matigary @263Chat @deltandou @Potraz_zw @Techzim @Wamagaisa I’m shocked quite honestly. Minister of Finance in 2017 Budget Statement explicitly said no price increases that would be led by parastatals

— Nigel MK Chanakira (@nigelchanakira) January 11, 2017

@econetzimbabwe‘s jagged up data prices? When did costs go up? INSPIRED TO RIP U OFF @DouglasMboweni @LovemoreNyatsin @263Chat @Techzim

— mmatigari (@matigary) January 11, 2017

@matigary @econetzimbabwe @Techzim @StriveMasiyiwa @DouglasMboweni
Hatina mari but Econet seems to want to draw blood from stones.

— Danaivamwe Chimunhu (@DemmetChimunhu) January 11, 2017

A lot of criticism was also thrown at the government.

@HMviringi @matigary @263Chat @deltandou @Potraz_zw @Techzim @Wamagaisa I’m shocked quite honestly. Minister of Finance in 2017 Budget Statement explicitly said no price increases that would be led by parastatals

— Nigel MK Chanakira (@nigelchanakira) January 11, 2017

@TinyikoHalimani @zenzele @Techzim We must recall that the tariffs went up when people were expressing a legitimate displeasure with things!

— Mars His Sword (@PhilaniANyoni) January 11, 2017

Then, of course, there was there was the obligatory flood of memes that follows everything that trends on social media.