Econet Crushing Zimbabweans in Bulawayo | Letter
23 December 2014
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AN OPEN LETTER TO STRIVE MASIYIWA.
Since it is impossible to contact anyone in authority in head office, I am forced to write an open letter to you so that you hear about what I have to say via the open platform of the internet.
Two things I have always liked about Econet is that 1. It prides itself in excellence. 2. It looks after the poor man, sidelined by big banks, big Telecom parastatals and big companies. However, it appears these founding values are being abandoned by your executives in Zimbabwe. I am convinced that you do not share in this abandonment, which is why I appeal to you directly. It is possible that in the raptorial obsession for profits and thus bonuses, these founding principles are being ‘left behind’.
Are you aware that for two months the regular SMS service is often not functioning? Are you aware that for weeks it was not possible to send SMS’s?
Are you aware that we have to pay usd3 for a month’s Whatsapp, yet often we are forced to make calls because the Whatsapp messages are not sent, sometimes for 4-5 hours?
Are you aware that desperate customers switch ON the airplane mode so that when it is switched OFF the customers phone finds a functioning tower and allows the Whatsapp message to be sent. Then he has to do this again a few minutes later to receive the reply?
Are you aware that often the only way to receive a Whatsapp message is to switch the phone off for a few minutes and then switch it on again?..and often not even these desperate measures do not work for hours?
Are you aware that the image of Econet is being destroyed all the while your executives are piling profit on top of profit, and bonus upon bonus, yet they are about to precipitate a lemming like migration to other providers?
Are you aware that your loyal customers resent having to pay the USD3 per month for Whatsapp, yet they still are forced to call at their own expense because Whatsapp is not functioning. So Econet gets the calls and the monthly charges?
Are you are aware that your executives are exploiting the fact that Econet has a monopoly because the other providers can’t provide the services that Econet does. Now Microsoft also had a monopoly but its former clients are now using android because they despise Microsoft? Thus with resentment building up as soon as the other providers catch up, there will be a mass migration suddenly away from Econet to any other company… repeating the hate Microsoft syndrome?
Are you aware that your personal image you have built up of championing the poor, the neglected, the masses, is being undermined by every Whatsapp message that fails to go through?
Have you any idea of the relationship problems that are being faced by your loyal customers when husbands do not reply to their wives for hours, their wives do not reply to their husbands, children appear to ignore the messages of parents and lovers appear to refuse to reply to their partners?
Have you any idea that some people are considering a demonstration at your offices in Bulawayo, forcing you to fire inept, corrupt, lazy, sweet talking managers there?
Are you aware that sometimes it is impossible to phone at lunchtime and at the end of the working day because the servers cannot cope with the traffic in Bulawayo?.. and that Econet is losing millions of dollars a year through this?
Every dog has its day…. but every dog is defeated by others in the end and it appears that your executives are blindly ignoring this in their lust for profits they deny more servers and better technicians so that profits can be bigger and bonuses fatter? If this continues, Econet will become an also ran, as has been, a tried but failed Telecoms company just like other famous ones who rose to the top and were abandoned by customers.
You are very special to us Strive, but fame is fleeting. I warn you that if this continues, like Microsoft the love for Econet can be transformed into a lovers deep hatred. You can contact me on [email protected]. It must be you personally and not one of your inept executives trying to cover his mediocrity.
Your respectful and caring
FANYANA SHUMBA

9 Replies to “Econet Crushing Zimbabweans in Bulawayo | Letter”

  1. I was robbed by Econet. After having recharged my phone and bought data bundles I bought and loaded an additional $10 on the 8th of December 2014. However only after 1 hour when I wanted to phone I got the anoying message that you have insufficient credit to make a call. I went to Econet Avondale only to be told that your phone may have been updating the software. I did not get any notification that my data bundle had been exhausted and was now on pay as you go data utilization. In other countries they inform you when you data bundle is exhausted so that you buy additional data. This ambushing by Econet is dishonesty and outright theft to say the least. There is no way of you checking your data balance. I told Econet to reverse this charge but they flatly refused. I will not use Econet again. I really do not expect this from a company owned by Strive of all people.

  2. I agree with the writer, I wanted to buy a smart phone for my wife at your Graniteside shop but could not because the phones were not displayed and the staff wanted me to pay before opening the box

  3. The problems are not only in Bulawayo. I live in Harare and I switched because of poor network level of service and the illtreatment experienced at the Econet shops (several occasions). The MNO I’m using is doing way better in both respects so I hope you’re heard and EWZ improves.

  4. The problems are not only in Bulawayo. I live in Harare and I switched because of poor network level of service and the illtreatment experienced at the Econet shops (several occasions). The MNO I’m using is doing way better in both respects so I hope you’re heard and EWZ improves.

  5. Are you aware that econet lines are only used for receiving because of high charges. We have switched to a service provider that charges usd 10 per month. You talk kusvikira battery rapera.

  6. Are you aware that econet lines are only used for receiving because of high charges. We have switched to a service provider that charges usd 10 per month. You talk kusvikira battery rapera.

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