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Econet warns MDC-T
Sydney Kawadza,The Herald (Zimbabwe)
June 24, 2010

http://allafrica.com/stories/201006240116.html

Econet Wireless Zimbabwe Limited has threatened to terminate any of its lines that MDC-T uses for political reasons in breach of Zimbabwe's laws.

The use of the network for political purposes is also in breach of Econet's own policies.

Some sections of the media had claimed Government was clamping down on MDC-T's recently launched daily audio service but it has turned out that Econet itself is against abuse of its network.

The audio service allows individuals to use certain numbers to hear news round-ups, receive messages from party leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, and get updates on party events and other issues.

Last week Econet chief executive Mr Douglas Mboweni wrote to Mr Tsvangirai saying they would not allow the service on their network.

"My attention as the chief executive officer of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe Limited has been drawn to media reports as well as enquiries claiming that MDC has an agreement with Econet for the provision of toll-free services to its members.

"Being aware that Econet does not have such an agreement and that Econet does not offer services such as has been reported in the media, I have nonetheless enquired at all levels of our organisation and established that the only time that your organisation did, in fact, formally approach us was about a month ago," he said.

Mr Mboweni said a Mr Benjamin Nyandoro from MDC-T visited Econet's sales offices to enquire about the service.

"This gentleman met with a senior sales executive and was told categorically that Econet does not provide such a service as was requested.

"Our staff advised your representative that they could therefore approach any other operator offering that service.

"I would like to confirm that the position conveyed by my staff was the correct position and that no agreement was entered into for such a service, and in fact such an agreement cannot be entered into.

"In my capacity as the chief executive officer and with the authority of my board, I do, however, want to make it clear that should your organisation acquire equipment which has the capability to independently provide such a service through Econet lines, such line will be immediately terminated."

In an interview yesterday, Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe chief executive Mr Obert Muganyura said MDC-T's toll-free audio service was illegal under the Broadcasting Services Act.

"According to the law, broadcasts that are provided through cellular systems require a licence from BAZ.

"There are services that have been offered by some institutions, including MDC-T, where the public can dial and receive audio programmes.

"These services are classified under the Broadcasting Services Act and once anyone decides to provide such services, the network providers must follow procedures of licensing for consideration," he said.

The Posts and Telecommunications Act also defines broadcasting as a "service comprising programmes for reception by members of the general public and transmitted by a broadcasting or telecommunications system".

Citing Section 20 of the Broadcasting Services Act, Mr Muganyura said MDC-T was breaking the law.

The Act states that "no political party or organisation shall hold or have control of any broadcasting licence or signal carrier licence".

Mr Muganyuri said the law empowered the State to block any platform from which such services were provided.

Observers said the illegal MDC-T service was part of the party's broader battle to control public communications.

"They have been trying to control communications; first through the Media, Information and Publicity Ministry and lately through the Transport, Communications and Infrastructure Development Ministry.

"They have seen how strategic communication will be in the next elections hence all the noise about communications.

"Pro-MDC-T foreign papers such as their own paper The Zimbabwean pay no duties and provide no employment for Zimbabweans.

"They have found these to be the right places to put their messages.

"(Tendai) Biti has harmonised his activities as Finance Minister and MDC-T secretary-general and lifted duty on telecommunications gadgetry because they want the cellphone to be an alternative broadcasting platform.

"The service started as a Kubatana.com, itself an MDC-T Trojan horse, but they have been forced to come out in the open on such platforms," noted an observer.

MDC-T is accused of trying to use Econet — the largest mobile services provider — as a campaign platform for the next elections.

Media, Information and Publicity Permanent Secretary Mr George Charamba said toll-free services could only be used for humanitarian and marketing purposes.

"The conditions should be defined because toll-free services can only be used towards public good and never for narrow political goals," he said.

"MDC-T wanted to make the cellular services an apparatus for another internal pirate radio," he said.

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