Service providers blasted over tariff charges

A commentator Alex Magaisa has blamed the government's increase of mobile network charges hike on the service providers for the move which has attracted outrage from users.

Magaisa said on the matter of mobile data and internet charges.

POTRAZ approved the increase of service charges by the network providers.

"While government has quite rightly been criticised for setting a floor price rather than a ceiling price for data and therefore causing a rise in charges, the corporations are hardly innocent bystanders or victims in all this. Just like banks are charging you hefty charges on your deposits and declaring annual profits, mobile network companies will happily enjoy the profits that come with higher tariffs," Magaisa said.

"Corporations, like politicians are psychopaths- they care only about their selfish interests, which in business speak is called the bottom line. The damage caused to others by virtue of their conduct is given a fancy name: externalities. The fact that the public has been priced out of their freedoms such as communication and association is regarded as an externality."

"I know there is little consciousness to support the strategy of consumer boycott in Zimbabwe but it's high time people realise they are on their own, that they have power and sometimes drastic measures are necessary to rein in corporations as well," he added.

He said someone said to me he used to buy 250mb for $1 but now 300mb costs $10.

"Although I have an estranged relationship with numbers, that works out to $8.33 for 250mb, an increase of $7,33! The Minister tweets that he is away on leave till 30 January and will get "to the bottom of it" when he's back! Outrageous doesn't cover it. But like the good and loyal citizens that we are, we shall be outraged for a few days before we comply and we will live complaining ever after," he said.