News / National
Zimbabwe's 'Christian Spiritual Link' airtime recharge cards being investigated
31 Jul 2011 at 01:18hrs | Views
Last week a church in Zimbabwe, United Family International Church (UFI) launched "Christian Spiritual Link" airtime recharge cards that enable subscribers of different mobile phone networks to communicate directly with the prophet.
The cards, bearing the inscription "It is not just a text; it's a life-changing link", are being sold for US$3 locally and US$6 outside the country.
Now the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) is investigating UFI leader Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa for allegedly operating a cellular phone airtime recharge service illegally.
Potraz deputy director-general Mr Alfred Marisa said engineers were working to establish how Prophet Makandiwa's recently introduced recharge cards could "ride on other networks".
He said indications were his church did not seek permission to introduce the cards, adding that further steps would be taken after the authority establishes the legality of such a service.
Efforts to get a comment from UFI by late yesterday afternoon were fruitless.
Potraz deputy director-general Mr Alfred Marisa said they We are investigating this matter so as to understand the nature of the service offered. Only then can they establish whether or not the service is legal.
Mr Marisa said preliminary indications were that UFI could be operating a service known as virtual network, which is illegal in Zimbabwe.
"What is clear is that we are not aware of this service," said Mr Marisa.
"There is no way that you can provide such a service in the country without riding on existing network providers.
"If the church had indeed approached any service provider with that service, they were supposed to have come to us to seek permission. But from where I am standing, there is no such request in our in-baskets."
"If, indeed, we find that the 'airtime' service required a licence, then the law will take its course" said Marisa.
Cellular service provider Econet has already distanced itself from the service.
The cards, bearing the inscription "It is not just a text; it's a life-changing link", are being sold for US$3 locally and US$6 outside the country.
Now the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) is investigating UFI leader Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa for allegedly operating a cellular phone airtime recharge service illegally.
Potraz deputy director-general Mr Alfred Marisa said engineers were working to establish how Prophet Makandiwa's recently introduced recharge cards could "ride on other networks".
He said indications were his church did not seek permission to introduce the cards, adding that further steps would be taken after the authority establishes the legality of such a service.
Efforts to get a comment from UFI by late yesterday afternoon were fruitless.
Mr Marisa said preliminary indications were that UFI could be operating a service known as virtual network, which is illegal in Zimbabwe.
"What is clear is that we are not aware of this service," said Mr Marisa.
"There is no way that you can provide such a service in the country without riding on existing network providers.
"If the church had indeed approached any service provider with that service, they were supposed to have come to us to seek permission. But from where I am standing, there is no such request in our in-baskets."
"If, indeed, we find that the 'airtime' service required a licence, then the law will take its course" said Marisa.
Cellular service provider Econet has already distanced itself from the service.
Source - TH
