Econet taken to task over 'phantom' WhatsApp bundles

Econet Wireless Private Limited is under fire for allegedly misleading its clients through the much-touted WhatsApp daily data bundle facility that does not even last a day in normal use and a Harare woman has slapped the mobile network operator with a $50 000 lawsuit.

Ms Sihle Maxine Mabuda has since successfully obtained police clearance to hold a peaceful demonstration against Econet in Harare on November 25 this year.

The woman said she purchased WhatsApp data bundles for 30 cents after learning from advertisements that she will enjoy the services for a full day.

It later turned out that the 30 cents only buys data rather than time, 20 megabytes of data which does not last for a day, as suggested in the advertisement.

When she tried to call her daughter who is in South Africa through WhatsApp voice call, Ms Mabuda realised that the bundles were not even sufficient.

Ms Mabuda, in her declaration, contends that Econet was misrepresenting the duration of its data bundles as a marketing gimmick.

After checking with the Econet offices, Ms Mabuda said she was informed that the whole issue was a marketing gimmick to lure clients.

Ms Mabuda wants damages to the tune of $50 000 plus interest calculated at the rate of 5 percent from the date of issuance of summons to the date of judgment.

She also wants Econet to be compelled to pay costs of the suit.

Econet Wireless is yet to respond.