Media Institute of Southern Africa : Promoting Media Diversity . Pluralism . Self-Sufficiency . Independence

On November 6, 2008, Econet Wireless published a statement published in the local print media withdrawing its contract line services for clients under the Business Partna scheme as of November 10, 2008, a move which has left thousands of Zimbabweans deprived of their right to communicate. Other mobile service providers and affiliate service companies, in tandem with Econet Wireless, have increased tariffs, with the average cost of a text message having risen from approximately ZW$1000 to at least ZW20 000, an increase of 2000%.

It is MISA Zimbabwe’s considered position that this state of affairs in the telecommunications industry is a serious impediment on the right of the people of Zimbabwe to communicate; as well as their right to freedom of expression as guaranteed in Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights. This right includes the ability and access to usage of tools of communication such as the internet, fixed telephones and mobile telephone networks by ordinary people, as emphasized by the World Summit on Information Societies (WSIS) held in Tunis, Tunisia 2005.

In light of these universally accepted principles, MISA Zimbabwe urges the fixed and mobile telephone service providers as well as the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) to act with the full understanding that communication is a human right and not a privilege.

We also emphasize to the same that whilst the Zimbabwe national economy remains unpredictable, telecommunications remain a key pillars of freedom of expression and access to information the world over. To therefore unilaterally increase tariffs without consulting members of the public or carrying out publicized surveys of the importance of communication to the people of Zimbabwe in times of social and economic strife is to act in contradiction with Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to ignore the WSIS principles established under the auspices of the International Telecommunications Union which outline that all forms of communication, especially ICT’s, must be geared towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals.

MISA Zimbabwe urges all of the fixed and mobile telephone network providers to reconsider their position, if they are to be considered corporations with an understanding of corporate social responsibility.

Ends

For more information please contact:

The Assistant Programmes Officer
Koliwe Nyoni
Media Institute of Southern Africa- Zimbabwe Chapter
84 McChlery Avenue
Eastlea
Harare

Alternative email: koliwe@misazim.co.zw
Website: www.misazim.co.zw
Telefax:+263 4 776165/746838
Mobile:+263 11 639 682/+263 91 3 020 577

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