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Zim's Econet Wireless running smoothly

CORRECTION:

Harare – Zimbabwe's Econet Wireless has disputed that it's chief executive officer was in "crisis" meetings in response to the current situation obtaining in Zimbabwe, highlighting that its services are operating normally.

This was after Fin24 reported on Wednesday that it was business as usual for the company, despite the takeover of power by the military on Wednesday morning, quoting the executive assistant to chief executive Douglas Mboweni.

Mboweni had said by phone he would not speak as he was in meetings when called twice.

Econet Wireless is the biggest telecom operator in Zimbabwe and it competes against state owned telcos, NetOne and Telecel.

Subscribers on Zimbabwe's three mobile networks shared pictures and videos about the takeover of power by the military, starting with the rolling in of army tankers and armed soldiers on Tuesday afternoon.

On Wednesday, Zimbabweans shared through social media platforms pictures, messaged and videos of a heavy presence of army on the streets of Harare’s CBD.

The three networks were fully operational, with the state run television station, ZTV giving prominent coverage to the statement by the armed forces saying it was dealing with “criminals” around Mugabe.

Nyatsine said the company was not holding any crisis meetings and also refuted quotes attributed to him in the story in a complaint lodged on Thursday morning.

He was said: “All our services are up and we are at work as we speak,” he added.

Other companies were also fully operational in Zimbabwe although tensions were evident owing to the heavy presence of army tankers in central Harare.

Conversations on social media and on the streets of Harare centred on the political uncertainty.

Other business leaders were not immediately available when reached for comment.

Zimbabwe has been under Mugabe’s rule over the past 37 years and his government has been blamed for stifling access to information after establishing a Cyber Security Ministry recently.

The country was also finalising a Cyber and Computer Crimes Bill that experts say will further curtail social media freedoms.

Telecom companies in Zimbabwe have been losing revenue from the voice category through increasing usage of the social media platforms that are relatively cheaper.


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