Legislators have asked Parliament to consider giving them Econet data bundles instead of Netone bundles which they claim are giving them problems.
Parliament bought Samsung tablets for the legislators a few years ago under its paperless-Parliament project.
However, due to Covid-19 Parliament has had to rely on virtual platforms to meet.
This saw the legislature giving the Parliamentarians data packages to enable connectivity.
However, the legislator claim they are facing challenges connecting with the state-owned Netone bundles and now want Econet.
Speaking in the National Assembly, Hurungwe Central legislator Dought Ndiweni said he has problems with NetOne connectivity in his constituency.
‘’My point of privilege is in relation to the data bundles package purchasing for Honourable Members. I would like to applaud Parliament and commend them for that gesture.
‘’However, Mr Speaker Sir, some of us in different constituencies have a problem with the NetOne connectivity. I am pleading through your office that if Parliament could avail Econet data bundles as well, where NetOne data bundles are not helpful. I thank you Mr Speaker,’’ he said.
In his response, the Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda promised to look into the issue.
‘’We will look into the matter but there is a Standing Order that invites Honourable Members who have problems with their data bundles to approach the ICT Department to get corrective action,’’ he said.
NetOne is being weighed down by government
NetOne Cellular is one of the three mobile network service providers in Zimbabwe. The others are Telecel Zimbabwe and Econet Wireless Zimbabwe.
The state-owned mobile service provider plays second fiddle to Econet Wireless, on subscriber base and some other services such as mobile money transfer.
Although NetOne has the potential to compete for neck-to-neck with Econet Wireless, the company has been let down by corruption. There are reports of non-payment of services rendered to the government.
Former chief executive officer Reward Kangai is on record alleging that former ICT Minister Supa Mandiwanzira looted the company through controversial deals.
MPs: Give us Econet Data bundles, Netone is problematic
MPs: Give us Econet Data bundles, Netone is problematic
