Huge TelOne bills provoke outcry

TelOne charges are the highest in the region. A survey by The Zimbabwean reveals that TelOne subscribers are getting bills for ranging between US$250 and US$1000, a figure that can buy a second hand 323 Mazda vehicle in Zimbabwe today.
Most Zimbabweans, the majority of whom are civil servants, earn less than their TelOne bills.

The disconnection exercise has sparked an outcry from long-suffering Zimbabweans who have called for government to stop its parastatal from disconnecting telephone services over what they say are ‘extortionist’ charges.
“I got a bill of US$1000 and there is no way one can say that it’s a true reflection of the telephone usage. These are ridiculous estimates by Tel-One to try to raise foreign currency,” said Hezekia Sibanda, a teacher.

Consumer Council of Zimbabwe southern region spokesperson, Comfort Muchekeza, condemned the disconnection exercise, and blasted the ‘exorbitant’ bills, which he said “look more like estimates.”
“TelOne services are poor for starters and the bills are estimates in a bid to raise foreign currency. Its really shocking,” said Muchekeza.
The Public Relations Officer for TelOne, Collin Wilbesi, could not be reached for comment.

But officials at TelOne who said the charges are required to make TelOne viable.
“Customers who make payment plans are not being disconnected as long as they honour the payment schedules. Charging economic rates will make TelOne viable and facilitate network growth,” an official said.

TelOne is blamed for the poor telephone reception in most parts of the country.
The state telephone company grapples constantly with forex problems and recently failed to honour its internet payment bill, resulting in the main satellite internet link being cut.
Intelsat, an international satellite internet firm, cut its international bandwidth to Zimbabwe after TelOne failed to pay its debt of about US$700 000.