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Hlabile Dube Business Reporter
ECONET Wireless agents in Bulawayo are up in arms with their service provider for barring them from doubling up as agents for Telecash, a mobile money transfer service by Telecel. Recently, Telecel launched its mobile money transfer service putting it in direct competition with Econet’s EcoCash.
Bulawayo Indigenous Business Association (BIBA) vice president, Fred Ndoro told Business Chronicle that his association had received complaints from some of the agents alleging that Econet was blackmailing them for doubling as Telecel agents.
Ndoro said: “Econet is barring their agents from doubling as agents for Telecash, which is run by Telecel. They shut down their systems once they discover that their agent is also engaged by Telecel.”
He criticised the move by Econet saying it had reignited its protracted hostility with rival Telecel at the expense of its customers.
“Bulawayo residents are business minded people, they want to make money at all costs to take care of their families. The move by Econet is depriving residents from widening their market,” he said.
Ndoro said Econet should revisit its decision and allow agents to double service provision.
One of the agents who spoke on condition of anonymity said they were shocked when they discovered that their systems had been cut off.
“They launched an inspection on all Ecocash agents and when they discovered that we were providing Telecash services they went on to cut off our systems,” said an agent who has been cut off by Econet.
Upon making enquiries with Econet, the agent said they were told to remove all Telecel posters from their stations in order to be reconnected.
Econet Bulawayo agents’ manager Victoria Ndlovu declined to comment.
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