Online Reporter
Mthabisi Tshuma, [email protected]
STATE-OWNED telecommunications company NetOne has made a strong appeal to communities in Matabeleland South and across Zimbabwe to stop vandalising network infrastructure, warning that such acts are undermining Government efforts to bridge the digital divide.
The call comes at a time when the country is pushing to expand access to communication services, especially in rural areas that have long been left behind. According to NetOne, destruction of infrastructure is slowing progress and denying communities access to vital services.
The appeal was made during the official commissioning of the Matjinge Network Tower in Bulilima District last week, an important project aimed at improving connectivity in underserved areas.
Speaking at the event, NetOne Group Chief Executive Officer Engineer Raphael Mushanawani, whose speech was read on his behalf by Matabeleland Regional Manager Miss Gugulethu Mpofu, said it was deeply concerning that communities were damaging infrastructure meant to improve their own lives.
He stressed that vandalism was not only costly, but also had a direct impact on efforts to expand reliable mobile and internet services, particularly in rural districts such as Bulilima.
Engineer Mushanawani said that each time a tower is destroyed or damaged, the consequences are far-reaching. Schools, health centres and businesses that depend on communication networks are left without access, affecting both service delivery and economic activity.
The Matjinge Network Tower is part of NetOne’s wider programme to extend network coverage across Matabeleland South, ensuring that more people can connect to mobile and internet services regardless of where they live.
However, this progress is being threatened by continued acts of vandalism.
Engineer Mushanawani pointed out that the problem is widespread and affects telecommunications infrastructure across the country.
“Across Zimbabwe, telecommunications infrastructure is being vandalised. Batteries are stolen, cables are cut and equipment is damaged and when that happens, it is not NetOne that suffers first, it is the ordinary citizen,” said Engineer Mushanawani.
He highlighted the real impact on everyday people, noting that it is communities themselves who suffer the most when infrastructure is destroyed.
“It is the student who fails to access educational material. It is the clinic that cannot make emergency calls. It is the family that loses communication during critical moments. It is the local business that loses income.”
The remarks underline the importance of communication infrastructure in modern life, where access to information, health services and business opportunities increasingly depends on reliable networks.
Engineer Mushanawani described vandalism as more than just a criminal act. He said it amounts to economic sabotage, warning that it directly affects national development efforts and the country’s long-term goals.
He emphasised that such destruction goes against Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030, which aims to transform the country into an upper middle-income economy through development in key sectors, including digital infrastructure.
As part of efforts to address the problem, NetOne is calling for greater involvement from communities themselves. Engineer Mushanawani urged traditional leaders, village heads, councillors, churches, the youth and the broader public to take responsibility for protecting network installations.
He said community ownership is essential if the country is to succeed in closing the digital gap between urban and rural areas.
Residents were also encouraged to report any suspicious activities around base stations and other infrastructure to the authorities without delay.
“Protect it as you would protect your own home because this tower is more than steel and cables, it represents hope, it represents progress and it represents inclusion,” said Engineer Mushanawani.
His message reflects the broader goal of ensuring that every Zimbabwean has access to modern communication services.
The Government has placed digital development at the centre of its National Development Strategy, which focuses on expanding connectivity and ensuring inclusive growth across all regions.
NetOne, as a key player in the telecommunications sector, has been working to roll out infrastructure in remote and underserved areas. Projects like the Matjinge Network Tower are designed to bring communities closer to essential services and opportunities.
Engineer Mushanawani said the company remains committed to this mission, particularly as it celebrates 30 years of operation.
“Whether one lives in Harare, Bulawayo, Plumtree or Matjinge — every Zimbabwean deserves equal access to communication and digital opportunities. Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo, Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo and a nation is built by its owners. At NetOne, we believe deeply in this philosophy. We are not merely building network infrastructure. We are building communities, opportunities and Zimbabwe,” said Engineer Mushanawani.
The commissioning of the Matjinge tower marks another step towards improving infrastructure in rural Matabeleland South. However, officials say the success of such projects depends not only on investment, but also on the support and protection of local communities.
There are growing concerns that if vandalism continues unchecked, it could slow down progress in expanding digital services, particularly in areas that need them most.
