The Minister of ICT Postal and Courier Services Supa Mandiwanzira announced a 35% tariff slash exactly a year ago and adviced that a future downward review would be imminent since our tariffs were too expensive. This is a move, unfortunately, that we strongly think has contributed to crippling the sector which is Zimbabwe’s second largest tax paying industry, as we face serious economic challenges.
This was one bold and informed decision by the minister to review the tarrif upwards, as the sector has been sounding a May day!
The second review has been recieved well by operators, while to a larger extent they strongly feel that government could do better as the last slash from an all time high of 26 cents to 15 cents saw them lose a whopping 11cents.
The meagre increase may not be significantly felt by both subscribers and operators but a cent for every million active users will mean so much more to the operators.
The Zimbabwean Mobile operators have been seriously lobbying government since the last year increase which had rendered them crippled with serious revenue decline amid increasing operational costs which saw Econet taking Potraz to court, a case they lost with costs.
The operators are currently seized with the 35% tarrif slash, 5% on juice cards, 15%Vat, 10% tax, excise duty plus a reintroduction of duty on ICTs.
- Technomag Zimbabwe