IF the statement written in The Financial Gazette; Zim Supplement, dated June 24-30 2010 is true then, I owe Douglas Mboweni all the respect he deserve in the country.
The Financial Gazette dated June 24-30 said that, “ Douglas Mboweni is one of the pioneers of Econet Wireless, having joined in 1996 at a time the company, which was the first to seek a license as a mobile phone operator in Zimbabwe, was preparing to launch its service to the public”.
What I know about Econet is that it started with Strive Masiyiwa in 1993 and in 1996 it was operationing. Infact Econet has become one of the dominant telecommunications Company not only in Zimbabwe, but in Africa to offer quality service in communications.
It is a fact that Mboweni has more than 20 years experience in the Information Technology and telecommunications Industries. This is vast experience that everyone would respect and emulate. This is not a surprise to see Econet being in the lead in telecommunications service providing.
In Zimbabwe almost half of the population holds either “Buddies”, “Business Partner” and “Liberty” lines. Again almost more than a third of Zimbabwean population uses ECOWEB internet services. My wife and I are in the lead in using Econet telecommunications services.
Econet is one of the telecommunications organisations’ in Zimbabwe that entered international mobile market. It has launched the Mascom Wireless network in Botswana, Nigeria, South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, New Zealand and United Kingdom. In Morocco, through the reading that I made it emerged that Masiyiwa own Gulfsat Maghreb in Morocco.
In Zimbabwe so far this is for the first time to have one man trying to network the entire Africa and has penetrated western countries wireless market.
It is time for Africans to have their own media mogul, go to the history book. In global media, we have been learning about Rupert Murdock, Berlusconi, George Lukas and so forth. Now it is time to have books that tells history of people like Strive Masiyiwa, Douglas Mboweni, Trevor Ncube, and so forth.
In my view Zimbabwe has talented Media gurus’ who have worked under severe economic, political and social conditions. Most of the media owners from Zimbabwe have survived and are doing good local, regional and even abroad.
I have been enticed and challenges by the community service programmes that Econet has implemented to benefit local people. Non-profit organisations’ such as National Health Care Trust Zimbabwe, Capernaum Trust, Christian Community Partnership Trust, and Joshua Nkomo Scholarship Fund assist local population academically, social, healthy and even religious to better their lives.
Technological, in Zimbabwe there is no telecommunication organisations’ like Econet that has improved communication service delivery. Range boosters are established in all cities of the country and cables are laid from Harare to Bulawayo, in fact in every corner of the country.
Econet has proved to be a giant and is engaged in both vertical and horizontal integration in terms ownership and control of the company. Vertical they are a wireless telecommunication company that offers buddies, liberty and business partner wireless lines. Horizontal they have merged internet service like ECOWEB, with satellite station like Gulf Maghreb and wireless mobile phone services.
The Financial Gazette dated 24-30 June said that, “under Mboweni Econet has grown into the largest cellular service carrier and has now entered into major upgrade and expansion agreement with Ericsson to increase capacity and quality of voice data traffic in the country”
Ericsson under the terms of agreement will assist in the expansion of core and access of 2G and 3G networks. The aspect of media merging is important in understanding global media.
Media scholars from higher learning institutions’ such as national University of Science and Technology, University of Zimbabwe, Midlands State University and many other should conduct some research about these synergies by wireless telecommunication companies in Zimbabwe. Econet, Netone and Telecel need scholarly attention about their ownership patterns and control. Again important issues about their merging and operation is an interesting as an interesting issue that needs scholarly attention.
New body of knowledge, theoretical framework and technological advancement springing from the three Zimbabwe telecommunications’ organisations’ need a thorough inquiry.
