ZIMBABWE’S Minister of Information and Technology revealed that his ministry was investigating the country’s sole landline services provider for irregular billing practices.
Nelson Chamisa, the newly-appointed minister, said this follows an outcry by consumers that TelOne was ripping them off.
“The ministry is trying to investigate the billing system being used, because we have detected very disturbing trends,” he told media over the weekend.
Chamisa added that the Zimbabwean cabinet will meet later this month to decide on a new tariff regime adding that this could become effective in July.
In a country where civil servants earn as little as US$100 a month, some TelOne customers said they had been receiving bills as huge as US$1000 per month.
The government has since barred the company from terminating contracts of defaulting clients until cabinet resolved the issue.
Marcus Mushonga
