Telecoms giant Econet Wireless Zimbabwe has got into a row with a government minister over mobile tariffs. The face-off is unusual as business in Zimbabwe usually toes the line, cautious of ruffling the feathers of President Robert Mugabe's administration. But Econet, owned by telecoms tycoon Strive Masiyiwa, said it was necessary for it to speak up against Information and Communications Technology Minister Supa Mandiwanzira over the increase in data tariffs - which had led to a public outcry and a #DataMustFall campaign on social media - and their subsequent reversal. The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe had set a new floor price for data and voice, while issuing a compliance date for all mobile operators. Of the three mobile operators in Zimbabwe, only Econet had complied with the directive. The spat turned nasty when Econet accused Mandiwanzira of lying following his decision to reverse the tariff increase, announcing it before Econet had made its an...
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