For too long, Zimbabwean consumers have been held captive by a telecommunications market that lacks fair competition and transparency. The recent decision by Econet Wireless, the nation's dominant mobile operator, to reduce its "unlimited" monthly data package to a restrictive 200GB cap is the final straw. This move is a clear degradation of value and a symptom of a broken market where consumers have limited choices. 

Econet is actively building and promoting a futuristic 5G network capable of delivering incredible speeds, yet it is trapping customers in a past with regressive data caps. A 200GB data cap can be exhausted in mere hours at 5G speeds, making the company's marketing of technological progress a deep contradiction. This practice of advertising "unlimited" services that are, in reality, subject to opaque and restrictive Fair Usage Policies is deceptive and anti-consumer.  

This situation is only possible because of significant barriers that prevent genuine competition. The most critical barrier is the lack of 

Mobile Number Portability (MNP). Unlike in most competitive markets worldwide, Zimbabweans cannot switch mobile providers without abandoning their phone number, a number deeply integrated into their personal and professional lives. This creates a massive and unfair cost to switching, effectively locking customers into a single provider and shielding Econet from the consequences of its poor policies. 

The regulatory authority, POTRAZ, has acknowledged the need for MNP for over a decade, yet has failed to set a date for its implementation. This regulatory inaction directly benefits the incumbent operator at the expense of millions of Zimbabwean consumers. 

The time for passive frustration is over. It is time to demand change. Viable alternatives for internet service now exist, from other mobile operators like NetOne and Telecel to high-speed, truly unlimited fixed and satellite services like Liquid Home, TelOne, and Starlink. 

We, the undersigned citizens, customers, and advocates for a fair digital future in Zimbabwe, hereby demand immediate and decisive action from both Econet Wireless and POTRAZ.

We call on Econet Wireless Zimbabwe to:

Immediately restore a truly unlimited monthly data plan that is free of deceptive throttling policies.
Alternatively, introduce a new, transparent high-volume package with a minimum data cap of 1TB, offered at a fair and competitive market price. 

We call on the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) to:

Fulfill its mandate to foster a competitive market by providing a clear and public timeline for the full implementation of Mobile Number Portability (MNP).
Set a target completion date for MNP implementation no later than the end of 2025 to finally give Zimbabwean consumers the freedom to choose their provider without losing their identity.

 
By signing this petition, you are joining the #SwitchOrSilenceZW movement. You are sending a clear message that we will no longer accept a second-class digital experience. We demand fair value, transparency, and the fundamental right to choose.

Sign this petition to tell Econet and POTRAZ that the era of accepting opaque policies and limited choices is over. It's time to build a telecommunications market that serves the needs of a connected and aspiring Zimbabwe.