(NEWZIMBABWE) MDC claims news service blocked

MDC claims news service blocked
by Staff Reporter
22/06/2010 00:00:00

THE MDC-T party has accused the country’s telecoms regulator of leaning on mobile phone companies to block its news platform which was meant to counter “biased” coverage of its activities and leaders by the state media.

Under the platform, which was launched a week ago and dubbed “voice of real change”, subscribers could dial given numbers and the party would call them back with various news and information options.

“The options will include, news round-up, President Morgan Tsvangirai’s weekly message, the MDC’s position on the Constitution making process, party events and a feedback platform where Zimbabweans can leave their messages to the party,” the party said.

The service was initially said to be available on Econet lines – the country’s largest mobile phone service provider - but the MDC-T insists that Telecel, another private operator and the state-owned NetOne were also offering the service.

However the party said Econet has since terminated the service under pressure from the country’s telecoms regulator.
“(Still) it is heartening to note that the other lines, Net-one and Telecel lines used in the audio service have not been blocked and continue to operate without any hindrances,” the party said on its website.

Closure of the service followed a threat issued by columnist Nathaniel Manheru in the state-owned Herald newspaper who warned Econet to be careful since “operating licences would be up for renewal soon”.

"The next polls will be fought on the waves, which is why Econet, and its card-carrying owner, Strive Masiyiwa, are so critical to the MDC-T.

"We wait for a new propaganda service, which MDC-T seeks to unveil on June 14, using Masiyiwa’s network, through a toll-free facility. Thank God cellular licenses are up for renewal and Government has to deal with all manner of mischief," Manheru wrote in The Herald's June 12 issue.

The MDC-T claims Manheru's ominous words were behind Econet's decision to terminate the service.

“It is telling to note that our service was disrupted hard on the heels of a threat to one of the cellular phone service providers by one Nathaniel Manheru, who is widely believed to be a senior but misguided civil servant in the Ministry of Media, Information and Publicity,” the MDC-T said.

Prime Minister Tsvangirai’s party continues to express concern over the adverse publicity it gets in the state media despite joining President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF in a coalition government.