Kabonde orders search of journalists’ phone numbers at Zain
By Chibaula Silwamba
Wed 09 June 2010, 08:10 CAT
SOURCES yesterday revealed that police officers under the instructions of Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde went to Zain and searched phone numbers of some journalists in the private media to check for their sources of information about power struggles in the police.
And sources said police deputy commissioner Dr Martin Malama is a wrong person to defend the deliberations of the meeting Kabonde had with senior police officers because he did not attend.
The sources said Kabonde had instructed some junior officers to search for contacts of journalists in the private media last week.
“The police officers did the search at Zain. Since they couldn’t find the numbers of the sources of information, the IG proceeded to prepare that list of suspects whom he intends to have retired. You can even ask Zain. If management is honest and has integrity, it will not dispute this information. The search was conducted last week but it was fruitless,” the source said.
“It’s strange that the internal wrangles in the police command could lead to this kind of behaviour of searching journalists’ phone numbers; it’s strange that Zain could allow such things. I think it’s important that you as the media protest to Zain over its conduct.”
When contacted last week when The Post first learnt of the intended search, police spokesperson Bonnie Kapeso had said Kabonde told him that there was nothing like that going on.
“The IG has assured me that he has not instructed anybody to search phone numbers at Zain,” said Kapeso.
But sources at Zain confirmed a search was conducted.
“The officers got a list of numbers,” the source said.
Meanwhile, other sources said Dr Malama did not attend the meeting Kabonde had with provincial commanding officers, some deputy commissioners and senior assistant commissioners on Thursday May 27, 2010.
“We are surprised that he is the one answering when in fact he was not in that meeting at Force Headquarters. I hope this confirms to you the friction in the police high command,” said the source.
“Why didn’t commissioner of police Mr Graphael Musamba hold a joint briefing with the IG? Instead, the IG used Dr Malama to propagate his lies. These are problems you have in security wings when you have a President who is aloof; he is ever travelling.”
Recently, sources told The Post that Kabonde was grilled by provincial commanding officers, some deputy commissioners and senior assistant commissioners over the violence that rocked Mufumbwe prior to and during the by-election. The sources also said Kabonde planned to recommend Musamba, Kapeso and some other senior officers for retirement on suspicion of working against his leadership. But Malama dismissed the reports, saying there were no divisions in the police command.
Labels: CORRUPTION, FRANCIS KABONDE, MARTIN MALEMA, POLICE, PRESS FREEDOM, ZAIN
Read more...
Zain Malawi wins 3G mobile phones licence
By Nyasa Times
Published: November 4, 2009
Zain Malawi, a leading mobile service provider in the country, has finally received an International Mobile Telecommunication’s third generation (3G) licence which the company applied to government in 2006.
Zain Malawi Marketing Director Elwin Kadango (pictured) said in the capital Lilongwe that the company would now start using the 3G data which would effeciently improve the mobile services to its customers by providing them with modern technologies.
“Using the latest international mobile telecommunications popularly known as 3G, users of Zain services can surf the internet and other services at a cheaper cost and faster speed,” he said.
Currently, he said, other communication providers in the country are using 2.5G which is the oldest, with low speed and high costs.
He added that with the modern service, the company was planning to connect the country’s schools and hospitals.
As a social corporate partner, these are the key areas (education and health) the company would like to assist government in order to improve its delivery service, he said.–APA
Labels: LICENSES, MOBILE PHONES, ZAIN
Read more...
Zain boss challenges workers to focus more on development
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Mon 02 Nov. 2009, 04:00 CAT
ZAIN Africa chief executive officer Chris Gabriel has observed that productivity of most companies was being hampered by workers who spend most time on non-priority work-related activities.
Delivering a lecture to the Lusaka Round Table No. 15 on Friday evening, Gabriel said there was need for employees to make themselves relevant and contribute to the overall objective of the company.
Gabriel said there was need for workers to be honest and proactive to themselves as way of contributing to the overall productivity levels of any company.
He stressed that attitude towards work was key in determining the contribution of each employee to the collective efforts of all workers in the company.
“Spend more time on things you can control and influence development on…be focused on things you are supposed to do,” Gabriel said.
“You have to keep on raising the bar high by being truthful and honest to yourself…it’s not about staff because you are an individual but it’s about looking at specific objections and really making sure you add value.”
And Gabriel said the ultimate contribution of each employee was dependent upon individual attitude towards work.
He said it was important that each employee remained disciplined and focused towards the objective of the company as a collection of the overall staff objective.
“Nothing is impossible and fear is the only limitation while attitude determines success,” said Gabriel. “Discipline and focus, that is what it is all about.
Gabriel has five degrees and has worked in among other continents, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, United States, Europe and the Scandinavian region.
Labels: WORK ETHIC, ZAIN
Read more...
Zain’s future unclear over sale talks, loyalty programme revised
By Nyasa Times
Published: September 10, 2009
Questions linger over the future of mobile service provider, Zain after an Indian-Malaysian consortium announced its intentions to acquire a controlling stake in the company.
The telecommunications giant operates in over 16 countries in Africa worth over $10 billion with 41 million users including Malawi.
Zain Malawi management has also not made any comment following report that India’s Vavasi Group, joined by the Malaysian billionaire Syed al Bukhary will buy out Zain stakes. Agreements with other consortium members are reportedly to be under way.
Earlier this week, media reports said that top shareholders are looking to offload a 46% stake in Zain for about $14 billion.
Zain, which has invested more than $12 billion in its African operations since 2005, reported first-quarter losses in seven of its markets in the continent.
Meanwhile, Zain Malawi has announced that it has revised its Loyalty Program (LP) following suggestions from customers on how they felt the leading mobile phone company could be awarding the bonus air time.
Zain Marketing Director Enwell Kadango said the feedback the company received from the customers was so overwhelming saying the loyalty program had been a success.
“From the suggestions, our customers want to be recognized for every unit they use. While in the past bonus units were awarded for every 500 units used, this time around our customers want to be rewarded for every unit used,” said Kadango.
For the August usage, bonus airtime will be paid from September 5, 2009,” said Kadango.
He added that for every 1 unit used, a customer will receive 0.1 free unit or 10 percent of airtime used. He said this means if one uses 10 units, will gets 1 unit as bonus.
Kadango said the bonus units will be used for voice, SMS, Internet access and will be used anytime of the day on net only.
Loyalty Program has been operational for two years since 2007
Labels: ZAIN
Read more...
