By Brighton Chiseva
Zaka – Mobile network giant Econet Wireless has started works for the construction of a booster near Jecha Business Centre, in Chief Nhema area after the project was abandoned a few months ago on allegations of clashes between Zanu PF and Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).
Work was supposed to have started beginning of November in 2023 but work only started on May 08 2024 to the delight of locals who were bearing the brunt of limited access to mobile networks.
Ward 15 Councillor Simon Chakazani confirmed the latest development and said they were happy with the progress and were hoping that work would be completed early.
“I can confirm that work has started and we are happy as a community that we are finally going to get a network which has been a challenge in the area for some time.
“We hope that it will be completed soon as people can no longer wait to enjoy the connectivity. People used to travel to higher grounds for better communication and often people missed important updates in time because we had no network,” said Chakazani.
Sources had earlier told TellZim News that they suspected Econet could have been put off by political interference where the local headman was accused of having tried to bar a perceived CCC member amongst the contractors.
It was also alleged that the traditional leaders had demanded an undisclosed amount of cash for the booster to be constructed.
Econet engineers were said to have asked if they were going to employ manual workers from homesteads surrounding the site and that is where one Obvious Kwenda was seconded but the local headman went on to report to Zanu PF district officials that Econet had employed a CCC member.
Contacted for comment earlier Kwenda said he was approached by several Zanu PF members who told him that the local party leadership was not happy with him being part of those contracted by the telecoms giant.
“I was approached by several Zanu PF members who told me that they had meetings where I was discussed with the leadership questioning why I was among those nominated to work on the project.
“I am not even sure if I am going to work when they come because we were told that work would start on November 1 but up to now there is nothing and we are still waiting. I am eager to work and this has nothing to do with political orientation,” said Kwenda.
However, sources said Kwenda was among the workers when work resumed at the construction site.
Last year, a highly placed source from Econet however said work was in progress offsite at the time, saying there was some progress and the project was on course with a completion target of April 2024.
“Work is ongoing as we speak, the target is completing the project by April next year. So what happens is people may see no progress on the ground but work is ongoing offsite. Maybe material is being collaged for shipping once, so that work can start once the needed material has been placed on site to avoid ups and downs,” said the source at the time.
