Load Shedding Hampers ZAMTEL Network
Customers of ZAMTEL are facing serious issues with their network services, leading to frustration and business disruptions. Since March 11th, 2024, many users have struggled to use ZAMTEL’s network, especially for essential services like mobile money transactions.
Some customers believe that the problems have worsened due to the recent introduction of 8-hour daily load shedding by ZESCO. This power cut schedule, announced by ZESCO Managing Director Victor Mapani, has had a negative impact on businesses and daily life, exacerbating existing challenges.
ZAMTEL customers have reported frequent network failures, coinciding with the daily power cuts happening across the country. This has led to significant inconvenience, with some users unable to access the internet for over a week.
The financial strain on ZAMTEL is evident, as it contributed over K544 million to the K5.6 billion losses reported by state-owned enterprises in 2022, according to the Auditor General’s report.
Customers have taken to social media to express their frustration, criticizing ZAMTEL for its poor service quality. Some have even threatened to report the company to regulatory authorities like the Zambia Information and Communications Technology (ZICTA) and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC).
Despite attempts to get a response from ZAMTEL regarding the network issues, the company remained unreachable by press time.
The situation highlights the urgent need for ZAMTEL to address its network problems and restore reliable services to its customers. Failure to do so could further harm both the company’s finances and its relationship with its user base.
Additional source: Zambia Business Times
