1. * PRICE * Awareness & Monitoring ZIMBABWE EXPERIENCE

2. Follow the MONEY !!!
Policy, Law, Regulators, Operators ... Money is a concrete resource (enabler) and result (reward)
A key plank of consumer protection is AFFORDABILITY
Country comparisons are often simplistic, one tariff versus the other, without adjusting for specific economic realities.

3. Consumer is a Stockholder
Understand the “reason for being” of the stakeholders
Politician (Gvt, Regulator) – Votes
Operator – profit
Consumer – QoL
Consumer is the owner of the ecosystem.
The “reason for being” of the ecosystem is to serve the consumer.

4. Zimbabwe 1996 – 2000 : achieving access
2000 – 2009 : the land question hyperinflation
2009 – 2011 : GNU sensitivities, ITU model excuse for thumbsucking, sanctions environment, Duty Free devices
2012 – 2014 : Network Cost Analysis & Modelling
2014 – 2016 : Gliding path & “Operator Viability”
2017 : Data floor prices
2018 : Consumer Protection Bill >>> ACT

5. Zimbabwe From “3 minutes POT” to per second billing
Consumer Price Index
Whatsapp / Facebook bundles (Net Neutrality)
Operator promotions (10c per SMS versus 50c for 130 per week)
“expiring money” – recharge windows
Regulation of pricing promotions vs Market
Consumer mobility – number portability

6. Zimbabwe Informed consumers and an empowered “price monitoring” force
From SIM for USD100 (2007) to SIM & Airtime bundles (2010) to SIM for 50c. [Windfall Tax?]
Intra-SADC comparisons
Cost based tariffs [include for services, mobile FS]
Cost of obsolete versus cutting edge technology – monitor the trends [operator wrong turn is expensive]
Understand efficiency: investment, operating, maintaining- no recovery for inefficiency

7. Ask the stupid questions
Ask the stupid questions. who is chopping what portion of the consumer’s dollar ?
Foreign technology supplier
Local management of the operator
Regulator ? Government ? [140m over 20yrs]
Corrupt players at all levels ?
Operator shareholders
Why is this service or product FREE ?
Where is the provider’s benefit ?
What is the not so apparent cost to the consumer ?

8. No substitute for information and collaboration of consumers to achieve critical mass for strong voice in a global market.
ASANTE SANA
Reuben Gwatidzo