Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe has launched a campaign urging the telecommunications regulator to reduce internet charges, saying recent increases in data violate fundamental human rights to access information.
In a statement MISA, together with stakeholders under Media Alliance of Zimbabwe, says it is petitioning the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), and various mobile and internet providers to reduce data costs.
"MISA Zimbabwe under the auspices of the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe, together with various other stakeholders, has mounted the #DataMustFall campaign and the signing of a petition urging and various mobile and internet service providers in Zimbabwe, to reduce data costs.
MISA said the development in Zimbabwe were contrary to continental principles on the provision of affordable internet to all persons without discrimination, as internet access was now a preserve of the rich and a luxury to the poor.
The global pandemic has provided enough evidence to show that internet provision should now shift to a holistic framework which entails universal access not only predicated on profit making but enjoyment of fundamental human rights, said MISA.
