Author: Valentine Muhamba
TelOne lost US$400K to network vandalism in the first half of 2022
State-owned telecommunications company TelOne has said in a statement that it has lost revenue amounting to US$292,620 in the first half of 2022 due to network vandalism. This figure represents a 64% increase in the instances of thieves making off with TelOne telecommunications equipment when compared to this time last year. “In terms of equipment […]
Reopening a tab you mistakenly closed & other Google Chrome shortcuts you need to know
Mistakenly closing a tab while using Google Chrome is something I do with frightening regularity. I usually end up having to Google the shortcut for restoring a closed tab because I can’t remember the key combinations to save my life. And many of you would laugh because the shortcut on Google Chrome is simply Ctrl […]
The Econet 5G router is going for half a million dollars. Yes, you read that right
Zimbabwe’s biggest mobile network operator Econet Wireless Zimbabwe has announced that you can now buy a 5G router from its stores nationwide. The announcement was made on the company’s Facebook page and follows the company’s recent launch of 5G in Victoria Falls as well as installations in Harare and Bulawayo. According to the promotional material, […]
Apple is building a lockdown mode to protect users from govt spyware attacks
Apple has announced that it is working on a lockdown mode that is aimed at protecting high-risk users like journalists and political activists from government spyware attacks. The measure is to counter government-grade spyware from makers like NSO Group, Candiru and Cytrox who have built programs that manoeuvre around a device’s security protections in order […]
Stranger Things season 4 wracked up 1 billion watch hours, could it save Netflix’s subscriber slump?
Stranger Things is now the most popular English language Netflix series according to a report by the Hollywood Reporter. The show which had its finale over the weekend wracked up 1.15 billion hours of view time in its first 28 days on the platform. This puts it second to the hit Korean show Squid Game, […]
New houses now required to have solar geysers: Our electricity problems are solved, right?
In another case of the government treating symptoms instead of the disease, all new housing units are now required to install solar geysers according to a report by the Sunday News. This new push is said to be part of the government’s efforts to institute the National Renewable Energy Policy and this message was delivered […]
ZWL Bank charges 2022: a necessary evil for the banks, a nightmare for the customer
The local banks have been updating their ZWL bank charges over the course of the last couple of months which reflects the state of the economy. In a normal country, these charges would be seldom altered for the local currency because those nations have some relative stability. In Zimbabwe, however, things are not so, mainly […]
EcoCash automatic bill payments, they have finally done something really cool
Zimbabwe’s biggest mobile money service EcoCash has introduced a Bill Manager, a new service that it says will bring more convenience for its users and simplifies how EcoCash customers manage their bill payments to different service providers, directly from their phones. EcoCash has brought about a number of things over the years that have been […]
Forget gold coins, this local firm wants you to preserve value in cattle
Value preservation is the name of the game if you want to exist in Zimbabwe. With the local currency being a meme coin at this point, losing value faster than it can be printed, every Zimbabwean is trying all they can to retain value. To this end, Zimbabweans cannot be faulted for lacking inventiveness. Everyone […]
The sex tape link Facebook hackers have hit Zim, here’s how to secure your account
The Facebook hacks are out of control, over the weekend two people I friended had their accounts hacked and they both had the same sex tape line from some “IG model”. I don’t them very well but it was suspicious that both had the same link tagging 98 other people they knew. This, at least […]
SA’s Shoprite attacked by ransomware gang in 3 countries
Last week, one of Africa’s biggest retailers, Shoprite, was the victim of a ransomware cyberattack. According to a report by TechCrunch, a group called RansomHouse has claimed responsibility for the attack which compromised customer data in Zambia, Namibia and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). A ransomware attack is that which holds a user’s information hostage, through encryption, […]
This local startup is offering coding & robotics courses for kids
A local startup called Kids Pro is offering programs from computer programming, robotics and electronics courses to kids ages 7 and up. As Kids Pro we aim to impart this knowledge to young eager learners from ages of 7 going up. We have different programmes covering electronics, programming and robotics. The learning environment is an […]
Move aside multiple rates & economic downturn. Zim is going to space next month
The economy is in a tailspin, there are three or more exchange rates out there and civil servants are severely underpaid but we are going to space next month everyone! Yeah… I know, for most of you this really isn’t news because this whole Zim space adventure thing is something that has been rumbling for […]
King Kandoro shares more about Mukoma Bruce, Zimbabwe’s Batman or the ghetto caped crusader
Zimbabwean comedian and online content creator King Kandoro recently dropped a trailer for a Mukoma Bruce, a local adaptation of what it would be like if Batman was Zimbabwean. I’m a DC fanboy and this piqued my interest. Batman is, after all, one of the most popular comic book characters even though he comes off […]
Nedbank customers, swipe limit is now at ZWL$1.5 million
Nedbank Zimbabwe has, in an SMS to customers, said that it has upped the point of sale (POS) swipe limit to ZWL$1.5 million for individuals and ZWL$2.5 for corporates. Dear Client, We advise that our daily swipe limits have been reviewed to ZWL1.5 million for individuals & ZWL2.5 million for Private Banking, Corporates/SMEs. Nedbank Zimbabwe […]
Meikles Hotel’s 5-star bucket bath & the uncomfortable convo about the ZESA power monopoly
I have been saying “this is the strangest thing I have ever seen” too often here lately. Every time I say it I think, “Well, this can’t be topped” but Zimbabwe has a way of bringing up something new to better what has come before. I am sure we have all seen the circular from […]
World Remit to stop direct bank transfers for Zimbabwe starting month-end
Global money transfer agent, World Remit has announced that it will no longer allow its customers in Zimbabwe to receive money directly into their bank accounts. The statement from World Remit reads as follows: At WorldRemit, we pride ourselves on offering the best possible service to our customers. Sometimes that means removing services where we […]
ZESA is now certified to fix faults with drones. It’s not a silver bullet, more of an efficiency thing
The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) is now legally able to incorporate drones in its infrastructure management. This announcement was made at an event the national power company held to mark its acquisition of a Remotely Piloted Aircraft Operator’s Certificate (ROC). What is an ROC and why does ZESA need it to fly drones? An […]
ZB Bank has rebranded & says it wants to put a smile on its customers’ faces
ZB Bank Zimbabwe yesterday held an event where it unveiled its new company branding and direction to shareholders, customers and the press. Before I go any further, I would like to commend ZB for the most “to the point” presentation I have ever witnessed. The CEO Shepherd Fungura was the only one from the bank […]
Utande has capped LTE bundles in Byo, Mutare & Chitungwiza. No love for Harare…
While we were in Mutare at the Hillcrest College ICT Expo and Winter Fair, we visited the Utande stand to check out what the internet service provider (ISP) had on offer for customers in the Eastern Highlands. And to our surprise, the team at Utande told us that they had LTE capped or pay-as-you-go packages […]
Sudan shut down the internet to stop students from cheating during exams?
This is one of the strangest things I have seen in a very long time, and I am saying this as a Zimbabwean who is accustomed to the weird and wonderful that is thrown our way regularly. According to Cloudflare Sudan shut down its internet, over the weekend, to spot students from cheating during exams. […]
EcoCash physical Mastercard is back (again) & it still can’t do online payments
A couple of months ago EcoCash announced that it was entering the domestic remittance game as well as pushing the company’s FCA wallet. This was quite a surprise because the prevailing assumption was that EcoCash was in some sort of conflict with the regulators. However, as it turned out, this was not the case as […]
TECHNIKARI: ZESA’s strength is TRANSMISSION infrastructure, not power generation with DPA CEO Norman Moyo
On this episode of Technikari, I was joined by Norman Moyo the CEO of the Econet Group subsidiary that Strive Masiyiwa said would be bigger than Liquid Intelligent Technologies and Econet Wireless – Distributed Power Africa (DPA). We discussed the state of power generation in Africa with a particular focus on the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply […]
Netflix, Amazon & ESPN+ fighting for F1 rights. Great and all but EPL is life…
It was just a matter of time wasn’t it until Netflix went for live sports. According to a report by Business Insider, the world’s biggest streaming service is looking to add the Formula 1 Championship to its slate of programming. Netflix isn’t the only media company that has thrown its hat in the ring, Disney-owned […]
NetOne has gone 100% electronic with its airtime sales
State-owned mobile network operator (MNO) NetOne has announced on Twitter that is now only selling electronic airtime through its accredited partners. “We have gone 100% electronic! Get your electronic airtime anywhere anytime via @PaynowZW @Techzim @picknpay @OKZimbabwe @HotRechargeZim @ClicknpayZ and your local supermarkets.” NetOne on Twitter It looks like there has been an immediate response […]
Bereka, the local startup delivering Mukuru remittances to your doorstep
While browsing on the interwebs last week, I came across a startup called Bereka which is saying that it is offering to deliver your Mukuru voucher cash to your doorstep. Now, I was immediately blown away because if you have ever experienced Mukuru or any other remittance service’s queues you know that on a bad […]
Mai Titi vs Chihera: internet drama setting the pace for new cyberbullying law
Internet personality and former gospel artist turned comedienne Evidence Chihera appeared before Harare Magistrate yesterday in connection with a Facebook Live where she allegedly claimed that Mai Titi’s children had been raped by a mentally ill person according to a report by NewsDay. This rivalry (for a lack of a better term) has been rumbling […]
Govt’s 4% forex tax spoils OneMoney Remit’s 0% fee promotion
OneMoney’s domestic remittance service (OneMoney Remit) has announced that it is no longer charging its 3% fee for the first transaction you make and if you are sending anything US$10 or more. Introducing the OneMoney Remit Zero Charges promotion!! Send at least USD 10 locally using OneMoney Remit and enjoy: · Zero charges for your […]
Starlink is hitting Mozambique & Nigeria this year. How long till we get a crack at it in Zimbabwe?
Elon Musk’s internet service provider (ISP) Starlink was approved in Mozambique and Nigeria recently according to a tweet from the man himself. According to a report by Techcrunch, Starlink’s arrival in Nigeria was said to have been in the works since 2021. The ISP got a 10-year licence that kicks off this year. For Zimbabwe, […]
POTRAZ has started monitoring your calls. Here’s what you need to know
The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe’s (POTRAZ) call traffic monitoring system was commissioned today by the Minister for ICT, Hon. Jenfan Muswere. “Minister of ICT, Dr. J. Muswere commissioned the Telecommunications Traffic Monitoring System (TTMS) at POTRAZ today. The TTMS is a revenue assurance system that allows POTRAZ to track traffic by operators […]