Latest development indicate that integrated telecoms group Econet has started to implement its own ways of reducing combating Corona Virus. Their management has already began a process of identifying employees who can work from home and those who can avoid travelling to their workstations according to Tech Unzipped.
Econet is known to be an early adopter of technology and they organisation doesn’t hesitate to implement change and disruptive technology. Health professionals have described Econet’s efforts as noble and proative.
Econet is also aided by the fact that they are the largest network operator though Econet Wireless, Liquid Telecom and ZOL. They can easily afford their workers to have remote connections at home. Most of their workers have contract lines that have free unlimited broadband.
“Zimbabwe’s health delivery system is fragile and cannot survive a full blown corona virus infection. I still don’t understand why the government is not being proactive in their approach if they also know they cannot react to it once it affects many people. We expect private companies and other organisations that do not take orders from the government, including private schools to reduce the need for contact,” one senior doctor at Avenues clinic fumed.
Liquid Telecom a subsidiary of the Econet group has cancelled postponed one of its promotional events dubbed the Eduzone Campaign which was supposed to take place tomorrow. Employees at Liquid Telecom received an email confirming the postponement:
Good Day
Due to concerns about the potential spread of COVID-19 (corona virus) the Liquid Telecom Zimbabwe Eduzone Campaign slated for the 18th of March 2020 has been postponed in the interest of public safety. A new launch date will be announced in due course.
We apologise for any inconveniences caused.
Email from Liquid Telecom
Zimbabwe’s government measures to avoid further infection
The Ministry of Health announced that time is not ripe yet to ban gatherings or close schools. Their announcement came in response to the public outcry. Members of the public were expressing their anger on the government’s lack of action. South Africa, Botswana and Kenya among other African states banned gatherings and closed schools. Zimbabweans expected the same from from the government but until today there hasn’t been any change of stance. They government only advised citizens to avoid unnecessary gatherings and ‘discouraged’ church gatherings and conferences.