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Swedish loan expands Zimbabwe's mobile net

Published: 11 Aug 10 17:54 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/28314/20100811/

Zimbabwe's largest mobile operator, Econet Wireless, has secured a $60-million loan facility from Swedish export credit agency EKN to expand its infrastructure, the firm said Wednesday.


The loan would see Swedish telecoms equipment supplier Ericsson installing additional equipment to expand Econet's infrastructure in the capital Harare, the company's largest subscriber base.

Econet chief executive officer Douglas Mboweni said the facility would be used to buy equipment to improve efficiency in Harare.

"Our customers in Harare are increasingly buying mobile phones, and this means we require more capacity and capability on the network," Mboweni said in a statement.

Zimbabwe's mobile phone penetration is around 40 percent, according to industry estimates, with Econet claiming four million subscribers in a nation of about 12 million people.

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18:53 August 11, 2010 by SarahRF
This is ridiculous. Zimbabwe has bigger needs than cell phone coverage. You know most of this money is just going to go into Mugabe's cronies' pockets, like every other aid fund that's sent there. Think he'll die soon?
19:50 August 11, 2010 by GeneN
Actually, this is one of the best possible investments in Africa. Cell phones are becoming the main communications tool there. I'd say mobile communications is an inherently democratizing force.
20:09 August 11, 2010 by wenddiver
For your sake, I hope it's in the contract for the loan to be repaid in British, US, or Swediish money. Last I read, Zimbabwe's money was worthless.

Amazing how Rhodesia used to feed Africa, but now imports food to stop it's people from starving.. You can really do wonders by installing a Marxist Terrorist as your Dictator.

This country is a human rights nightmare where people of European ancestory are reqularly robbed and beaten by Mugabe's men to steal their farms and bussinesses. Definetly one of the least stable countries in the world.
23:04 August 11, 2010 by diegoveggie
swedish collaborating with a horribly murderous regime? wow
10:15 August 12, 2010 by SouthAfrican_in_Sweden
Soon the infamous ruler of Zim will also blame Sweden for the current state of his country.
15:58 August 15, 2010 by mama
2010 half billion paid to sweden by zim - deal on phone equipment.

Few years back 5 billion paid to sweden by zimbabwe, deal on pipeline.

Please look also into the billions of dollars made swedish companies who own mines in zim.

Black farmers were already experts on maize and now in just 9 short yrs have become experts on tobacco growing too.

Zim agri production has improved so much - so do not worry.
06:40 August 21, 2010 by wenddiver
@Mama- Racially based regimes, led by dictators allways fail. As a business model they are poor investments, due to the inherent stability.

As far as investing in Corn????? You do know as a commodity the US produces so much of it that it is so cheap that we are using it to make paper, sugar, meat fillers, animal feed, even ethanol for fuel.

Anybody, wanting corn could ask the US State Department and probably get more of it than they could possibly use, for FREE!!!! One US Allie in Asia recieved so much they were using it for land fill insted of dirt (hey, it was free!!).

Zimbabwe will never be sucessful with Marxist Terrorists running the government.
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