Zimbabwe does not need lower mobile telecommunications tariffs as operators’ "profitability is not necessarily a sign of high prices."

This according to the Posts and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), which submitted this response to complaints and concerns from various stakeholders, including the public and consumer groups, who want tariffs lowered. 

The groups have accused mobile phone operators in that country of "excessively profiteering" on the back of high tariffs.

But POTRAZ disagrees with those who criticise Zimbabwe’s mobile rates offered by telcos such as as Econet.

“All tariffs in the telecommunications sector are regulated and they are almost the same for all service providers, but the levels of the providers’ profitability are different,” said POTRAZ in its report detailing responses to the complaints and concerns.

A 2012 report from ResearchICTAfrica.net ranked Zimbabwe 38 out of 46 nations on the continent regarding mobile prepaid prices. The cheapest mobile prepaid product in Zimbabwe costs $12,67, more than four times the cheapest product in Mauritius, which is $2.39.

Econet, the country's biggest operator, also recorded a half yearly profit after tax, ending August 2011, of $74 million.