Unlimited Bundles? Zimbabweans Say It’s a Lie

Thousands of Zimbabweans are crying foul over vanishing mobile data bundles, accusing major telecom operators — Econet, NetOne, and ZOL of charging more for less while offering little transparency.

From mysteriously disappearing WhatsApp packages to “unlimited” data plans that silently slow down, users say they’re being shortchanged as telecom profits continue to soar.

The complaints have flooded social media, with users reporting bundles that vanish overnight or fail to activate.

Kudzai Murahwa, a Harare resident, said she bought a US$1 WhatsApp bundle from Econet, only to find it expired within hours.

“I was on Wi-Fi all day at work. I barely used WhatsApp, but when I checked later that evening, it said the bundle had expired”,she said.

Similar frustrations have been echoed by ZOL and NetOne customers.

One ZOL user reported that their router showed 50GB of usage, yet the provider billed them for 120GB.

A Reddit user added, “I bought an hour bundle thinking I would get 60 minutes of browsing. It expired before I even got to use a single megabyte.”

As complaints mount, engineers and insiders point to deeper technical issues.

Many suspect that “soft caps” and silent throttling are being used to limit usage without informing customers.

“Yes, there are fair-usage limits.

“After a certain threshold, the system silently slows down your speed until the data becomes practically unusable., ”said one network engineer.

Another insider added, “Congestion is a convenient excuse. But sometimes, heavy users are deprioritised even during off-peak hours. The company saves bandwidth while the customer loses data value.”

Some users have reported “ghost bundles” — data packages that are paid for but never fully credited, especially during system downtimes.

NetOne spokesperson Ernest Magadzire acknowledged these concerns, stating,

“When a customer purchases a weekly WhatsApp or data bundle, the validity period refers to how long the bundle remains active — not necessarily how long it will last.

“The actual duration depends entirely on individual usage patterns.”

Magadzire encouraged users to explore NetOne’s Big Beautiful Bundle, which he said offers better value.

“Many of our customers continue to enjoy the convenience, reliability, and great value that NetOne’s data bundles provide, powered by our robust and expanding network,” he said.

Despite occasional billing failures, refunds are rare unless public pressure mounts.

“We are paying more, getting less.
Sometimes my US$10 bundle lasts a day, sometimes an hour. No one can explain why,” said a university student in Chitungwiza.

Regulatory oversight has also come under scrutiny.

The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) has fined operators for billing errors in the past, but many complaints reportedly vanish into bureaucracy.

Potraz director-general Dr Gift Machengete said,

“Generally, it is difficult for data to disappear; rather, it can be used without the owner’s knowledge. This may arise from background applications using the data without owners’ knowledge.”

According to Herald, technical investigations suggest multiple causes.

While background app usage plays a role, experts say network-side “data padding” — where metering systems count slightly more than actual usage may inflate consumption figures.

Others point to throttling disguised as fair usage, especially on “unlimited” plans that degrade after moderate use.

“They said unlimited, but after 100GB, the internet became unusable. When I called, they told me that was the fair-usage limit. But that is not what the advert said,” one Reddit user posted.

Even mid-level employees reportedly lack access to throttling policies.

“It is controlled by the top network management system. The company will not disclose how the metering algorithm works. But they know exactly how to stretch data usage so that users need to buy more,” said one insider.

Meanwhile, telecom companies continue to post strong earnings.

Econet Wireless remains one of Zimbabwe’s most profitable firms, with growing data revenue despite mounting complaints.

Analysts say the less transparent the bundle system, the higher the profits.

In 2024, Potraz introduced tougher penalties for poor service, but critics argue enforcement remains weak.

Zimbabwe’s telecom sector still lacks mandatory disclosure of fair-usage limits or real-time data tracking tools for consumers.

Without these, subscribers cannot verify what they consume versus what they are billed for.

The mystery remains unresolved.

Are telecom operators victims of technical inefficiencies or are they exploiting a system few understand?

Until transparent metering, open fair-usage policies, and independent audits are introduced, suspicion will linger that mobile data in Zimbabwe isn’t just expensive — it’s engineered to disappear.

As one Econet customer put it:

“You buy data, you lose data, and still you pay more next month. They are the only ones who never run out.”