By The Citizen Reporter
In Summary
In a carefully-worded statement, the firm says it
has terminated a lucrative tender with one of its super dealers,
Shivacom, over “duplicate airtime vouchers” circulating on the market.
Dar es Salaam. First it was just a rumour on
social media, pretty much in the same way that Tanzania’s biggest
scandals have started online. But Vodacom has finally broken its silence
on the alleged $350 million (Sh700 billion) fraud.
In a carefully-worded statement, the firm says it
has terminated a lucrative tender with one of its super dealers,
Shivacom, over “duplicate airtime vouchers” circulating on the market.
The company sidestepped the term fraud in a statement sent to the media late on Thursday.
The Citizen could not independently verify the
actual loss arising from the scam involving printing and distributing
fake airtime recharge vouchers. But Vodacom strongly denied that the
loss amounted to $350 million and said an anonymous blogger had grossly
inflated the figure.
Vodacom Tanzania’s chief officer responsible for
Corporate Affairs, Ms Georgia Mutagahywa, said in a statement on
Thursday evening that there was no multi-million dollar loss. But she
would not go into details due to “potential for litigation with
Shivacom”.
A Member of Parliament who has keenly followed the
scandal and claims to be an interested party told The Citizen:
“Vodacom’s admission could lead to litigation from those who bought the
fake airtime, which was circulated in the market during that period.”
The MP, speaking on condition that he was not
named, added: “I think the regulator (Tanzania Telecommunications
Regulatory Authority) needs to investigate what really transpired
because thousands of customers were affected.”
Shivacom is owned by Mr Tanil Somaiya, a one-time
business partner of Mr Saileshi Vithlani--who corruptly brokered the
2001 controversial radar deal that cost the nation Sh50 billion.
Vodacom signed an agreement with Shivacom eight
years ago in which the latter was to print and supply airtime vouchers
known as “Jero Jero” for low income earners. The vouchers were sold at
Sh500 each.
Shivacom is alleged to have supplied duplicate
vouchers worth billions of shillings during that period, which were then
sold on the market before Vodacom detected the dubious trade. Shivacom
officials were unavailable for comment.
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