Mozambique: NGO denounces rights violation policies in telecoms sector

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Mozambique: NGO denounces rights violation policies in telecoms sector

10:36 CAT | 29 Jun 2023

File photo: MISA Moçambique

A report by the non-governmental organization for press freedom MISA denounces policies that violate human rights among the three companies operating in the mobile phone sector in Mozambique.

The report assesses aspects related to corporate governance, freedom of expression and information and privacy, noting the prevalence of “discrepancies in policies and transparency between parent companies and local subsidiaries of operators” in Mozambique, namely Vodacom, Tmcel and Movitel.

One of the examples is the lack of transparency and commitment to human rights principles on the part of Vodacom, despite the parent company (Vodafone) having made such a commitment in the United Kingdom, its main headquarters, the document indicates, although it highlights that the company had the best performance in terms of policies, governance and management oversight.

On the other hand, MISA continues, Movitel, part of Viettel’s international group, demonstrates a lack of commitment to privacy and transparency, operating, according to the report, in an environment of impunity and an absence of a sense of accountability.

“Movitel also does not share its board structures and managerial oversight, which increases the perception of companies susceptible to state interference,” the report states.

MISA’s report also indicates that Tmcel, a Mozambican public company, also does not make available information on its commitment to human rights, governance and management oversight.

“The privacy policies of Tmcel and Vodacom render null and void any efforts that the companies may be undertaking to collect only essential and limited data, because their products have the capacity to collect more than just necessary information,” MISA’s report notes.

Lusa has contacted the three companies, but has not yet obtained a statement.

Latest data from the Mozambique national institute for communications indicated that Vodacom had the biggest mobile data market share, with around six million customers, followed by Movitel, with around four million, and state company TMcel, with just over three million customers.

To read, download the full MISA report ‘Digital Rights in Mozambique. An Analysis of Mobile Network Operators’ Policies’ (in Portuguese and English), please click HERE.

Source: Lusa