The group, which caused a stir earlier this year when it tried to take over a South African company Easipark which was contracted to manage Harare’s municipal parking, reportedly met Econet’s management.
Econet public relations manager Ranga Mberi yesterday confirmed the visit but sought to downplay the motives of group.
“They did not demand anything, they only wanted to know our operations in general,” Mberi said.
“It’s not anything new to us because we are always in dialogues with many stakeholders.”
But sources said the youths, who have been linked to Youth, Indigenisation and Empowerment minister Saviour Kasukuwere, wanted to use the country’s controversial empowerment laws to win major supply contracts from Econet.
The group has made it clear that it wants to target the country’s lucrative telecommunications sector because it believes it is owned by foreigners. Econet is owned by business mogul Strive Masiyiwa who has been attacked by some Zanu PF officials who believe he sympathises with the MDC-T. Despite its militant tactics, Upfumi Kuvadiki failed to muscle its way into the Easipark deal.
They have held meetings with Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda, which did not yield any fruits. Council has vowed that the deal would never be reversed and has received the unlikely support of Local Government, Urban and Rural Development minister Ignatius Chombo.
