Tanzania's Telecoms company distances itself from 'leaking opposition leader's information' scandal

By Osoro Nyawangah,  DAR ES SALAAM Tanzania

The Honora Tanzania Public Limited Company ("TIGO") has distanced itself from the ‘scandal’ of leaking the phone data of the Vice Chairman of Tanzania’s main opposition party Chadema, Tundu Lissu, claiming that the current parent company of Tigo was not its owner when the incident occurred.

Honora’s statement came after Lissu drum his intention to initiate legal proceedings against Millicom, the former parent company of Tanzania’s mobile network provider Tigo, and the Tanzanian government for their alleged involvement in an assassination attempt on his life.

His statement on Wednesday September 25, follows revelations in a UK court that claimed that Tigo, under Millicom’s ownership at the time (2017), had provided the Tanzanian government authorities with his daily communication and movements data.

A former worker at Tigo's parent company – Millicom, Michael Clifford, told the court this month that Tigo had shared mobile phone data with the government showing the communications and locations of the opposition lawmaker in the weeks before assassination attempt on his life.

On September 7, 2017 Lissu’s car was sprayed with bullets by unknown assailants, of which 16 bullets entered his body at his residence in the capital city of Dodoma. He subsequently underwent 25 surgeries in Kenya and Belgium hospitals.

In a statement released by Honora Tanzania Public Limited Company on Thursday, September 26; the company acknowledged being aware of the ongoing employment-related case in the London court involving a former Millicom employee, the parent company of Tigo until 2022.

“The current parent company of Tigo was not its owner at the time the reported incident occurred.” The statement reads.

While refraining from commenting on the specifics of the case, as it is unrelated to them directly, the company emphasized its commitment to protecting customer data.

“We want to reassure our customers and stakeholders that safeguarding their personal data in compliance with the laws and regulations of the United Republic of Tanzania remains our top priority.” Honora said.

The CHADEMA leader has warned Tanzanians to boycott using Tigo services as they are not reliable.

"I have informed (lawyer) Bob Amsterdam to start a case against Tigo and the government of Tanzania.” Lissu told a news conference in Dar es Salaam, adding that he does not trust local courts to handle the case.

“We will force Tigo to tell us who they were communicating with. Who from the government asked them to track me 24 hours. They have to tell us names." He insisted.

In its own court filings this month, Millicom said it had learned in late August or early September 2017 of concerns "about a local politician’s mobile phone data being passed to a government agency".

It said the individuals involved were disciplined and additional training was provided to Millicom subsidiaries about how to respond to requests for company data. - Africa