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Big Beautiful Bundles: How NetOne Is Powering My Football Nights

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Arsenal’s title hopes were hanging by a thread. They desperately needed victories against Chelsea and Brighton to stay in the race with fierce rivals Manchester City. Every fan knew what was at stake, drop points, and the dream could slip away. The Chelsea game was a nail-biter. I remember sitting on the edge of my couch, phone in hand, heart pounding as Arsenal clung to a 2–1 lead, thanks to goals from William Saliba and Jurriën Timber. Every pass felt like a lifeline, every tackle a battle cry. When the final whistle blew, I let out a roar that startled my neighbors.

By Tongai Mwenje

Three day later, against Brighton, it was even tighter, a tense 1–0 grind that had me holding my breath until the referee signaled full time. Relief washed over me like a tidal wave. Arsenal had delivered.

For fans like me, those tense nights were not just about the scoreline, but about the experience of watching every pass, tackle, and goal unfold live on my mobile gadget. Thanks to NetOne’s Big Beautiful Bundles (BBB), I didn’t miss a single moment. For years, livestreaming football on mobile gadgets in Zimbabwe has been a gamble, buffering, dropped connections, pixelated screens. But this time, with NetOne’s Big Beautiful Bundles, the experience was flawless.

It felt like I was right there in the stadium. No buffering, no interruptions, just pure football.

Launched last year, NetOne’s Big Beautiful Bundles are designed for Zimbabwe’s growing digital economy. The BBB100 package I’m subscribed to, priced at $45, offers 100GB of data, 80GB for peak hours and 20GB for off-peak usage (1 AM to 7 AM). Valid for 30 days, it promises speeds of up to 15 Mbps. But in practice, I’ve seen much more, upload speeds of 46 Mbps and download speeds of 51.1 Mbps.

To put that into perspective, at 46 Mbps upload, you can livestream HD content without a hitch. For me, that means broadcasting football highlights to friends in real time or uploading large video files to the cloud in minutes. At 51.1 Mbps download, you can stream movies in 4K, download gigabytes of data in seconds, or, like me, watch Arsenal’s games without a single freeze-frame.

I remember the old days of nervously watching the loading wheel spin during a crucial penalty. Now, with BBB, I can stream every match smoothly, even on the go. During Arsenal’s last Champions League fixture against Bundesliga giants, Bayern Leverkusen, I watched the entire game on my phone while traveling, and the stream never faltered.

“My phone has become my stadium,” I joked to my brother. “I don’t just watch the game, I live it.”

Of course, football is just one part of the story. These speeds open doors for professionals and students alike: video conferencing feels natural, with no awkward freezes mid-sentence, cloud computing tasks run seamlessly, whether you’re backing up files or collaborating remotely and large file transfers—once a headache—are now effortless.

One university student I spoke to said, “I use NetOne’s BBB to download entire research archives overnight. By morning, everything is ready.” That’s the kind of productivity boost Zimbabwe’s digital economy needs.

NetOne’s Big Beautiful Bundles aren’t just about data, they’re about freedom. Freedom to work, to play, to connect, and to dream bigger. Whether you’re a football fanatic like me, a professional juggling deadline, or a student chasing knowledge, BBB offers the perfect balance of affordability and performance.

And for those with heavier demands, BBB150 and BBB200 scale up to even greater capacities, ensuring no one is left behind in the digital race.

For me, BBB100 has transformed my football nights into unforgettable experiences. It’s not just about watching my favorite team, Arsenal, it’s about watching without limits. NetOne has given Zimbabweans a bundle that truly lives up to its name.  

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Manchester City’s Surge Turns Up the Heat on Arsenal’s Title Dream

Manchester City’s emphatic 3–0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge did not just close a gap on the table; it reshaped the psychology of the title race. For Arsenal, who had stumbled just hours earlier with a 2–1 home defeat to AFC Bournemouth, the timing could hardly have been worse.

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Manchester City’s emphatic 3–0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge did not just close a gap on the table; it reshaped the psychology of the title race. For Arsenal, who had stumbled just hours earlier with a 2–1 home defeat to AFC Bournemouth, the timing could hardly have been worse.

Nico O’Reilly continued his scoring streak to break the deadlock in the 50th minute, Marc Guéhi slotted in his first league goal for the club then Jérémy Doku pounced on an awful error by Moisés Caicedo to complete Chelsea’s humiliation.

Nico O’Reilly scored first goal in City’s 3-0 win on Sunday

What had looked like a position of control now feels distinctly fragile. Arsenal remain top with 70 points, but Manchester City sit just six points behind on 64, with a game in hand and, perhaps more importantly, momentum firmly on their side. In a title race defined by fine margins, momentum is often the most decisive currency.

City’s victory over Chelsea was not merely efficient; it was authoritative. It carried the familiar tone of a team that knows exactly when to accelerate. Under Pep Guardiola, these late-season surges have become almost ritual. The message to their rivals is subtle but unmistakable: the champions are stirring.

Marc Guehi scored his first Premier League goal for Man City vs. Chelsea.

For Arsenal, the concern is not just the loss to Bournemouth, but what it represents. At this stage of the season, defeats are rarely isolated incidents; they invite doubt, scrutiny, and pressure. Mikel Arteta has spent years building a side capable of challenging City, but the final stretch of a title race is as much about resilience as it is about quality. The question now is whether Arsenal can absorb this setback without letting it define their run-in.

The arithmetic is simple: six games remain, and the margin for error has all but disappeared. Yet the narrative is more complex. Arsenal are no longer dictating the pace with authority; they are glancing over their shoulders. City, by contrast, are doing what they do best: closing in, applying pressure, and forcing mistakes.

All of this sets the stage for Sunday’s looming clash between the two sides, a fixture that now feels less like a match and more like a verdict. Should Arsenal win, they reassert control and push City to the brink. Should City prevail, the balance of power could tilt decisively, especially with that game in hand still to play.

This is what Manchester City’s result truly meant for Arsenal: it turned a manageable lead into a tense standoff. It transformed confidence into caution, and advantage into vulnerability. The title is still Arsenal’s to lose, but for the first time in weeks, it genuinely feels like they might.

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NetOne, ZTA Forge Landmark Partnership to Digitize Zimbabwe’s Tourism Sector

Telecommunications giant NetOne has entered into a strategic partnership with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) by handing over critical computer equipment, a move designed to digitize the nation’s tourism inspectorate and replace outdated paper-based regulatory systems.

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Harare, Zimbabwe – Telecommunications giant NetOne has entered into a strategic partnership with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) by handing over critical technological equipment, a move designed to digitize the nation’s tourism inspectorate and replace outdated paper-based regulatory systems.

The landmark event, held on Wednesday in Harare, brought together senior government officials, industry leaders, and the company’s board members to witness the transition of the tourism sector into a fully digital operation.

Through the partnership, ZTA will utilize secure connectivity and integrated digital platforms to enable real-time data collection, improved regulatory efficiency, and enhanced service delivery across the country. Beyond the immediate equipment handover, NetOne outlined a broader technological rollout. This includes expanded network coverage in key tourism corridors, Wi-Fi installations at strategic visitor destinations, and specialized eTourism SIM solutions designed to make Zimbabwe more accessible to international travelers.

While NetOne’s direct handover consisted of 50 devices, the announcement drew warm applause when Dr. Beaulah Chirume, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, revealed that the sector’s regulator, Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), had joined the initiative by contributing an additional 20,000 devices.

Dr. Chirume challenged stakeholders to view the equipment as the foundation for Zimbabwe’s recently launched National Artificial Intelligence Strategy. She stressed the need for government agencies to generate structured, high-quality data to power predictive analytics, challenging the sector to innovate a tech-enabled tourism experience that the global community would want to replicate.

“Today’s programme is not just incidental. It is a government-driven intervention implemented through coordinated institutional action in pursuit of national development. Ministries and agencies must begin to generate structured, high-quality data supported by modern digital tools,”she said.

Representing the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Chief Director Mrs. Tarirai Musonza highlighted the immediate economic implications of digital connectivity. She cited a recent visit by an American YouTuber and online streamer, IShowSpeed, with a following of 50 million as proof of how digital infrastructure can yield massive, cost-effective international marketing.

“He had a following of 40 million when he was (live) in Zimbabwe, you can imagine what that just prepared for Zimbabwe, marketing without spending much beyond infrastructure.”

Mrs. Musonza confirmed the donated resources will be deployed to fully register and license tourism facilities across all provinces and strengthen provincial offices in line with the country’s devolution agenda.

Speaking on behalf of NetOne Group CEO Engineer Raphael Mushanawani, General Manager of Financial Services Mr. Joseph Machiva emphasized that the company views itself as a “national enabler” rather than just a telecommunications provider.

“These are not isolated interventions,” Machiva said. “They are part of a deliberate and sustained effort to ensure that Zimbabwe’s tourism sector remains competitive, connected, and responsive to the demands of the modern digital world.”

The partnership comes at a pivotal time for the southern African nation, with tourism currently contributing in excess of 15 percent to Zimbabwe’s GDP. By integrating ICT tools and AI-ready infrastructure into heritage sites and tourism corridors, the ZTA-NetOne alliance signals a decisive shift toward a globally competitive economy.

As government officials and industry leaders noted throughout the proceedings, the digital transformation proves that moving forward, “Zimbabwe is not only open—it is connected.

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NetOne Unveils USD50,000 Sponsorship for The President’s Cup 2026

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Harare, Zimbabwe – NetOne, one of Zimbabwe’s leading telecommunications companies, on Monday unveiled a USD50,000 cash sponsorship towards The President’s Cup 2026.

The 2026 President’s Cup, the second edition of the prestigious golf competition, will be held from April 14 to 17, at the Bulawayo Country Club.

The announcement was made at a press conference in Harare attended by government officials, corporate leaders, and stakeholders, including the Deputy Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Hon. Emily Jesaya. Also in attendance were Akil Yusuf, president of the Zimbabwe Professional Golfers Association (ZPGA), and Blessmore Gandawa, president of the Zimbabwe Golf Association (ZGA).

The sponsorship underscores the growing significance of the tournament as a national showcase of unity, excellence, and strategic partnership in honour of President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa.

In her address, Honourable Jesaya emphasized the broader role of sport in national development:

“The President’s Cup is more than a tournament, it is a platform for national development. It creates opportunities for our young people, strengthens community bonds, and allows Zimbabwe to confidently take its place on the international stage. When institutions come together in this manner, we unlock real impact that goes beyond sport.”

Her remarks highlighted the theme of partnership and collective responsibility, a message reinforced by NetOne’s commitment to the initiative.

NetOne Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Raphael Mushanawani, described the tournament as a convergence of sport, leadership, and opportunity. He drew parallels between the discipline of golf and the precision required in business and nation-building, stressing that success is built on focus, strategy, and consistency, values NetOne continues to champion.

Under Mushanawani’s leadership, NetOne has expanded beyond telecommunications to become a driver of transformation, widening digital access, empowering communities, and supporting initiatives that uplift the nation. Its involvement in The President’s Cup is both purposeful and strategic, reinforcing its role as a partner in Zimbabwe’s growth story.

The event reflects a shared national effort, bringing together government leadership, corporate participation, and community engagement. Honourable Jesaya noted that such partnerships are critical for sustainable development:

“We are seeing a strong alignment between Government and the private sector, and this is exactly what we need as a country. The President’s Cup demonstrates how sport can bring people together while also contributing meaningfully to economic growth, youth development, and national pride.”

At its core, The President’s Cup 2026 is a reflection of Zimbabwe’s broader ambitions, showcasing talent, fostering opportunity, and building a nation confident in its identity and capabilities. NetOne’s sponsorship is both significant and timely, amplifying Zimbabwe’s story of resilience, innovation, and progress.

As the countdown to 2026 continues, the tournament stands as a testament to what can be achieved when vision meets action. When it finally tees off, The President’s Cup will carry with it the aspirations of a nation, supported by strong institutions, guided by visionary leadership, and driven by a shared commitment to excellence.

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