no such thing as a free lunch

Here in Zambia, we don’t have cell contracts with Verizon, Sprint, or AT&T. Instead, we purchase airtime on the streets (comes on little cards with scratch-off codes) and load it onto phones in order to make calls and send sms messages using Zamtel (green), Airtel (red), or MTN (yellow). Most of our Zambian pals have at least two or three cell phones (with different sims) in order to capitalize on the lowest rates for all communication. 

Heather and I each have one boring “dumb” (not smart) phone (fancy phones are popular here). Our sims are Airtel, which means we frequently purchase Airtel talk time in order to keep in touch with the world.

For the past couple months, Airtel has been running a highly advertised Ichongedwe! deal. With the press of a few buttons each day, I can purchase 7 free minutes of calling time for 1 Kwacha, or 25 free minutes for 2 Kwacha, OR 50 free minutes and 30 free sms’s for just 4 Kwacha.

All that for free! Imagine.

So, depending on my day’s schedule, sometimes I buy 7 or 25 free minutes to make business calls throughout the day (all free minutes expire at 18 hours each day). These special free minutes cost less than one brief phone call costs using regular rates.

…I still find Airtel’s “Free” Ichongedwe! deals ironic…