By JAMES KUNDA –

AIRTEL Networks Zambia has reimbursed all the 28,000 customers whose talk time was erroneously deducted during a network system upgrade recently, managing director Charity Lumpa has disclosed.
Ms Lumpa said yesterday that the talk-time worth K900, 000 was returned to the affected customers and that Airtel had also given them 30 free Airtel calling minutes in a gesture of goodwill.
“We would like to sincerely apologise to all our esteemed customers for the inconvenience caused by a system glitch that was experienced recently where talk-time was erroneously deducted from our affected subscribers. The problem was immediately rectified by our networks team,” Ms Lumpa said.
This is according to a statement issued in Ndola yesterday by Airtel director-corporate communications, Government relations and corporate social responsibility Joseph Kafwariman.
Ms Lumpa said the anomally arose on the back of the major network upgrades that were currently underway.
Airtel has embarked on upgrading the network system to ensure that customers enjoy the highest quality of internet and voice mobile services.
Ms Lumpa said  the recently commenced nationwide network expansion programme would see improved coverage and quality by end of the year 2014.
She encouraged customers to contact the call centre on 111 or visit any Airtel outlet across the country should they experience any network challenges, require clarification, and or rectification of any issues they are facing on the network.
“As the leading network provider in Zambia, we take quality and service issues very seriously and have undertaken a commitment to ensure that all our partners are equally aligned to the provision of excellent customer services across the board,” Ms Lumpa said.