According to a report by zbc.co.zw, Government has directed mobile phone operator, Telecel Zimbabwe to stop operating within Zimbabwe. According to the report, the company has no license to operate and does not comply with the country’s laws.
According to the report, The Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Cde Supa Mandiwanzira stated that, “The position is that Telecel should cease operations and that is the position that has been adopted by cabinet which instructed a committee chaired by Cde Chris Mushowe, who is responsible for certain aspects of POTRAZ, who is the regulator.”
The report claims that, the mobile operator has been operating without a licence since 2013, and that information gathered shows that the regulating body, POTRAZ, has been heavily compromised in the matter. POTRAZ is alleged to have allowed Telecel to operate through an agreement which is not provided for by the law.
According to the report, POTRAZ entered into an agreement with Telecel to pay US$137 million licence fees over seven years. The initial payment of US$14 million was supposed to be made by August 2013 but Telecel breached it, forcing government to act accordingly.
Staff Writer
