Back to Index

Telecel appeals against cancellation of licence
MISA-Zimbabwe
August 16, 2007

Telecel Zimbabwe will continue operating pending its appeal against the cancellation of its 15-year old licence by the regulatory authority after it allegedly failed to regularise its shareholding structure as required in terms of the Postal and Telecommunications Act.

In a statement issued on 9 August 2007, the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (POTRAZ) said Telecel had violated telecommunications regulations which stipulate that locals must have a majority stake in mobile telephone companies.

The privately owned mobile telephone operator, however, filed an urgent chamber application with the High Court to reverse the POTRAZ decision to revoke its licence. High Court judge Justice Joseph Musakwa on 15 August 2007 granted the company a provisional order to continue operating and suspended the cancellation pending the outcome of its appeal.

POTRAZ, Transport and Communications Minister Christopher Mushowe and Attorney General Sobusa Gula-Ndebele are cited as respondents.

Telecel's majority stake of 60 percent is currently owned by Telecel International while the remainder is owned by Empowerment Corporation. POTRAZ said the company's licence had been cancelled on 9 August 2007 in terms of Section 43 of the Postal and Telecommunications Act (Chapter 12:05).

Leo Mugabe, President Robert Mugabe's nephew has been at the center of infighting that has dogged Telecel for the past two years insisting that he be given a stake in Empowerment Corporation (EC). The other EC members, however, resisted his demands saying Mugabe was never a member of EC because his cheque was returned by the bank.

Visit the MISA-Zimbabwe fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP