Telecel Services (What Services Does Telecel Offer?)
Telecel Zimbabwe is a company that was established in 1996 by Rwandese billionaire Miko Rwayitare. The business was jointly owned by the Empowerment Forum with a 40 % stake and Vimplecom with a 60 % stake.
However shareholding changed in 2013 following legal irregularities occasioned by the indigenization and empowerment act which left ZARnet in control with a 60% share. The other shareholders are Kestrel and Selporn enterprises. Telecel renewed its operating license for 20 years in 2013.
What services Does Telecel Offer?
The company has over 2.5 million subscribers, however, the number has dwindled since 2020 and has network coverage of 85% of the country. This territory includes towns, and cities. The company offers an array of services which include financial assistance packages in the form of emergency credit and Telecassh.
The company further offers business packages such as Telecel Business. Other services offered by the company are teletunes, Telecel Red, and Roaming. Internet connectivity is offered through data bundles and wireless connections for Voice Bundles, Airtime Transfer, Conference Calls, Missed call Alert, Call me back, and Mega Bonus Reloaded. The service offers roadside assistance through 911Road assistance.
Background of Telecel
Telecel has navigated considerable upheavals since its inception which include an irregularity that was leveled against the company in 1998 by a competitor Econet wireless. In 2007 the company was found wanting due to the failure to adhere to set licensing regulations. This was followed by the Jane Mutasa scandal. Jane Mutasa a former employee of the company was suspected of having embezzled funds of around US $1.5 million in the form of airtime.
The company sort to privately prosecute the matter, and upon being granted the order by the High Court to take up the matter, the prosecution did not materialize. Telecel has been subjected to much criticism by its competitors for undercutting through extensive promotions that make business difficult. In 2015 the company faced threats of closure from the government due to its failure to meet licensing obligations.
In 2013, regularization issues were raised by Econet which saw the disruption of services between the two companies. POTRAZ eventually intervened and interconnection was restored between the two companies. In 2013, the shareholding was changed, as a consequence of the indigenization and empowerment act which required controlling interests to be owned by indigenous Zimbabweans.
ZARnet controls 60% of the share percentage. The 60% share is split between the Zimbabwe Miners Federation, Affirmative action Group, War Veterans Association, and Zimbabwe Farmers Union. The other shareholder is a personalized Selporn Investments, an outfit of the Business Women Organisation. The other percentage is controlled by Kestrel Corporation a company of James Makamba.