Blow for Chivayo as POTRAZ paves way for other agents to partner with Starlink

HARARE – The decision by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) to revoke the exclusive rights granted to Wicknell Chivayo’s IMC Communications (Pvt) Ltd for the provision of Starlink services in the country, means that other internet service provider’s (ISP) can also partner with global satellite internet giant.

Starlink submitted an application to POTRAZ, seeking authorisation to introduce its satellite internet services in Zimbabwe.

As a wholly-owned subsidiary of the US-based aerospace company, SpaceX, which is ultimately controlled by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, Starlink aims to expand its global reach into the Zimbabwean market.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa initially stated that IMC Communications, a company linked to ex-convict and controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo had been awarded the license to provide advanced internet and digital processing services through its partnership with Starlink.

However, POTRAZ has now clarified that no entity has exclusive rights to offer Starlink services, effectively opening up the market to other internet service providers.

“In our licence categories, we have no licences for exclusivity. Our licences are not technology-specific. In this case, the service that we are licensing is internet service provision.

“This means that anyone who has our licence, if it is an ISP, that person can go to Starlink, that person can go to Liquid, that person can use any technology,” Potraz director-general Gift Machengete said.

This means that existing internet service providers like ZOL, Utande, Powertel, Liquid Intelligence, and TelOne, among others, can also collaborate with Starlink.

This sudden change in stance is believed to be a result of intense lobbying by influential political figures and their associates, who were eager to gain access to the lucrative Starlink deal.

IMC Communications, owned by Chivayo, had initially been granted the exclusive license, with Denny Marandure, a seasoned communications expert and former ZOL CEO, appointed to lead the company’s efforts.

Chivayo, a close ally of Mnangagwa, is being accused of corruption in Zimbabwe. He reportedly corruptly received more than US$100 million from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to supply election materials for the 2023 plebiscite.

The deal allegedly involved top government officials, including Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Martin Rushwaya and ZEC Chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba.