Mixed Reactions as ED Approves Chivayo’s Starlink Deal
IMC Communications will be Starlink's sole and exclusive local partner in Zimbabwe
Mixed Reactions as ED Approves Chivayo’s Starlink Deal
On Saturday afternoon when football fans were watching the English FA Cup final between Manchester City and Manchester United, ED announced via X (formerly Twitter) that he had approved the licensing of Starlink by the Postal & Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) to provide advanced internet in the country.
In his post, ED said:
“I’m pleased to announce that I have approved the licensing of Starlink by POTRAZ to provide advanced internet and related digital processing services in Zimbabwe through its sole and exclusive local partner, IMC Communications (Pvt) Ltd. Starlink @Starlink is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite operator wholly owned by global conglomerate Space X led by prominent multi-billionaire @ElonMusk.”
Inasmuch as the approval of Starlink was a welcome development, questions were raised over the way it had been done especially making IMC Communications (an unknown company in the telecoms industry) to be the “sole and exclusive local partner”.
It got messier when netizens found out that the company had not even completed designing it own website. Further controversy arose when it was established that IMC Communications shared the same offices with Intratek (involved in the murky Gwanda Solar Power deal) which is owned by none other than ED's newfound pal Wicknell Chivayo.
Mixed Reactions as ED Approves Chivayo’s Starlink Deal
Netizens had this to say:
Fadzi Mahere (@advocatemahere) wrote: “Where is the transparent tender process? Where is due process? Where is adherence to the rule of law? Why is there a suggestion of undue influence over a statutory, regulatory body? Why does it appear that such contracts are unilaterally handed to the shadiest political cronies whose record in business is laced with non-performance, corruption and a stench of brazen, predatory patronage and abuse of political proximity? Is this what we have reduced commerce to – a competition among who can bootlick best? Is this the right foundation for an entrepreneurial society?”
Hopewell Chin'ono (@daddyhope) said: “The President has given a licence for the sole dealership of @Starlink distribution in Zimbabwe to his crooked friend Wicknell Chivhayo, who swindled the National power company, ZESA, out of millions of public dollars meant for the Gwanda solar plant!”
Kuda Musasiwa (@begottensun) commented: “Starlink was inevitable. Let’s take data to our villages comrades. Let’s bring our people to the 21st Century. The opportunities that have arisen are too huge to miss out on.”
A pro-ZANU account African Delinquent (@DrDelinquent_) also raised the question: “I wish to know what criteria Pressy @edmnangagwa used to pick @wicknellchivayo's organisation to supply Starlink? Why didn't Pressy follow the tendering process n give equal opportunities to all Zimbabweans? Did Pressy follow the process??@nickmangwana, l need answers. Please.”
https://twitter.com/DrDelinquent_/status/1794470060985122816?t=WPzVEFsD6S3N0aJTZiVKKQ&s=19
