Prominent Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin’ono has reported that Starlink declined to collaborate with IMC, a company linked to the politically influential Wicknell Chivhayo, which was specifically set up to distribute Starlink services in Zimbabwe.
On X, Chin’ono detailed that Starlink refused to enter a 50% partnership with the local firm, which proposed that IMC would hold a 40% stake, with the remaining 10% allocated to Zimbabwe’s sovereign fund, Mutapa.
Chin’ono stated:
This week, there was a meeting in Harare involving DHL, a law firm representing Starlink, the secret service, the defense ministry, and ZIMRA concerning Starlink. Starlink had planned to send the first 1,500 test kits from the U.S. to Harare this week, but they were informed that POTRAZ needed to approve this first. POTRAZ will also inspect and verify the kits upon their arrival.
Checkout: Starlink Finally Live In Zimbabwe!
Starlink rejected the proposal for a 50% share, with IMC receiving 40% and the Mutapa Fund 10%. According to my source at Starlink, the deal was turned down because the other parties were seen as contributing only political influence, without substantive involvement.
Despite this, Starlink has launched services in Zimbabwe today. However, it is unclear how the company is distributing its kits since the telecoms regulator, POTRAZ, has not yet confirmed Starlink’s licensing. When Techzim inquired with POTRAZ a little over a week ago, the regulator stated that Starlink had not been authorized to operate in Zimbabwe.
Recently, Frampol, a local ICT firm, announced it had secured Authorized Reseller status with Starlink.
Chin’ono’s report on Starlink’s refusal to partner with IMC aligns with information Techzim received in July, which indicated that Starlink had no interest in working with IMC and that IMC was seeking alternative solutions.
About IMC
IMC was not known in Zimbabwe until President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared it as the “sole and exclusive” Starlink partner in the country, also claiming to have approved Starlink’s licensing with POTRAZ.
Following the president’s announcement, it was assumed that IMC had secured Authorized Reseller status with Starlink. However, it was later revealed that IMC did not yet exist, Starlink was unwilling to engage with IMC, and POTRAZ had not approved any Starlink arrangement.
POTRAZ eventually clarified that no company has exclusive rights to offer Starlink services in Zimbabwe, dispelling the claim that IMC was the “sole and exclusive local partner.”
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