NetOne courts Zesa to boost subscriber base

Published: 21 July 2014

Mobile network provider, NetOne says the ZESA pre-paid electricity vending platform through its mobile money service One wallet has potential to grow the subscriber base and push volumes.

In an interview, managing director Mr Reward Kangai said due to the high uptake of the One Wallet electricity purchasing platform, the company has purchased an additional one million cards from China.

"The initial response has been very positive. To this effect 1 million sim cards have arrived and will be distributed across the country. It will have a significant push on our subscriber base," he said.

He said the company is currently focusing on growing the network to most parts of the country.

According to a POTRAZ Q1 performance report, NetOne registered a decent performance gaining 1 percent in subscriptions to 2,4 million in the quarter. The operator now holds a market share of 17 percent.

"We are preparing to grow the network, and we have bigger things to come soon."

The company is about to secure $280 million loan from a Chinese financier to upgrade the network.

"I only came back yesterday, (Tuesday) from China, but it is too early to discuss on the loan issue as you are aware there are people really eager to fail this programme, but I can assure you, something positive is coming soon," he said.

A Zimbabwean born businessman Mr Tafadzwa Muguti now based in Johannesburg who runs Secure Dynamix, took the State Procurement Board in Zimbabwe and NetOne to court challenging the awarding of the $200 million network upgrade tender to Huawei of China saying the procedure was irregular and wanted the deal reversed. He has, however, since withdrawn the case, but this has delayed the project.

Mr Kangai said NetOne recently tendered for construction of a network booster in Gonarezhou National Park which he said had a cost of $600 000.

He, however, said the tendering process on the other hand give advantage to competitors who in turn hijack project ideas once they are flighted on tender.

"If we are recused from the tendering system, we will be able to match our competitors who do not follow many procedures to import equipment," he said.
- The Herald

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