Govt Backtracks On 75% Local Ownership Requirement For Telecoms

The government has repealed a regulation that required telecommunications companies to be at least 75% Zimbabwean-owned, weeks after it was introduced.

Statutory Instrument 111 of 2026, gazetted by the Minister of Information, Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, repeals SI 101 of 2026.

SI 101, published last month, had capped foreign ownership of telecoms licensees at 25%. It gave existing operators 90 days to submit plans showing how they would adjust their shareholding structures to comply, and three years to meet the 75% local ownership threshold.

The new regulations, cited as the Postal and Telecommunications (Ownership Requirements for Licences) (Repeal) Regulations, 2026, were made in terms of section 99 of the Postal and Telecommunications Act [Chapter 12:05] after consultation with the Authority.

The repeal takes effect immediately and removes the local shareholding requirement for the sector.

SI 101 had raised concern among industry players who warned the rule could deter foreign investment and complicate operations for firms with significant offshore shareholding.

Major operators in Zimbabwe’s telecoms sector include Econet Wireless, NetOne, Telecel and Liquid Intelligent Technologies.

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