Starlink reportedly rejected a proposal for a 50% stake from Wicknell Chivayo’s IMC and the Mutapa Investment Fund (MIF) ahead of its launch in Zimbabwe.
Starlink officially activated its service in Zimbabwe just before midnight on September 6, 2024, shortly after launching in Botswana.
Investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono posted on X, citing sources that revealed DHL, a law firm representing Starlink, along with representatives from the Secret Service, the defence ministry, and ZIMRA, met in Harare this week to discuss the service.
During the meeting, it was alleged that authorities proposed Chivayo’s IMC, which President Emmerson Mnangagwa said was Starlink’s sole partner in Zimbabwe, receive a 40% stake in the company’s local operations, with MIF obtaining 10%.
However, Starlink reportedly rejected the proposal, stating that the other parties contributed little beyond political influence.
The Mutapa Investment Fund, previously known as the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Zimbabwe, is a state-owned investment fund that oversees 20 parastatal entities, including major companies like NetOne, Air Zimbabwe, and the National Railways of Zimbabwe. Wrote Chin’ono:
<blockquote>
There was a meeting this week in Harare involving DHL, a law firm representing Starlink, the Secret Service, the defence ministry, and ZIMRA regarding Starlink, according to my sources at Starlink.
Starlink was supposed to dispatch the first 1,500 test kits from America to Harare this week, but they were informed that POTRAZ needed to sign off first, which has now been done.
POTRAZ will also inspect and verify the kits upon their arrival in Harare.
Starlink resisted a proposal for a 50% stake, with Wicknell Chivayo’s IMC receiving 40% and the controversial Mutapa Fund getting 10%.
My Starlink source told me this morning that they rejected the deal because the other parties were not bringing anything to the table except political capital.
The Starlink Africa and Middle East contact informed me that they will be shipping the first 1,500 test kits this coming week via DHL, and they should arrive in Harare within the week for pre-go-live regulatory local compliance activities by POTRAZ.
My source told me that when units are imported via DHL, they are shipped under a global arrangement called Destination Duties Paid (DDP). 
SpaceX which runs Starlink pays the duty upfront to ensure a seamless customer experience, avoiding waiting times and delays for customers.
So the Starlink website price includes customs duties according to my Starlink source.
</blockquote>
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Wicknell Chivayo and Mutapa Investment Fund wanted a 50% stake in Starlink in Zimbabwe, but Starlink rejected the proposal. Starlink started its service in Zimbabwe on September 6, 2024. Authorities proposed a 40% stake for Chivayo’s IMC and 10% for Mutapa, but Starlink said no because they didn't bring enough to the table. The Mutapa Investment Fund is a state-owned fund that oversees major companies in Zimbabwe. Starlink will be shipping test kits soon, and they pay customs duties upfront for a smooth customer experience.

"Chivayo, Mutapa Wanted 50% Stake In Starlink Deal"

The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) says internet service provider Starlink has not applied for an operating licence.
Over the past several months, some individuals and companies have been advertising Starlink Internet services but POTRAZ warned that those caught distributing and advertising Starlink Internet Services’ gadgets will be arrested.
Many have already installed Starlink internet gadgets which provide cheap and fast-speed internet.
As reported by <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200023629/starlink-has-not-applied-for-operating-licence-potraz">NewsDay</a>, POTRAZ deputy director of economic tariffs and competition Vengesai Magadzire said the nation should know that Starlink is yet to submit its application papers.
Magadzire was addressing villagers in Chikomba West constituency during a consumer awareness campaign at the weekend. He said:
<blockquote>
As the regulator, POTRAZ is mandated to license operators in Zimbabwe but now Starlink has not submitted its application for the licence. We are waiting to hear from it and once it submits Potraz will do what is required.
</blockquote>
A Chinese mining company operating in Mashonaland Central Province, San He, was recently fined US$700 for using Starlink in Zimbabwe.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPA), the San He Mining company in Guruve was ordered to pay a US$700 fine by a Bindura Magistrate for contravening the Postal and Telecommunication Act. 
Zimbabweans are increasingly eager to ditch local internet service providers for Starlink due to their poor service and high cost of data packages.
Developed by Elon Musk’s space exploration company SpaceX, Starlink is a satellite internet network that provides high-speed broadband internet services.
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POTRAZ Says Starlink Has Not Applied For Operating Licence

Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) director-general Gift Machengete has warned companies illegally advertising and distributing internet services and gadgets from Starlink, which is not licenced to operate in Zimbabwe, that they will be prosecuted.
There has been an increase in the number of local businesses promoting Starlink on social media platforms, particularly Facebook.
Speaking in an interview with <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/potraz-cracks-down-on-starlink-traders/">The Herald</a>, Machengete revealed that an illegal commercial courier, Macrotop Zim (Pvt) Ltd based in Msasa, was arrested recently after the company was caught delivering Starlink kits to customers.
The company has reportedly been delivering the parcels to customers after the production of proof of payment at its headquarters in Harare CBD.
POTRAZ confiscated two customer receipts after being produced as proof of payment to collect parcels.
The company was reportedly found with items labelled with the customers’ names and Zimbabwean contact telephone numbers.
Machengete said the parcels were ordered from China and destined for delivery in Zimbabwe. He said:
<blockquote>
Either customers come personally to collect, or the parcels are delivered to their doorstep.
Paperwork is set to be done on Monday in preparation for a court appearance. Because the parcels were far too many, we seized only 10 parcels which we took to ZRP Licence Inspectorate.
We also took their health licence, and on Monday they are required to produce all the company documents at the police station.
We are now planning to come up with our POTRAZ seal which we will use to seal such premises when they have too many parcels for us to confiscate.
These traders who were selling Starlink products broke the law and they were arrested and they will be prosecuted because they did something that is against the law.
If you bring Starlink equipment here, you have not been authorised by Potraz as per the law.
If you are found with it you will be arrested. Starlink or any other satellite company is allowed to operate in Zimbabwe provided they are licenced.
You need a licence to operate in the telecommunications sector and that is the law.
We are waiting for Starlink to submit the relevant information that is required by the regulator.
</blockquote>
Zimbabweans are increasingly eager to ditch local internet service providers for Starlink due to their poor service and high cost of data packages.
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Zimbabwe Intensifies Crackdown On Starlink Traders

Toneo Rutsito, the founder of TechnomagTv, has criticised Zimbabwean government officials for suggesting that the southern African nation might decide to choose China’s G60 satellite over SpaceX’s Starlink, owned by Elon Musk. Rutsito described the idea as foolish and embarrassing, urging the government to reconsider.

<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2024/01/03/zimbabwean-government-could-allow-chinas-g60-starlink-instead-of-spacexs-starlink/">Zimbabwean Government Could Allow China’s G60 Starlink Instead Of SpaceX’s Starlink – Charamba</a></li>
</ul>
Rutsito argued that SpaceX’s Starlink has a proven track record, having been tested and used successfully over the years. In contrast, the Chinese G60 satellite is still in the trial phase. He expressed concerns about China’s reputation for spying on its citizens and claimed that allowing China to provide internet services in Zimbabwe would be a violation of human rights, including the right to privacy. He said:
<blockquote>
Shanghai Gesi Aerospace Technology, a state-owned company established in 2022 is the one to run the G60 satellite factory. These young Turks do not even have national coverage for their 1 billion people let alone the African Market and hence will provide pathetic speeds! To start with submitting national data traffic to a country notorious of curtailing freedom of expression and access to information would be as nefarious and tantamount to violation of Human rights and freedom of expression! China does not even allow access to Facebook Whatsapp and Twitter to its citizens and spies on its citizens daily, this is gross! In Ukraine, Ellon Musk said his internet can not be used for war! It was actually blamed for switching off internet that led to Ukraine drones failing to attack Russia but here we are, someone twisting the facts to suite his singing for supper narratives!
The G60 Starlink project started in 2016, with the Shanghai government announcing its cluster plans in 2021. As of July, the local government said they would send nearly 1,300 satellites into orbit during the initial phase of the project. This figure is far off to date! This is a drop in Ocean against what Starlink has done in terms of geo space coverage and connectivity and to think Zimbabwe Gvt must trust and sign up a struggling and poorly connected aerospace player coz its Chinese is not only ignorant but stupid!
</blockquote>
In comparison, Rutsito lauded SpaceX’s Starlink project, which started launching satellites in 2019. He mentioned that the project currently has over 5,289 small satellites in low Earth orbit, with plans to deploy up to 42,000 satellites in the future. Rutsito argued that Starlink’s extensive coverage and connectivity make it a more reliable choice for Zimbabwe.
Rutsito questioned the national security concerns cited by proponents of the Chinese G60 satellite, arguing that only authoritarian regimes fear open connectivity platforms like Starlink. He pointed out that eight African countries have already adopted Starlink without facing any national security issues.
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