The arrival of Starlink in Zimbabwe has brought a wave of excitement and hope for improved internet connectivity, but the story behind its launch is a tangled web of political intrigue and controversy.
The news comes as a surprise, as President Emmerson Mnangagwa had initially granted exclusive rights to Wicknell Chivayo’s IMC Communications to partner with SpaceX in bringing Starlink to Zimbabwe.
The decision to bypass Chivayo and offer direct sales to customers has been met with widespread speculation and whispers of political maneuvering. Chivhayo, a known benefactor of ZANU PF and a figure embroiled in several corruption scandals, had been poised to profit handsomely from the Starlink deal.
Reports suggested that Zimbabweans were initially expected to pay US$650 for the Starlink kit, double its retail price, under Chivhayo’s control. This sparked public outcry, with many fearing that Chivhayo would exploit the situation for personal gain, much like his alleged dealings with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) where he received over US$100 million for election materials.
Chivhayo’s recent spending spree, buying luxury cars for ZANU PF supporters and singers, further fuelled public anger and raised concerns about his integrity.
Sources close to the matter have revealed that Mnangagwa and licensing authorities ultimately decided to sideline Chivhayo due to the scandals that had tarnished his image and cast a shadow on the President’s office, The Standard has reported.
“What we gather is that HE decided to be ‘ professional’ as it were on this Starlink issue as Chivhayo’s dealings and his motor-mouth were dragging him and that of the office into the mud,” said a source.
“He was causing a lot of commotion not only in government circles, but also within and outside Zanu PF.”
Zodsat, a satellite services operator, confirmed that they had been granted a license to resell Starlink kits in Zimbabwe, and will be offering the kits at the standard prices advertised on the Starlink website.
“As an internet service provider we applied to Starlink for the license to resell their kit in the country, and in June this year we signed a non-disclosure agreement with conditions that we should not announce the deal publicly,” said Arnold Chimambo, Zodsat’s CEO.
“So we will be the face of Starlink in Zimbabwe selling the kit which we would have stocked at our offices and delivered instantly without waiting for four to six weeks of shipping.”
The launch of Starlink in Zimbabwe has raised hopes for improved connectivity, particularly in rural areas where internet access has been limited. However, the process has been far from smooth, with allegations of political interference and attempts to secure lucrative deals for those close to power.
Chin’ono, citing sources within Starlink, alleged that authorities proposed a 40% stake in the company’s local operations for Chivhayo’s IMC, with the controversial Mutapa Investment Fund (MIF) receiving 10%. This proposal was reportedly rejected by Starlink, who stated that the other parties were offering little beyond political influence.
Chin’ono also revealed that Starlink was initially set to dispatch 1,500 test kits from America to Harare this week, but this was delayed until POTRAZ signed off on the shipment.
“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,” said Chin’ono.
The investigative journalist also shared that Starlink will be using the Destination Duties Paid (DDP) arrangement for importing units via DHL, meaning SpaceX will pay customs duties upfront, ensuring a seamless experience for customers.
