When we spoke to a source at Potraz last week we learned something that surprised us. Despite Dandemutande and Frampol securing their Starlink Authorised Reseller status, Potraz has so far refused to grant them “clearance” to sell Starlink.
This means that these Starlink Authorised Reseller cannot sell Starlink Services in Zimbabwe. The only companies granted the clearance are Aura and TelOne. And ofcourse Starlink Zimbabwe itself.
When Potraz announced the Starlink Licence approval earlier this month, it also announced a ban on selling of Starlink services in Zimbabwe without Potraz clearance:
It is a condition of the STARLINK Licences that such Agencies, Dealers and ISPs shall be subject to clearance by POTRAZ. This condition applies to both existing and prospective ISPs and Network Operators. The sale or distribution of STARLINK User Terminals without appropriate licensing and clearance is, therefore, an offence punishable by law.
Essentially, Starlink got the license on condition Potraz had the final say on who could be an authorised reseller.
According to a report in The Standard, Potraz has asked these uncleared ISPs to stop telling Zimbabweans they are Starlink Authorised Resellers. And as far as we can tell, they are complying.
The Politicians’ grip on Starlink
This ban essentially gives Potraz the power to exclude Frampol, Dandemumutande, Paratus. Well, not Potraz per se. It’s the politicians that control Potraz that have that power. You probably noticed that it was not POTRAZ that announced the Starlink licence. It was the Minister of ICT. Potraz only announced the license the next day, as if to retweet the minister.
You will also remember that even back in May, it was not Potraz that announced the controversial Starlink licensing. It was the country’s president himself. Potraz didn’t say anything about it, and to this day have not commented on the mess of it all. It was a mess because the president was essentially telling Starlink it would give it a licence, on condition it worked with Wicknell Chivayo’s IMC exclusively. As we now know, Starlink refused.
But Zimbabweans continued to clamour for Starlink and a compromise had to be reached. Which is what we have today – instead of Chivayo, we have Aura, TelOne and Starlink itself. Navigating the licencing in Zimbabwe was so hard for Starlink, the SpaceX executive leading the effort described it as perseverance “through a difficult and complex licensing and activation effort.”
TelOne is a government owned company, and already an ISP. Aura is a private company. The Standard article we linked to above claims Aura is linked to some cabinet ministers and that it has ordered some 6,000 kits destined for tender business with the government.
What Aura says
We contacted Aura Group CEO, Samuelle Dimairho, to comment on this allegation. He denies it and says The Standard is using lies to create content to sell the paper. He explained:
We have a reputation of our own and proven track record and have never been in partnership or affiliated with any cabinet Minster or politician. We have been working on the Starlink project for the past 3 years and have been involved in a broader telecoms and IoT revolution for the past 8 years.
We have done much bigger and far more complex projects in Africa and Asia. One that is in the public domain is Chengetedzai Depository Company. We co-founded Chengetedzai and currently own a large stake.
We asked him how Aura got its “clearance” yet Potraz licensed ISPs are being denied, and he said only Potraz could explain that:
I think Potraz is best placed to answer that question. We have also been in situations where it is also even difficult to understand regulatory bodies and some of the decisions they make but the best to respond to that would be the regulators.
All I can say from our end is that we had been engaging government on this project for a long time and have also been subjected to rigorous assessments and reviews by government.
As a consumer you can still buy direct from Starlink
If you’re reading this an wondering how this affects your ability to buy from Starlink directly, it does not. As a consumer you can still go to stalink.com and order your kit. You will get in about 4 or so weeks.
The Authorised Resellers are there to serve businesses whose needs are usually a bit more complex than you average consumer. Starlink needs distributors on the ground able to help with troubleshooting, payments, designing the networking solutions and other such things. This is were resellers like TelOne and Aura come in.
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50 comments
Can I purchase the residential lite plan using the standard kit?
yes you can always change
“We contacted Aura Group CEO, Samuelle Dimairho, to comment on this allegation. He dies it and says The Standard is using lies to create content to sell the paper.” oh goodness gracious , HE DIES IT ?!! lol
Zimbabwe is political on every level because this aids and assists with the propagation of corruption and the streamlining of any available opportunities towards buddies. How a country can be run this badly is a miracle in the opposite. We can’t even let genuine people do what they are qualified for because being ZANU PF is the only qualification needed in this country.
There can never be a saint among armed robbers. Stop it!
Only a few bad apples are responsible for all the carnage of the last 50 years ??? Dude, please share what you are smoking, or maybe not because it has clearly obliterated most of grey matter between your ears.
Fixed. thanks
I knew it the moment Telone got Authorized,now they want to create a monopoly so only Telone eats the cake.
I can already smell a rat with this controversial decision. They want to create a monopoly to their favoured and linked organizations. These guys know that with the ground being leveled they won’t even stand a chance of competing with sidelined competitors in this Starlink deal who will likely offer superior service compared to what they will ever offer. The regulator should have been impartial in its important decision….
Vapfana vamudhara. Go for it, why not, maaaake money. Hanti that’s what you were put on earth for.
The goodness the world is making sense again! I was so confused ,how we were they going to eat?
Now everything is back to normal!
Takambomira kuti mupaparike, then we bring you back to reality. Asi mune choice ka, enjoy it, we cannot let you enjoy without us you know… Clears throat.
Inini hangu, im going the Econet or any other provider route. 5Mbps for $20, bho.
5mbps now 20us ???
Not sure about $20, but there is a $15 dollar option in testing by Econet, speed yet to confirm, release date yet to confirm.
6000 kits and we sell them for $1500 to government and agencies.
$9m easy.
Ma Tax payer emu Zimbabwe hamuna hasha, muri ma Christu hanti. Don’t worry you shall have Starlink in heaven.
They are the clever guys. Well done lads, bho zheti. So easy.
🌳🐩
Zimbabwe ndeye ropa. Kusvika mati tswiri tswiri bhuuuuuu, England, Spain, Germany, they all have powerful families its our time to create powerfull families at your expense. Long live Munhumutapa, long live Chikuyochisamarengu, long live Nyatsimba mutota.
Corruption is the preferred way of doing business in Zimbabwe
To become a Starlink authorised reseller you don’t need Potraz you apply directly to Starlink and get approval from them .All the listed above resellers are considered illegal by starlink
TechZim is now slowly becoming like the rest do your homework first
Learn to read. Its clearly stated that part of Starlink’s license is that POTRAZ has the final say on who is allowed to sell in Zimbabwe
It’s all corruption
Guys kune vakusanganwo ne not yet shipped here or ndini ndega
Tel one should have had starlink monopoly… But here we see another parallel set up like the muthapa parallel ministry of finance and industry in one..
How do we try monopolising Internet service providers instead of trying to improve existing structures… There are so many factions.. We have list our identity and looters continue their destruction while the country at large is bleeding… GOD SEND THE RAIN
Whats new here?
My question is who makes up Starlink Zimbabwe, if we can find out, then all our questions will be answered. Techzim this is your homework
Please stay with the technical content. You are so good at that. Zvimwe zvamave kuhumana-humana izvi hamuzvigoni. As jurnos you have to give a balanced and factual article. On this article you are just like the state newspapers. So one sided.
For example :
Toziva kuti telone ndeyani. Urikuti Aura are politically connected. Ko Dandemitande me Frampol ndezvaani? For all you know they may also be politically connected.
Then pama interviews you just asked Aura and they gave their story. Ko Dandemitande me Frampol vari kuti chii? Varambirwei? Are they going to appeal or what?
Ndosaka ndati stay on the technical issues which you are good at and which are objective and measurable.
Telling a writer what to write? Very controlling, very patronising very pferistic.
Yes, Jack, the writer can be told what to write about. They’re just regurgitating garbage at this point. So, all l ask is for them to focus on actual technology news, the kind of news that nerds are interested in.
Politics should be left to the likes of Hopewell Chin’ono. They have better command of the English language and use the appropriate terminologies anyway, so let them cook.
Why?
Is this why so many deliveries got hung up with DHL and nobody would give a straight answer? Lol, was it really just crossfire?
This is why we can’t have nice things. Institutions being used as bludgeons to punish and as siphons of wealth.
Unotosaya hope ichizvifunga. Inguva yavo.
Tsekzim yavekushaya nyaya manje. Are you Hopewell delving into the nitty gritties of corruption. Of all your readers who cares about resellership of starlink? Dzokerai kumareview eitel zvenyu ndakambozvitaura kuti about Starlink hamuna zvamunoziva. And it happened kuti its approval came to you like all ordinary zimbos. Yakasvika pakubuda muchinyebera vanhu kuti frampol nyonyonyo.
Party sponsored actors. When ever something becomes international like Techzim in Zimbabwe they come up with insults in order to keep you down or hide their corruption and wicked ways.
This is an international blog and you show the worst side of our society. People world over must think Zimbabweans areDo mad and feeble, you think writing in Shona hides the vile attitude you bare? People have google translate and can read everything you say.
You are dated and not fit for purpose. We cannot wait to see the back of you and your minions. Be gone!
Repent otherwise unopera sadiddy
Any news from Dandemutande and frampol
Look guys techzim must have an editorial focus. This we decipher from their name and what they say on their logo. It’s a techno-sauvy website. Izvi zve corruption, propaganda, conspiracy theories and some such subjective discussions, zvisina technical validation, zvinotoenderwa kuchikoro izvi. Just like your technical knowledge. Sei ve techzim mavekuda kuita basa raana Bhozhongora, Kapfupi, Hopewell Chon’ono a and others. Stay on track!
Lol kunyangwe kutech kune nyaya dzirikowo. Zvakangofanana pakabuda 5g, America yaiti inokonzera cancer kudii kudii. Saka kwandiri nyaya dzakadai dzinobatsira kundizivisa kuti chii chirikuita kuti nyika ino irambe iriyekumasure
It’s concerning to see Potraz banning Starlink resellers like Frampol and Dandemutande from advertising and selling the service. This could limit access to vital connectivity for many. Transparency on the reasons behind this decision is crucial for public trust. Let’s hope for a resolution that benefits consumers and fosters competition.
I will do so.
6000 kits for tenders. Amana ka. We know the rest.
I just want my money back and a little interest, executive outcome. 💷
Hello Simon darling, how come you haven’t called me.
XoXo
😂💦💦
Sorry bro unfortunately life in Zimbabwe is a class struggle. A war between the ruling class and the working class. As much as you go about yammering about liberation struggle,we will always have these classes,the real fight you should be engaged in is the reduction of the gap between the ruling and working class. Please note: You pretend to be learned but your reasoning betrays you.
Formal or informal,you still rely on the ruling class as their policies affect you whether you like it or not.
Is Aura a licensed Starlink reseller, or they are going to break the law again?
A boy with an Army behind him can be extremely political.
Gladiator Extended Version 1080p. MP4
History Lesson.
Gladiator the movie is based on true events. Yes Emperor Marcus Aurelius existed. Yes Commodus existed. Yes Emperor Aurelius ruled from when he was 40 years old and conquered and sudued his enemies.
He broke with an unwritten tradition. Roman Emperors usually adopted a son then made him Emperor in order to protect their legacy, the best candidate was usually chosen, like how Julius Ceasar made Octavian later to be Augustus Ceasar his heir.
Marcus Aurelius had big plans for Commodus his biological son, however Commodus was not a moral man. He died and Commodus became Emperor.
Commodus organised lavish games that bankrupt the State Exchequer, yes the gladiatorial games. Before we get back there, his friends were working against him, selling off grain and other corrupt activities to undermine him as they felt they could do a better job than their Ceasar, some just for their own personal greed.
The games must have been a reprieve for him. People can distracted by bread and circuses. Now Commadus made a fatal error. He swore the Gladiatorial oath in front of Gladiators as one of them and he was to fight and die as one of them in the arena, very brave and manly right!
Wrong, his matches against other gladiators were fixed. He gave his opponents blunt swords. He started winning in the arena and the crowd loved him, but he was cheating and with each fight, breaking the galdiators oath.
One of the top gladiators found out. They tried to poison him first, but because he drank corpus amounts of wine, he vomitted. It gets fuzzy in my head what happened, but the Gladiators killed an Emperor, the movie doesn’t show that because General Maximus is fictitious, the rral life Commodus was killed by gladiators.
Gladiators Ahoi🔪 ‘We who are about to die, salute you’ 📯
Let’s unpack political risk when assessing customers, suppliers etc. Organizations usually assess these at various levels in the organization. High political risk customers, distributors, suppliers etc may have to be approved at very high levels, even at board level. Depence on the financial risks attached to the deals. Cause these are the people who are protected from the law through their political connections and can renege from the deals without recourse. So these distributors have to be clean from at least two angles, Starlink and the authorities. So for all you know the authorities may be protecting you from people who have not given sufficient guarantees to protect your money.
These distributors will be holding in trust millions on behalf of all of us. So regai vapedzerane.
Thank you for the transparency. At last a voice of reason as every man and his dog clamours to get on the bandwagon. I am sure there are plenty of scammers out there making a fast buck.
When did Starlink become $100 per month. It’s $30 per month for the residential package. Speaking of upfront costs, that’s the duty of a caring government to subsidize