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MINISTER of State for Presidential Affairs and Government Programmes Monitoring Simbarashe Mumbengegwi (left), officiates at a Powertel function in Harare recently

Business Reporter
Powertel, a ZESA wholly owned technological wing is making commendable visible mileage in the projects it is implementing under the 100 days’ rapid results initiative as led by the President ED Mnangagwa.

This was revealed following two awards which were given to the company by the Chartered Institute of Project Management Zimbabwe (CIPMZ) held recently at a colourful ceremony at Rainbow Towers.

This follows another honour by Zimbabwe Investment Authority which recognised the company’s outstanding achievement on prepaid electricity project.

The business increased e-vending from 9 000 to 55 000 in a period of a year. The business in line with Government’s initiatives of rural electrification worked on further increasing the electricity access channels from 55 000 to 60 000 with 44 percent of the sub vendors coming from rural areas. The sister company ZETDC is in a race to ensure prepaid meters are installed to various areas whilst Powertel is continuing to ensure prepaid electricity is accessed without any hassle.

“At least electricity is now accessible here in Murambinda without any challenge. I thank the Government for this initiative as this has added so much convenience to our trading,” said a prominent business owner at Murambinda Growth Point.

Powertel is a wholly owned subsidiary of ZESA Holdings mandated with providing total ICT solutions for the power utility and the Zimbabwean market.

In March 2013 Government through the Ministry of Energy & Power Development appointed Powertel as the aggregator for prepaid electricity because of its strategic role on ICTs and innovations in the group. The entire prepaid electricity service is aggregated through Powertel working closely with the wholesaler ZETDC and other appointed partners. To date the service has generated employment for the nation.

Over 96 percent of the prepaid electricity revenues is now being accounted for through the Powerplus e-vending system. The service is now available through varying platforms which include but not limited to over the counter point of sale, mobile platforms, applications, internet platforms and VISA payment platforms.

Powertel was recognised at the Zimbabwe Investor Awards for its efforts on employment creation through empowerment of sub-vendors.