Sale of Vodafone Zambia to be completed next month

The sale of Vodafone Zambia to the new owners is expected to be completed by August 2019, company Spokesperson Mutale Kapaso has disclosed.

In a statement, Ms. Kapaso states that the arrival of new shareholders is expected to inject capital funding that will enable Vodafone Zambia to expand its operations countrywide and launch the long-awaited Voice and SMS services.

She noted that due to the delay in capital injection, some of the company’s network coverage areas have consequently experienced outages.

“Mobile Broadband Limited trading as Vodafone Zambia launched its operations in 2016, introducing the first 4G high speed mobile internet network into the Zambian market. It grew rapidly on account of its next generation innovation on products and services offered to customers. Unfortunately, the withholding of funds by shareholders of the holding company – Afrimax Holdings BV in 2017 led to the company undergoing financial distress which led to employees petitioning the court for Business Rescue while it embarked on a process of obtaining new shareholders.”

“Mobile Broadband Limited T/A Vodafone Zambia commenced Business Rescue proceedings following the approval of the same by the High Court on 15th October 2018. Through the supervision of the Business Rescue Administrator (BRA) and the Court, a Business Rescue Plan was developed for implementation. The plan encompasses restructuring of the company’s affairs, business, property, debt and other liabilities and equity in a manner that maximizes the company’s continued existence and growth on a financially sound basis, resulting in a better return for all its stakeholders. This process also provided MBL a temporary moratorium or stay on the rights of claimants against the company enabling management and employees to focus on the company’s recovery,” she said.

“The introduction of the Business Rescue Process by the Government of the Republic of Zambia is provided for in Part III of The Corporate Insolvency Act, 2017. This provision is a major milestone for Zambia and places her at the forefront of implementing a positive, progressive mechanism that supports companies that have evident underlying strengths to weather temporary challenges, so that they continue to play an important role in the economy. With this process in place we are confident and convinced that MBL will bounce back stronger and more competitive in the Zambian ISP and soon Voice market.”

She continued, “During this Business Rescue process the BRA, Management, Employees, Stakeholders and with the assistance of key suppliers, have kept the business running to enable service provision to our customers as well as ensure that MBL is saleable to its soon to be new owners, a process we are confident to close by August 2019.”

“It is also important to note that due to the delay in capital injection, some of our areas with network coverage have consequently experienced network outages. The arrival of new shareholders is expected to inject capital funding that will enable MBL to expand its operations countrywide and launch the long-awaited Voice and SMS services.”

“We take this opportunity to sincerely apologize for the continued network outages we are still experiencing in some areas of Lusaka and the Copperbelt. With the acquisition process soon finalizing, these outages will soon be resolved,” she concluded.