By Business Reporter-Econet Wireless Zimbabwe Limited’s Chief Operating Officer, Kezito Makuni, has resigned, marking another high-profile exit from the troubled telecoms giant.
Makuni’s departure comes just days after Econet dismissed more than five top executives in a sweeping leadership shake-up.
Having served the company for 16 years, Makuni is said to have voluntarily stepped down, with his official last day set for 28 February 2025.
A notice from Econet confirmed his resignation:
“Econet Wireless Zimbabwe Limited announces the voluntary exit from the business of its Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Kezito Makuni, with effect from 28th February 2025, to pursue other interests outside the company. Mr. Makuni, who has been with Econet Wireless Zimbabwe for sixteen years, played a key role in helping the business achieve significant milestones in its growth and digital transformation journey over the years.”
Makuni’s exit follows a turbulent period for Econet, which has been struggling with financial instability, regulatory pressure, and intensifying market competition.
The company recently fired several senior executives, signaling deeper structural challenges within Zimbabwe’s largest mobile network operator.
EcoCash Holdings, which owns Steward Bank, also saw s leadership changes after Tawanda Nyambirai acquired a majority stake and took over as Group CEO.
His appointment led to the resignation of eight board members in what was described as a corporate governance overhaul.
Meanwhile, Cassava Technologies—another Econet Group entity—has been restructuring, appointing an AI Officer and reshuffling long-serving executives to align with its new strategic direction.
Econet, last year offered voluntary exit packages as part of a cost-cutting drive, hinting at financial strain within the company.
Econet’s leadership turmoil comes at a time when its service quality has significantly deteriorated, frustrating millions of Zimbabweans.
Frequent network outages, slow data speeds, and unreliable mobile money transactions have fueled customer dissatisfaction.
These challenges have been exacerbated by power shortages, foreign currency constraints, and the rising cost of maintaining network infrastructure.
Adding to Econet’s woes is the entry of Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, which is gaining traction in Zimbabwe.
Starlink offers high-speed, low-latency internet, providing a compelling alternative to Econet’s struggling mobile and fiber networks.
The satellite service’s ability to bypass traditional telecom infrastructure gives it a competitive edge, particularly in remote areas where Econet has failed to provide stable connectivity.
As customers increasingly turn to Starlink and alternative service providers, Econet faces mounting pressure to improve its network reliability and digital services.
The leadership shake-up and recent resignations may be part of a broader effort to reposition the company amid these challenges, but whether these moves will restore confidence remains to be seen.