Telecel boss 'Mawindi' resigns

Telecel Zimbabwe boss Mr Francis Mawindi has resigned hardly a year after he was appointed chief executive officer of the mobile telecommunications company.

In a statement, board chairman Mr James Makamba announced the departure of Mr Mawindi saying he was leaving to pursue other opportunities.

"The Telecel Zimbabwe board of directors hereby advises the Telecel employees that Mr Francis Mawindi has decided to pursue other opportunities outside the group and is stepping down from his position with immediate effect. The board wishes him the best in his future endeavours," he said.

Mr Makamba said Mr John Swaim would bounce back in an interim capacity. Mr Swaim was the interim CEO before Mr Mawindi's appointment.

"The board is happy to announce that Mr John David Swaim will in the interim resume the role of managing director of Telecel Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd. Mrs Angeline Vere has been appointed general manager of the company with effect from the 26th of March 2013," said Mr Makamba.

Efforts to contact Mr Mawindi were unfruitful. Mr Mawindi had succeeded US-born Swiss citizen Mr Swaim as chief executive.

Mr Mawindi's appointment had marked the return of a local CEO in more than five years after Mr Rex Chibeza resigned in 2007, paving the way for Rwandese national Aimable Mpore.

Telecel is currently the second largest mobile phone network in Zimbabwe, with more than 2 500 000 active subscribers.

Mr Mawindi's resignation comes at a time Telecel Zimbabwe is in the process of expanding its network capacity by installing high capacity base stations in new places where previously there was no network coverage, particularly in the rural areas or where it is unsatisfactory.