Postal and Telecommunications (Ownership Requirements for Licences) Regulations, 2026
Telecoms and postal licences now require 75% Zimbabwean ownership. Existing licensees who fall short have 90 days to file a regularisation plan and three years to comply, with beneficial owners disclosed on affidavit.
POTRAZ may no longer issue a licence under Part VI of the Postal and Telecommunications Act unless at least 75% of the applicant is owned by Zimbabwean citizens, or by companies, trusts or entities that are themselves at least 75% citizen-owned. Put plainly: no licence where a foreigner holds more than a quarter, unless the exemption route is used.
That route is narrow. The Authority may recommend to the Minister that a licence still be issued to an applicant with foreign ownership above 25%, but only where the applicant holds a permit or exemption under the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment (Foreign Participation in Reserved Sectors) Regulations, 2025, demonstrates a significant economic contribution, and submits a business plan approved by the Minister of Industry and Commerce with measurable commitments on skills transfer, technology transfer, local value-chain development, and corporate social investment in under-serviced areas. POTRAZ must pass the application on with its recommendation within 30 days.
Existing licensees are not grandfathered. Any licensee whose ownership does not comply must submit a regularisation plan to POTRAZ within 90 days of commencement, showing how it will comply within three years — or longer if the Minister approves on good cause. The plan must set out a divestment timeline, annual targets for reducing foreign ownership, and sworn affidavits disclosing every beneficial owner.
From now on, every licensee must also notify POTRAZ in writing at least 30 days before any proposed change of ownership. The Authority has 30 days to object if the change would break these rules, and a change cannot be implemented while an objection stands.
The regulations do not state a commencement date, which matters because the 90-day and three-year clocks run from commencement.
What changed
- At least 75% of a licence applicant must be owned by Zimbabwean citizens or by entities themselves 75% citizen-owned
- No licence where a foreigner holds more than 25%, unless exempted by the Minister on POTRAZ's recommendation
- Exemption requires an indigenisation permit, proof of significant economic contribution, and a Minister-approved business plan on skills and technology transfer
- Non-compliant existing licensees must file a regularisation plan within 90 days of commencement
- Compliance must be achieved within three years, or a longer period the Minister approves
- Regularisation plans must include a divestment timeline, annual foreign-ownership reduction targets and sworn affidavits naming all beneficial owners
- Licensees must notify POTRAZ 30 days before any ownership change; POTRAZ may object and block it
Who this affects
- holders of POTRAZ licences under Part VI of the Act
- mobile network operators, ISPs and postal and courier licensees
- foreign investors in Zimbabwean telecoms and courier businesses
- applicants for new telecoms, postal or courier licences
- corporate advisers structuring shareholdings in the sector
Plain-language summary — not legal advice. Always read the full instrument.