Econet Wireless Zimbabwe Ltd., the country’s largest mobile operator, has announced plans to voluntarily delist from the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) after 27 years, citing a persistent valuation gap compared to regional peers.
In a statement issued, the telecommunications giant noted:
For several years, the company has traded at a significant discount to its peers across Africa, which typically trade at 6–8x EV/EBITDA. These peers have already separated and unlocked value from their tower infrastructure.
Econet currently owns its tower and passive infrastructure through a dedicated unit, Econet InfraCo, which it intends to list on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange (VFEX) by way of introduction. The move is designed to unlock shareholder value and align with global best practices in telecom infrastructure monetization.
Following the delisting, Econet will retain a 70% stake in Econet InfraCo, while up to 30% of shares will be allocated to settle exit offers for shareholders who choose not to remain invested. The company believes this restructuring will provide greater flexibility for future growth and investment.
This strategic shift underscores Econet’s commitment to optimizing its capital structure and positioning itself for long-term competitiveness in Zimbabwe’s evolving telecom market. The move aligns Econet with a growing number of African telecoms operators, including MTN, Vodacom, Airtel and Orange, that have spun off or sold their infrastructure assets to unlock shareholder value.
A shareholder meeting to consider the proposal is scheduled for January 2026. Before the delisting becomes effective, Econet plans to extend a voluntary exit offer, allowing investors who do not wish to hold shares in an unlisted company to either cash out or receive part-payment in shares of the newly created infrastructure subsidiary.
