Telecel opens more franchises

MOBILE network operator, Telecel Zimbabwe has opened 15 additional franchise stores across the country as part of its retail footprint expansion initiative in its bid to ramp up its market share.

Telecel has embarked on a massive market drive as part of its efforts to woo subscribers some of whom ditched the operator in the aftermath of Government’s threat to cancel its licence over alleged non-payment of fees last year.

The new franchise shops are located in urban, rural and peri-urban areas and cover areas including Harare, Bulawayo, Birchenough Bridge, Murewa, Mutoko and Gweru.

Hwange, Mvurwi, Chegutu, Kwekwe, Tsholotsho and Murombedzi are other areas where the franchise shops will be located.

The company’s communications and branding director, Mr Obert Mandimika said the opening of additional franchise shops will help improve Telecel customers’ experience through increased convenience.

He said: “Following the success, popularity and impact of the first batch of franchise shops, we saw it fit to add more retail shops across the country particularly in areas that had little Telecel corporate retail presence. The retail expansion initiative is part of our multichannel customer experience strategy, which we announced last year”.

Telecel now offers more than 550 customer service points across the country to get closer to its customers with the latest customer service centre additions.

The mobile network operator has begun upgrading its data network in a project that is expected to improve data service quality and coverage while giving the operator room to introduce some new services. — @lavuzigara1

Tobacco mop-up sales planned

TOBACCO mop-up sales will be conducted later this month as this year’s crop marketing season comes to an end today.

Statistics from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) on Wednesday show that 187,7 million kilogrammes of the tobacco worth $551,5 million have been sold.

During the comparable period last year, 179 million kg were sold generating $526 million.

“The selling season comes to an end tomorrow with the mop-up sales scheduled for August 23. The duration of the mop-up sales would depend on the availability of the crop,” said TIMB communications manager Mr Isheunesu Moyo in an interview yesterday.

This year’s tobacco selling season began on March 30 with auction sales while contract sales opened the following day. The average price for this year remained unchanged at $2,94 a kg.

Last month, Zimbabwe revised its tobacco sales targets from 175 million kg to 190 million as deliveries continued trickling in.

Mr Moyo is on record saying the rise in tobacco deliveries was a testimony of an improved performance by farmers.

Meanwhile, 56 million kg of tobacco have since the beginning of the year been exported to different parts of the world generating $290 million.

During the comparable period last year, 59,5 million kg had been exported raking $321,8 million. — @okazunga