HARARE - Former Rainbow Tourism Group (RTG) chief executive Chipo Mtasa has been appointed managing director of fixed telephone operator Tel*One.

Mutasa takes over from Hampton Mhlanga who has been in an acting capacity.

Rosemary Sande, Tel*One spokesperson, confirmed the development.

“Yes she has just joined Tel*One and is currently undergoing induction,” said Sande.

However, Sande had not responded to e-mailed further questions by the time of going to print.

Mhlanga is expected to resume his substantive post of technical director.

Mtasa is a chartered accountant by profession.

She resigned from RTG in March last year after being at the helm of the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed hospitality group for eight years.

Mtasa has her work cut out in reviving the moribund Tel*One — saddled by debt, a declining fixed line subscriber base, high customer bills default and stiff technological competition.

Customers currently owe the state-owned company over $300 million in outstanding bills, with government accounting for a huge chunk of $80 million emanating from dollarisation in 2009.

However, Tel*One’s infrastructure plays a crucial role in the provision of bandwidth.

Through its Harare to Mutare fibre optic transmission backbone, the company currently provides the primary link to Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System (Eassy) off the coast of Beira.