Tanzania has reportedly not issued Sylvia Mulinge with a work permit to begin her role as the managing director of Vodacom because President Magufuli believes there are more experienced Tanzanians to take on the task. Sylvia Mulinge, Safaricom’s former marketing director, should have started her new job in June after taking over from Ian Ferrao.
According to a notice of Vodacom’s annual general meeting set for 1 October 2018, Sylvia Mulinge will be eligible for re-election as director of the board together with Diego Gutierrez and Kenneth Gomado.
The telco is supposedly undertaking a recruitment process to find a new MD and has in the meantime appointed Hishim Hendi to the position in an acting capacity. However, the AGM notice says that Mulinge will begin her duties as MD “subject to completion of an on-boarding process.”
Hendi has more than 15 years experience in communications and has held senior positions at Vodacom and Vodafone Groups. The acting MD joined Vodacom in 2016 as the director of consumer business.
“We brought him aboard due to his expertise and experience. Having worked in various capacities in other Vodacom operations in Africa and beyond, he understands the ins and outs of our commercial operations. With his leadership in the commercial areas, our customers can expect more valuable products and services that will address all their communication needs,” Ferrao earlier described Hendi.
Obscure Operations at the Immigration Department
Tanzania’s immigration department last month issued more than 400 work permits and Mulinge’s was not one of them even after she made the application in May.
According to Kenya Insights, the Immigration Department has termed the delay, which could be a possible denial, as a non-issue.
“So far we have received no feedback, so we do not know the possible outcome. Work permit applications and their approval time periods vary,” said Ali Mfuruki the chairman of Vodacom Tanzania.
