Telecel Zimbabwe has appointed a local managing director for its operations following previous disgruntlement over employment of an expat chief executive officer, said board chairman, James Makamba.

Telecel had appointed John Swaim as cheif executive officer but his work permit application was not approved in 2013. Government officials and empowerment proponents had argued that Telecel should have appointed a local to head its operations.

On Tuesday, Makamba said the Telecel Zimbabwe board had appointed Angelina Vere as new chief executive officer from her previous position of general manager since 2013. Telecel is more than 50% owned by VimpelComm while a consortium of Zimbabwean business people under the Empowerment Corporation vehicle control about 40% in the company.

Makamba said the appointment of Vere, a native Zimbabwean with vast experience in the local telecomms industry, was in line with the company's "empowerment" policies for locals.

"...the organisation gears itself to tackle exciting opportunities that are designed to unlock its true potential," said Makamba.

Vere's appointment is expected to lift some of the pressure the government was exerting on the company regarding compliance with empowerment laws that require foreign companies to own nomore than 49% in local companies.

Telecel Zimbabwe is also in the middle of a dispute with the government over licence renewal fee payments. The government recently gave the company an ultimatum to shut down its operations but the high court said the ultimatum was too harsh and allowed it to operate pending the outcome of its appeal against the licence cancellation.