A $1 billion valuation has thrust Econet InfraCo into the spotlight as it begins trading on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange (VFEX) today.
The occasion marks the largest initial listing in Zimbabwe’s capital markets history and a defining moment for Strive Masiyiwa’s telecoms empire.
The infrastructure-focused spin-off from Econet Wireless Zimbabwe debuts under the ticker INFR.VX, becoming the 16th listing on the US dollar-indexed bourse.
Its arrival is being widely viewed as both a structural shift in Zimbabwe’s telecoms sector and a litmus test for the country’s push to attract foreign capital.
Speaking at the listing ceremony, Zimbabwe’s finance minister Mthuli Ncube highlighted the significance of the milestone.
“This demonstrates to the world that Zimbabwe is open for business and our regulatory frameworks are strong. A listing of this scale sends a clear signal to international investors about the depth and maturity of our capital markets,” he said.
The listing is historic not only because of its size, but also because it represents a strategic pivot. Econet has carved out its towers, renewable energy assets, and real estate portfolio into a standalone entity designed to unlock value and generate stable, long-term income streams.
For Masiyiwa’s group, the move aligns with a growing global trend where telecom operators separate infrastructure assets into specialised vehicles capable of attracting independent investment and expanding beyond their parent companies.
The VFEX debut also reflects a deliberate shift away from the local currency-denominated Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, where Econet had been one of the largest and most liquid counters since listing in 1998.
Its exit removes a significant portion of market capitalisation and liquidity from the ZSE, further elevating the VFEX’s strategic importance.
Econet InfraCo enters the market as a defensive, asset-backed investment case, underpinned by long-term leases and predictable cash flows from telecom infrastructure and energy solutions.
The company is expected to play a critical role in supporting Zimbabwe’s digital economy, particularly as demand for data, connectivity and distributed power rises.
For investors, the listing opens exposure to one of Zimbabwe’s most significant private infrastructure platforms, while for the broader economy, it signals a maturing capital market increasingly capable of hosting billion-dollar listings.
As trading begins, all eyes will be on whether Econet InfraCo can translate its size and asset base into sustained investor confidence, potentially paving the way for more infrastructure-led listings across Africa.
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