It was formed as a partnership between Telecel International, which is a subsidiary of Cairo-based Orascom Telecom Company, a telecommunications company with operations in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and North America which in turn is owned by telecommunications giant VEON, and the Empowerment Corporation, which is a consortium of Zimbabwean business organisations.

[citation needed] Telecel shareholding consists of James Makamba, through Kestrel Corporation, the Indigenous Business Women Organisation, but the shareholding is personalised through Jane Mutasa's Selporn Investments, Zimbabwe Miners’ Federation, Affirmative Action Group, War Veterans’ Association and Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union.

Telecel's network coverage covers more than 85% of the country, including all its towns, cities and tourist resorts, as well as many smaller centres and rural areas.

Telecel has come in for criticisms on a number of fronts, mostly due to issues related to its licensing, shareholding structure and use of foreign consultants and suppliers, as well as its slowness in complying with local empowerment legislation.

Econet then issued a public statement in which it stated that because Telecel did not hold a current licence it was under no obligation to interconnect it with its network.

Telecel Zimbabwe has a corporate social responsibility programme that is focused on education for children, especially those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds or have physical disabilities.

The most recent ad hoc sponsorship was the lighting of the Victoria Falls bridge in time for the UNWTO General Assembly in August 2013.

[20] Telecel also sponsors drag racing, jazz festivals, and the Kariba International Tiger fishing tournament (KITFT).