Namaste,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here’s what I’ve got for you today:
- Lonestar MTN sues Liberia’s agency over $15K noise fine
- Vodacom secures fibre future with Maziv after 4 years
- Bolt drivers get affordable dashcam option
Lonestar MTN sues Liberia’s agency over $15K noise fine
Lonestar Cell MTN is fighting a $15,000 fine slapped on it by Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for noise pollution at its Congo Town facility, per Front Page Africa. The telecom giant has taken the matter to the Civil Law Court in Monrovia, where it’s asking a judge to block the EPA from enforcing the penalty.
The fine, reportedly the first of its kind in Liberia, came after what EPA boss Emmanuel Yarkpawolo called “a series of scientific tests” showing that noise from Lonestar’s generator exceeded both local and World Health Organization limits. The agency also received multiple complaints from nearby residents who say the noise has made life unbearable.
Sidebar: Maybe I should just sue my neighbour for noise pollution, too? I mean, every time the power goes out, the generator noise is so bad it literally hurts. Yeah, I can’t function. I feel useless and helpless. Everyone else uses solar but them. What should I do?
Back to the matter: “We told Lonestar to install silencers and extend their chimneys so emissions disperse higher,” Yarkpawolo said. “They wrote to say they had complied, but our inspection showed otherwise.” When the company missed the payment deadline, the EPA was preparing to shut down the generator before Lonestar filed suit.
Residents say the noise problem has dragged on for years. “When there’s no electricity, we can’t sleep at night, and the vibration is constant,” said Isaac Quwebin, chairman of the community. Environmental health experts warn that prolonged exposure to high noise levels can cause stress and other health problems. Back to me: Maybe I should just hit my neighbour with the last line? Doubt they’ll really get the whole “I’m autistic” thing anyway.
Anyhoo, the case lands as the EPA unveils a fully equipped environmental laboratory, a first for Liberia, capable of testing air, water, and soil without relying on foreign labs. Officials say the facility will give the agency hard scientific backing for enforcement, but experts stress that evidence must be followed by action.
For the Joseph-Boakai-led administration, the Lonestar case is shaping up as an early test of its willingness to crack down on environmental violations, something past governments have struggled to do. Activists and affected communities will be watching to see if the EPA’s newfound capacity translates into real accountability.
Vodacom secures fibre future with Maziv after 4 years
After nearly four years of back-and-forth with South Africa’s competition authorities, Vodacom has finally clinched approval to acquire just under 35% of Maziv, the company behind fibre giants Vumatel and Dark Fibre Africa (DFA). The green light came from the Competition Appeals Court yesterday, Thursday, August 14, 2025, after a drawn-out legal and regulatory battle.
This outcome follows a settlement between Vodacom, Remgro (Maziv’s majority owner), and the Competition Commission, which had initially fought the deal. The agreement saw Vodacom make concessions to limit its influence over Maziv and pump more money into network expansion, which helped ease anti-competition concerns.
The deal, first announced in November 2021, has been valued at R36 billion for Maziv, with Vodacom set to pay between R11 billion and R13.5 billion for its 30% stake. The mobile giant also has the option to buy another 4.95% later, depending on a future valuation.
Beyond the boardroom, the deal promises faster fibre rollouts to South Africa’s underserved areas. Maziv says Vodacom’s investment will slash the timeline to connect densely populated townships like Alexandra from 10–12 years down to just five or less. Plans include extending free broadband to schools and police stations.
The package also includes over 5,000km of metro fibre from Vodacom and fibre coverage to 160,000 homes, bolstering Maziv’s network muscle. On the financial side, the deal strengthens Maziv’s balance sheet, enabling it to fund growth and start paying dividends.
While there’s still some final paperwork to clear with ICASA, the communications regulator has already supported the transfer of DFA’s licences to Maziv. With this win in hand, Vodacom and Maziv are now poised to roll out high-speed Internet to more South Africans, faster than anyone thought possible a few years ago.
Bolt drivers get affordable dashcam option
Bolt Nigeria is rolling out a new safety tool for its drivers, a smartphone-based dashcam service that turns a regular phone into both a forward-facing and interior-facing camera, per Technext. The feature, developed with US-based Driver Technologies, will cost drivers ₦4,810 a month, a 75% discount on the usual price, with the first month free.
The dashcam runs directly from the Bolt app, recording trips in the background without interfering with ride requests. Videos are backed up to the cloud, with unlimited storage and easy sharing options for anything from police investigations to insurance claims. It also captures footage inside the car, giving drivers an extra layer of protection in disputes with passengers.
“Drivers have told us for years that they want dashcams for safety, but the cost has always been a barrier,” said Bolt Nigeria GM Osi Oguah. “By partnering with Driver Technologies, we’re making premium dashcam features affordable while giving drivers tools to create safer working conditions.”
The move comes as ride-hailing safety conversations have largely focused on passengers, leaving many drivers feeling overlooked, a sore point that has sparked protests across Nigeria. Bolt says the new feature aims to cut down on safety incidents while giving drivers evidence to take to Customer Support, the police, or insurers when needed.
Bolt first tested the smartphone-to-dashcam service in South Africa earlier this year. The Nigerian rollout arrives just as security concerns around e-hailing drivers remain high. In a separate incident on August 13 in Soweto, South Africa, an Uber driver was reportedly shot dead and his car torched outside Maponya Mall. Another driver and a passerby were wounded in the attack, which police suspect is linked to taxi violence.
Gauteng police say investigations are ongoing, with cases of murder, attempted murder, and arson opened. The attack has prompted community protests and demands for the mall’s security company to be removed.
In case you missed it
What I’m watching
Opportunities
- MTN Nigeria has kicked off its 12-week Cloud Accelerator, designed to give African growth-stage startups a boost with funding, mentorship, and cloud infrastructure. Applications are open until today, August 15, 2025. Apply here.
- Want to attend an evening of connection, conversation, and insight on how data is shaping East Africa’s creative economy? Join Communiqué on Thursday, August 21 at 6pm at Alliance Française, Nairobi, featuring Brian Kimanzi, Mars Maasai (HEVA Fund), Ezy Onyango (PAIPEC-CCI), Wangui Njoroge and more. Register here.
- Moniepoint is hiring for several positions. Apply here.
- Lagos Business School is looking for an Instructional Designer. Apply here.
- Max Drive is hiring a Facility/ Administrative officer. Apply here.
- Moove is looking for a Maintenance Executive. Apply here.
- Glovo is looking to fill several roles. Apply here.
- Businessfront, the parent company of Techpoint Africa, is looking for a Researcher and Scriptwriter Intern for Businessfront TV. Apply here.
- Building a startup can feel isolating, but with Equity Merchants CommunityConnect, you can network with fellow founders, experts, and investors, gaining valuable insights and exclusive resources to help you grow your business. Click here to join.
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Have a fun weekend!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa.
