The privatisation of Zambia's telecommunications operator Zamtel moved ahead after the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) short listed three companies to continue the bidding. Angola's Unitel, Libya's LAP Green Networks and Russia's Altimo are the three remaining bidders for the 75 percent stake in the operator. India's BSNL withdrew from the bidding after carrying out due diligence on the company. ZDA privatization manager Henry Sakala told Reuters the bids will be subjected to an evaluation by the ZDA. After the evaluation they will be presented to the ZDA board, which will make a decision on which companies with which to negotiate. An independent team will be appointed to undertake the negotiations with the bidders to try and avoid the political problems that have bedeviled privatisations in other countries.
