Kinshasa - Vodacom's partner in a Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) joint venture denied advocating the sale of its stake in the business if the South African mobile phone company refuses to ease fee requirements in the venture.
South African financial daily Business Day had reported on Monday that Congolese Wireless Networks, which owns a 49% stake in joint venture Vodacom Congo, may sell its stake if the long-running dispute over fees was not resolved.
"I don't know where (Business Day) got that from ... It's total rubbish. We're still open to negotiations," Chairman Alieu Centech told Reuters.
Congolese Wireless Networks has threatened to sue Vodacom for at least $180m in a long-running dispute over fees - including those to guarantee loans - which it says have brought the partnership to the edge of bankruptcy.
Vodacom, which owns the remaining 51% of Vodacom Congo, has said it would defend itself against any legal action in the central African nation and it would look for an amicable solution to the dispute.
- Reuters