Cama wants DStv wrangle resolved quickly

Consumers Association of Malawi (Cama) has urged Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) and MultiChoice Malawi to quickly find solutions that will not negatively affect consumers in the access of digital satellite television (DStv) services.

The sentiments from the consumer rights body follow the wrangle that has seen MultiChoice Africa Holdings (MAH) withdrawing pay television services in Malawi following a fall-out between Macra and MAH, which saw the latter announcing the withdrawal of DStv services from the country.

In a statement made available to Business News, Cama executive director John Kapito said the dispute between these two institutions is having a negative effect on a certain sector of consumers which includes institutions such as hotels, among others.

“While we applaud Macra as a regulator for ensuring that providers of goods and services such as satellite digital broadcasters should conduct their businesses according to laws of the country we wish to emphasize the need to take into account the interests of consumers.

“The decision on whether to discontinue or not DStv services must be done with proper care considering the nature of this particular service as it is also based on individual consumer choice on whether to have DStv Services or not,” he said.

Kapito further argued that the consumer right to choice must be protected at every stage of decision-making before withdrawing DStv Services and such a consideration must be extended to other services which include the provision of Satellite television.

“Our appeal is to request Macra to use its mandate in enforcing the law without negatively affecting the interests of consumers.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Committee on Media, Information and Communications engaged MultiChoice Malawi and Macra on Wednesday in a bid to resolve the wrangle.

The committee chairperson Susan Dossi said they believed that the matter can be settled out of court and that MAH can continue providing DStv services to Malawians.

She said the committee will hold a roundtable meeting for the stakeholders.

On his part, Minister of Information and Digitisation Moses Kunkuyu said government’s interest is to ensure that there is a friendly environment for investors who complement its efforts to ensure citizens are well informed, educated and entertained through the use of services such as DStv.

Said the minister: “As a ministry, we want to see a win-win situation. Where one withdraws from a service like this, there is a loss on their part but there is also a loss on the part of government.”

MultiChoice Malawi corporate affairs manager Zena Makunje said they want to see the matter resolved so that DStv subscribers can continue to enjoy the services.

The firm has contended that it does not provide DStv services, but acts as a subscription management entity which is a customer service for people who subscribe to MAH’s DStv services.

Macra had fined MultiChoice Malawi to pay K19 million licence fees before the DStv services are withdrawn.