Macra ordered to vacate MultiChoice injunction

Ministry of Information and Digitisation has ordered Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) to vacate an injunction it obtained stopping MultiChoice Malawi from increasing monthly subscriptions for its digital satellite television (DStv) service.

Minister of Information and Digitisation Moses Kunkuyu in an interview yesterday confirmed the decision, saying the order is with immediate effect. He declined to provide further details.

Said Kunkuyu: “It’s immediate, it’s an order.”

When contacted last evening, Macra director general Daud Suleman declined to comment on the matter.

However, a communication The Nation has seen states that despite being an independent regulatory body, Macra should seek direction from the ministry on this matter.

Macra is futher expected to take immediate steps to restore the status quo prior to the time when it obtained the court relief so that efforts to resolve the matter can take place in earnest and outside the yoke of litigation.

Last week, the Parliamentary Committee on Media, Information and Communications engaged MultiChoice Malawi and Macra in a bid to resolve the wrangle that has seen MultiChoice Africa Holdings (MAH) withdrawing pay television services in Malawi.

The committee’s intervention followed a fall-out between Macra and MAH, which saw the latter on August 8 2023 announcing the withdrawal of DStv services from Malawi with immediate effect.

The decision came after the High Court of Malawi in Lilongwe issued an injunction in a matter between MultiChoice Malawi and Macra on the adjustment of DStv premiums.

Macra accused the service provider of flouting the law by not informing it about the proposed review.

During the meeting, 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.

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