Twists, turns in Macra, Multi Choice saga

In a swift turn of events, Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) yesterday approved new digital satellite television (DStv) premiums only for MultiChoice to snub the decision, saying it will resume service depending on the court determination.

Before dust had settled on the confusion created for customers who the regulator said would access the service from last week, MultiChoice obtained a court order stopping Macra from taking any action against the company.

The order restricts Macra from making any enforcement measures on MultiChoice Malawi for voluntarily revoking its SMS licence by virtue of its decision to suspend the collection of DStv subscription on behalf of MultiChoice Africa Holdings (MAH).

Reacting to the court order, Macra director general Daud Suleman said the injunction will delay the enforcement action the regulatory authority was planning to take on MultiChoice Malawi for illegal use of the country’s spectrum.

He said at the moment, DStv services are illegally landing into Malawi and they were planning to take action on the same.

Said Suleman: “Illegal use of spectrum without a licence is a serious offence under the Communications Act. Our legal team will contest this and regulatory enforcement will take place against any illegal operator as per law and regulation.”

Earlier yesterday, Macra approved MutiChoice Malawi’s request to raise the subscriptions in a matter that is still in court.

Reads the letter in part addressed to MultiChoice Malawi general manager: “The authority wishes to remind you to notify all customers of the subscription fee changes before implementation. Now that the said tariffs have been submitted and considered by the Macra, the authority expects DStv services in Malawi to resume.”

The move came a week after Macra indicated that DStv service would resume by Friday. However, when customers tried to make their subscriptions on the platform, they could not succeed.

When contacted yesterday, MultiChoice Malawi corporate affairs manager Zena Makunje said nothing has changed on their part in as far as the provision of services is concerned.

“Our engagement with Macra on this matter is ongoing and any new developments will be shared with the public,” she said.

Later yesterday, MAH said in a statement that the resumption of the DStv service in Malawi will depend on the outcome of a judicial review case between MultiChoice Malawi and Macra whose judgement is pending.

Meanwhile, some of the DStv subscribers have reacted to the ongoing spat between the two entities.

One of the subscribers Higger Mkandawire said in the absence of DStv, his family was missing out on home entertainment and feeling isolated from the developments in the global world.

“DStv is a platform which offers entertainment, information and education. Right now it feels like we are prisoners waiting to be freed. Mind you, this is not just an entertainment platform, but also a platform which we use to care for children at home,” he said.

Another subscriber Flywell Phiri said the absence of the service is a breach of people’s media freedom since they cannot access alternative views.

Tadala Kakwesa said television allows families to bond as some special programmes bring family members together which she said in no longer the case now.

But she said if the turn of events is about Macra fighting for the interests of the consumers then it is worth it since the service is expensive in Malawi.

Macra fined MCM to pay K19 million licence fees before the DStv services are withdrawn on August 8 this year. Macra accused the service provider of flouting the law by not informing it about the proposed review.

The bone of contention is whether the scope of the licence for MultiChoice Malawi includes the firm being responsible for DStv tariff adjustments or just collecting the tariffs as a subscription management service (SMS).