The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has fined MultiChoice Malawi K10 million and ordered the company to refund subscribers from July, 2022 to the of refund for implementing a price hike without the regulatory body’s approval.
According to a statement signed by MACRA Director General Daud Suleman, the Board made a finding that Multichoice Malawi breached section 74(1) of the Communications Act (Cap. 68:01 of the laws of Malawi) and clause 11 of Multichoice’s Subscription Management Service (SMS) Licence for adjusting tariffs for DSTv without prior approval from the Authority.
“Multichoice Malawi should credit it’s customers per bouquet the difference between the pre-adjustmebt price for it’s bouquets and the actual implemented price for the whole period the unapproved tariffs have been in force from July 2022 to the date of refund.
“The company should submit it’s subscriber database to the Authority and publish a notice in the press stating that customers have been credited with the difference.
“Multichoice Malawi should pay a fine of K10 million to the Authority within 30 days and should immediately cease and desist from implementing the unapproved tariffs,” reads the statement
Meanwhile, MultiChoice Malawi Corporate Affairs Manager, Zena Makunje said they are going to challenge MACRA in court.
She said they only collect the subscription for DStv on behalf of MultiChoice Africa Holdings.
“MACRA is therefore, penalising MultiChoice Malawi for a service that is not ours, for prices we do not set and attempting to impose conditions which the law does not prescribe,” said Makunje in a statement.
