MultiChoice Withdraws From Malawi Over Court Order Prohibiting Adjustment In Tariffs
From Our Correspondent
MultiChoice Africa Holdings has announced the immediate and indefinite withdrawal of its services in Malawi following a court order prohibiting an adjustment to the DStv tariffs.
A release by the company dated 8th August and addressed to subscribers on its platform explained that the decision was sequel to the injunction issued by the High Court in Lilongwe in a matter between MultiChoice Malawi (MCM) and the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA).
MultiChoice Malawi (MCM) maintains that since it does not offer the DStv service to the public and therefore cannot set or adjust tariffs for this service, a point, it claimed, was repeatedly made to MACRA. It then insisted that as a result of the foregoing, the order handed down to it is incapable of being implemented by it but the same carries with it grave consequences for the directors and management of MultiChoice Malawi, including imprisonment.
“MAH given the impact on its supplier (MCM) and an increasingly adverse regulatory environment is therefore left with no option but to terminate the DStv service indefinitely.
“Customers are hereby, and with immediate effect, requested to halt payment for the DStv service. Customers who have already paid their new subscription for the DStv service will have those services honoured until the current 30-day viewing cycle ends on or before 10 September 2023. From Wednesday, 9 August 2023, no new subscriptions or reconnections will be accepted.
“MAH would like to thank customers for their support over many years. MAH would also like to thank MCM for their professional conduct in supplying services to MAH over as many years”, the release stated.
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