A statement issued Tuesday evening by MultiChoice Africa Holdings says they have been compelled to take the action after MACRA obtained an injunction restraining MultiChoice Malawi from implementing proposed new DStv tariffs.

It says MultiChoice Malawi has no authority to set DStv tariffs in the country.

Reads the statement: “MultiChoice Malawi does not offer the DStv services to the public and therefore cannot set or adjust tariffs for this service, a point repeatedly made to MACRA.  

“As a result, the order handed down to MCM is incapable of being implemented by them but carries with it grave consequences for the directors of and management of MultiChoice Malawi, including imprisonment.”

MultiChoice Africa adjusted DStv monthly tariffs for its packages effective August 1, 2023. DStv premium subscription was raised to K79,000 from K67,000; Compact Plus to K51,000 from K43,000; Compact to K33,000 from K27,000; Family to K19,000 from K16,400; Access to K12,500 from K10,200 and Kufewa to K7,500 from K6,850.

On 17 July 2023, MCM informed MACRA of the tariff adjustment but MACRA obtained an injunction at the High Court in Lilongwe restraining its implementation.

MultiChoice Malawi then filed an application at the same court seeking direction on how it should comply with the order of injunction.

The court on Tuesday directed MultiChoice Malawi to comply with the order of injunction granted to MACRA.

MACRA Director General Daudi Suleman in a statement on Tuesday warned of legal consequences for those who will not comply.

“The authority expects that MultiChoice Malawi will comply with the High Court’s order directive without any further delay. The public is advised that any person who disobeys the Court’s order of injunction may be found guilty of Contempt of Court and liable to imprisonment.”

All active subscriptions, MultiChoice Africa Holdings says, will run until their expiry but no new subscriptions will be accepted from 9 August.

Meanwhile, MCM says the withdrawal of DStv services in the country will not affect GOtv services.