Malawi mobile phone ‘rip-off’: Kapito urges Macra to bite
Local human rights and consumer activist, John Kapito has urged Malawi regulatory Authority (Macra) to take urgent action to tackle overcharging by mobile phone companies.
Kapito said r the country has witnessed mobile phone “rip-off” with unjustified increase in tariffs for voice and data services.
Recently, the leading mobile-phone service provider, Airtel Malawi hiked its Blackberry services with
Telekoms Network Malawi (TNM) about to follow suit.
Kapito Executive Director for the consumers’ watch-dog, the Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA) said tariffs offered by the service providers are high comparing to other countries within the region.
“It is has been noted that the actual usage of mobile services in Malawi does not correspond with advertised mobile tariffs, and in most cases consumers have been forced to pay for poor services which include drop-calls, intermittent internet service and increased service outages,” Kapito lamented.
Kapito said the higher tariffs are abusive and discriminatory and are affecting the growth of mobile service sector, and also affecting the economic and social rights of many Malawians.
“We are, therefore, requesting the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) to play its key role to ensure that mobile service providers are not taking advantage of the poor Malawians.
“We expect such information from the regulator to be communicated to consumers on continuous basis as and when tariffs are unfairly increased, and as and when consumers continue to experience continued poor delivery of service,” said Kapito.
He argued that affordable mobile service tariffs would increase the volume of subscribers in a country where less than 4 million of the 15 million people do have access to mobile-phones.
Mobile service in Malawi is now not only limited to voice and data, but it is also intended for financial inclusion where both rich and poor Malawians are now able to use mobile service technology to bank money, to send money, to pay for bills and any other related financial
services.
MACRA is a very weak organisation. With the new CEO, it is EVEN WORSE. People who work in regulatory bodies MUST be strong to stand undue influence from the operators. Do u think Kumabatira can say anything against Chikaonda? Moreover, does he understand the telecommunications sector?
Big up kapito i salute you
The phone service in our country must be close to being the worst if not the worst if not the worst in the world. In terms of poor service (e.g. dropped calls) and the charges (vis a vis average income of users). Macra, the toothless dog, should do something about this. Or, will APM push Macra on this, to show that he is truly a man of the people? Kapito continues to fight for us consumers; fighting without fear! Just the kind of fighter we need on behalf of consumers in this country. A ranger against the legendary pathetic service… Read more »
#11,Airtel sponsors netball….I lyke the idea of giving Licence to foreign campanies…MTN, VODACOM….I know mumakhomela kuopa akuchosani mu bizness with ur poor services
zonsezi mtl tulo kwambili
WHY IS MTL NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION TO ROLL OUT MORE SERVICES? THIS IS THE TIME.MTL CAN EVEN OFFER TV SERVICES THROUGH BROADBAND LIKE BT IN UK or
The best option is to hold Demonstrations and force these thieves to relent. They are able to organise expensive promotions of K50 Million to one person and yet they hike the tariffs to poor Malawians.
Airtel has decreased its so called bonuses from, for example, 200% to 15%. WATCH after you top un a considerable sum Airtel tells you have received so much free minutes Airtel to Airtel. BUT that is a lie, they charge you a minimum of K10 per connection. These crooks, why lie?
No. 2 ukunena zoona. Bwanji MACRA simapereka licence ku ma operators ena monga MTN, Vodacom? Kapena tiziti mukudziwapo kanthu kapena nanunso mukudyera mmomo? Tiuzeni zoona a MACRA
We need atleast 5 companies,so that competition should improve services. People should have a wide choice