Multichoice Malawi DSTV rate up after Kwacha fall
By Jerome Kadewere, Nyasa Times
Digital Satelite Television (DSTV) subscribers have to dig deeper in their pockets, as Multichoice Malawi has increased their rates.
Multichoice Malawi has however said that rising subscription fees are due to the fluctuations in the exchange rate of the US dollar to the Malawi Kwacha.
However, this development has irked many customers, who described the hike as too much.
For instance, Premium bouquet which used to be at k11, 844 has been hiked up to K12, 964.
Martha Chakhumbira, a Lilongwe residence was of the views that it is high time Multichoice embarks on charging its customers in local currency other than the US dollars.
“I still do not understand why they charge us in dollars? They should follow the example of TNM and Airtel, who used to charge us in dollars before switching to kwacha,” she said.
Another subscriber, Timothy Kambauwa from Blantyre said it was unfair for Multichoice to raise their charges twice in a year.
“It was in April this year when they raised their charges, and just five months, they have also increased their fee. They should consider us otherwise they may end up losing many customers,” he said.
Multichoice Malawi Sales and Marketing Manager Chimwemwe Nyirenda attributed the sky-rocketing subscription fluctuation to the Malawi Kwacha currency devaluation.
“Our rates are still the same. The problem is that of the US dollar. Whenever it changes, then there is also some kind of change in our Malawi kwacha figures,” Nyirenda told Daily Times.
Consumer watchdog CAMA recently suggested to Multichoice to be publishing daily subscription rates in newspapers or on their channels in the same way banks do with exchange rate.
The hike is a big blow to many Malawian soccer lovers, who rely on DSTV to watch the English Premier League.
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