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Multichoice exits Malawi after court halts subscription fee increase

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South African Pay TV service provider, Multichoice has announced that it is leaving Malawi after a court ruling stopped it from increasing its subscription fees.

Multichoice, which owns and operates satellite pay TV service, DSTV, in a statement on Thursday, said it had withdrawn from the Malawian market following the high court ruling that prevents it from increasing the price of DSTV service in the country.

The decision came as a result of a judgement following a restriction brought against it by the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) due to a tariff hike by the service providers.

MACRA had sought and obtained an interim injunction that prohibited Multichoice Malawi from increasing DSTV tariffs in the country.

According to MACRA, the injunction was based on the fact that since multichoice did not directly offer the DSTV service to the public, it could not set or adjust tariffs for the service in the country.

The judgement by the Malawian High Court on August 8 ordered Multichoice to comply with the order, a development which has led the service provider to cease offering DSTV services in the country.

“Multichoice believes that the court order makes conducting business in the country impossible, more so as defying the high court’s order could mean imprisonment for the company’s staff,” the company said in a statement.

“Given the impact of Multichoice Malawi and an increasingly adverse regulatory environment, Multichoice is therefore left with no option but to terminate DSTV services indefinitely.

“We continued to scale our overall subscriber base and benefitted from a strong performance in the Rest of Africa, which delivered a trading profit for the first time since our listing in 2019,” it added.

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Ugandan TikToker sentenced to 32 months for insulting President Museveni

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21-year-old Ugandan TikToker and content creator, Emmanuel Nabugodi, has been sentenced to 32 months in prison for allegedly insulting President Yoweri Museveni in a satirical video.

Nabugodi was found guilty by an Entebbe High Court for allegedly creating a video deemed insulting to President Museveni, a verdict which human rights advocates say further entrenches Uganda’s intolerance for criticism of government officials and holding them accountable.

During his arraignment before Chief Magistrate Stellah Maris Amabilis on Monday, Nabugodi pleaded guilty to four charges of defamation of character.

The content creator who gained popularity for his comedy sketches with over 20,000 followers, pleaded guilty to charges including hate speech and spreading malicious content about the president.

Local media report that the offensive video featured a mock trial of President Museveni, where Nabugodi depicted the leader being subjected to public flogging.

While delivering the judgement, Chief Magistrate Amabilis said the sentencing aimed to deter social media users from targeting others, including high-profile individuals like the president.

“This court hopes that by the time the convict leaves prison, he will have learned that abusing people in the name of creating content is unacceptable,” she stated.

Rights groups have frequently raised concerns about shrinking freedoms of expression in Uganda with critics arguing that Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, has little tolerance for dissent.

Nabugodi’s case is the latest in a string of arrests targeting social media users.

In July, another TikTok creator, Edward Awebwa, received a six-year prison sentence on similar charges, while three others are awaiting trial for their TikTok contents.

The convictions stem from Uganda’s 2022 amendment to the Computer Misuse Act, which criminalizes sharing content online that could “ridicule, degrade, or demean” others based on their identity or affiliation.

Human rights organizations have also accused Ugandan authorities of routinely violating freedoms of speech and expression, with many calling for reforms to protect citizens’ digital rights.

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Davido to donate N300m to orphanages to mark 32nd birthday

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Nigerian Afro-Pop superstar, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has announced plans to donate the sum of N300 million to different orphanages across the country and anti-drug advocacy initiatives to mark his 32nd birthday later this year.

The Grammy-nominated singer who revealed the plan in a post he shared on his official X handle (formerly Twitter) on Monday, said he would donate the whopping sum to orphanages and charities that help young people to avoid drug addiction.

The “Unavailable” crooner added that the donation is intention to support vulnerable children at the orphanage and combat drug abuse among youths, and the funds will be split between orphanages and organizations working to prevent drug addiction.

He also assured his fans that details of the donation, including beneficiary organizations and distribution plans, will be made public soon.

“Once again on my birthday this year, we donating to orphanages and a charity that helps young people stay away from drug abuse & addiction. This year is N300m. Details to follow soon,” the multiple award-winning singer wrote.

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