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Rumbidzai Mbewe, Sunday Life Correspondent
THE cutoff of free satellite decoders in the country witnessed the sprouting of illegal DStv agents. Many people have resorted to paying to them because their prices are much flexible compared to the ones offered by legal MultiChoice agents.
The illegal dealings have lead MultiChoice into undertaking a programme that will combat illegal DStv operations in Southern Africa. As part of the programme, unregistered operators claiming to be DStv agents in Zimbabwe will be visited by some of the MultiChoice agents.
According to the press statement, the operation was necessary due to the existence of a number of agents who claim to have authorised status and are promoting the illegal provision of South African accounts to users in Zimbabwe.
“In terms of international copyright laws, MultiChoice South Africa can only provide its services to people resident in South Africa due to channels being authorised for reception in South Africa only. All operators providing DStv connections and support services in Zimbabwe are bound by law to ensure that DStv services in Zimbabwe are those that are legitimately provided for this country, and they may not connect Zimbabweans to DStv services in South Africa,” read the press statement.
The visits to bogus operators result from visible offers made by these operators to give Zimbabweans South African DStv accounts, which makes their actions illegal and could result in criminal actions against both the service providers and their customers.
The MultiChoice spokesman said that the franchise operation in this country, MultiChoice Zimbabwe had a registered selection of authorised MultiChoice Accredited Installers and service agents entitled to undertake support activities and members of the public were urged to ensure they determined the legal status of service providers in all their dealings.
“Illegal agents carry no guarantee of service quality and there is no means of enforcing adherence to DStv standards, and it is clear that a number of bogus operators are promoting access by Zimbabweans to DStv services sourced in South Africa, an act that is illegal and in flagrant violation of international rights regulations.
It is our hope this crackdown will eliminate bogus operators who are putting customers at risk of poor quality service and also exposing them to possible prosecution for infringement of international copyright laws,” read the press statement.
Bongani Ndlovu