The Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) has directed TNM plc and the Super League of Malawi (SULOM) to accept both cash and e-ticketing through Mpamba Khadi Mbambande as valid methods for purchasing TNM Super League match tickets over the next six months.
CFTC Chief Executive Officer Lloyds Vincent Nkhoma made the announcement during a press briefing held on Wednesday in Blantyre, where the commission shared progress on its efforts to resolve persistent challenges between service providers and consumers in Malawi.
“We have ordered TNM to ensure that the agreed service is delivered as required. Alternatively, they should allow access to the service via direct bank payments or Airtel Money,” said Nkhoma.
Furthermore, TNM and SULOM must, within one year, open the e-ticketing platform to other financial payment service providers to promote interoperability,” he added.
The directive follows TNM’s application for exclusive dealing, which CFTC found could potentially hinder competition in the digital payments space.
Nkhoma emphasized that the arrangement violated provisions of the Payment Systems (Interoperability of Retail Payment Systems) Directive, 2017 and the Payment Systems (E-Money) Regulations, 2018.
In addition to the ticketing issue, the CFTC also addressed another pressing concern — the scarcity and rising cost of sugar in the country. The commission pointed to illegal marketing practices as a major contributor to the shortage, which in turn hampers the commission’s regulatory efforts.
Nkhoma called on the general public to report suspected market manipulation and anti-competitive practices, assuring that such information would assist the commission in enforcing fair trading standards.
“We urge consumers to alert us about any irregularities in the market. Only through cooperation can we address these challenges effectively,” he said.