MultiChoice Botswana adds Route 2, Abashwe and The Prophet as 3 local films to Mzansi Magic in November

Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Botswana is adding three locally-produced films - Route 2, Abashwe and The Prophet - to Mzansi Magic during November.

Filmmaker Afentse Fenny Lekolwane is responsible for Route 2, Johnson Otlaadisa lensed Abashwe, while Tumelo Chaba is the filmmaker behind The Prophet who is executive producer and director.

Route 2, set in the rolling hills of Botswana's countryside, has a logline that describes it as a film that is "a beautifully absurd and visually striking tale of survival, loneliness, and the unpredictable magic of shared journeys".

Route 2 takes viewers "on an emotional road trip that explores how human connection often emerges from the most unexpected detours in life. It is a story about rediscovery, resilience, and the unpredictable beauty of chaos, reminding audiences that sometimes the journey itself holds more meaning than the destination".

The Prophet is described as a drama that "unpacks themes of betrayal, vengeance, and redemption".

"After his father loses a million-pula property to a manipulative church, a tragedy that leads to the untimely death of both his parents, Jacob creates a fake prophetic ministry to exact revenge."

"Yet, when love unexpectedly finds him, he faces a moral crossroads between forgiveness and vengeance. The Prophet captures the complexity of faith and human emotion, offering a raw look at how trauma can shape belief and identity."

Abashwe follows "the emotional journey of a hardened single mother who has long given up on love".

"Scarred by past disappointments, she remains sceptical even when she meets a charming young executive who seems genuinely interested in her."

MultiChoice Botswana, MD, Ms Stephanie Pillay, MultiChoice Botswana managing director, says "We are incredibly proud to see Botswana’s creative talent taking centre stage on one of Africa’s most celebrated entertainment platforms".

"As MultiChoice Botswana, we believe in the power of local stories that reflect Batswana’s culture, aspirations, and identity."

"Through platforms like Mzansi Magic, we are amplifying local voices, allowing them to be seen and celebrated across the continent."

MultiChoice Botswana increases DStv fees up to over 7% from April 2025

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Botswana is increasing subscription fees for DStv between 2% and up to almost 8% for subscribers from April 2025.

MultiChoice Botswana is increasing DStv Premium by 4.2% from P825 to P860, while DStv Compact Plus is increased by 1.7% from P585 to P595.

DStv Compact is increased by 3.4% from P435 to P450, while DStv Family is increased by 5.3% from P280 to P295.

DStv Access is increased 7.6% from P130 to P140, while DStv Pula is increased 6.2% from P80 to P85.

MultiChoice Botswana says "Africa's most-loved storyteller has reflected on the rate of consumer inflation and current economic pressures facing Botswana when considering our price adjustments, which will come into effect as of 1 April 2025".

MultiChoice Botswana wins big court victory over discretionary price increases as Appeals Court slams Botswana's broadcasting regulator for its over-reach.

MultiChoice Botswana scored a big court victory over Botswana's wayward broadcasting regulator as the Botswana appeals court slammed the over-reach by the Botswana Communication and Regulatory Authority (Bocra) wanting to impose tariff regulations on the pay-TV operator in the Southern African country.

In 2017 the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (Bocra) demanded that MultiChoice Botswana first submit its planned DStv price hike tariffs for approval by the regulator, instead of increasing its fees when it wants to.

MultiChoice Botswana went to court and was granted an urgent court interdict to prevent Bocra from suspending its licence and shutting MultiChoice Botswana down by showing that MultiChoice Africa is responsible for DStv tariff and DStv bouquets design.

The case then went to Botswana's High Court.

Botswana's Sunday Standard reports that Botswana's court of appeals judges slammed Botswana's broadcasting regulator in its judgment, with Bocra ordered to pay the cost of the court case.

Three Court of Appeal judges led by Justice Brand ordered Bocra to allow MultiChoice Botswana to continue with its business.

According to the Sunday Standard, the judgment found that it is "highly unlikely" that Botswana's broadcasting regulator will ever be able to find a lawful way to order a company like MultiChoice Botswana to submit its price increases for approval before it can do so.

"In so far as its seeks to control the activities of a third party, MultiChoice Africa though imposing conditions on the licensee, MultiChoice Botswana, its purpose and motive will always constitute an ulterior motive which would render the conditions thus imposed unlawful," the judgment reads.

The judgment noted that Bocra accepted that since MultiChoice Africa is a company registered in Mauritius, unless it voluntary complies with the legislative framework in Botswana, it is difficult for it to compel it to do so.

Justice Brand said there is nothing in the regulatory language to suggest that Bocra may impose conditions on licensees that are wholly unrelated to the conduct authorised by the licence purely to control the conduct of a third party.

Katlego Arnone appointed new MultiChoice Botswana managing director from September.

Katlego Arnone has been appointed as the new MultiChoice Botswana managing director overseeing Naspers' pay-TV business in the Southern African nation from 3 September that operates services like DStv Botswana and GOtv Botswana.

Katlego Arnone will oversee MultiChoice Botswana that employs around 80 staffers and comprises a national Botswana footprint of 69 retailers, 90 accredited installers, 6 agents and 24 direct sales force agents.

MultiChoice says Katlego Arnone's new role will "include a sharp focus on customer service and reshaping the business to improve on customer experience, whenever and wherever there is customer engagement".

Katlego Arnone joins MultiChoice Botswana from Liquid Telecom where she was chief commercial officer. She has an MSc in leadership and change management from Leeds Metropolitan University and a B.Com management degree from the University of Botswana.

Katlego Arnone in a statement says "In line with the business purpose of enriching lives, MultiChoice was a natural choice for me".

"It offers a number of platforms to fuse my passion for people and technology into powerful projects to change lives; whether it is the life of the boy in the rural area who has never seen a TV set before, to reaching out to those who we have left behind, to tapping into the creativity and tech savviness of the youth."

"After a rigorous search process, we are delighted to welcome Katlego Arnone to the MultiChoice family," says Nyiko Shiburi, MultiChoice's southern regional director in a statement.

"Katlego has very significant experience in the ICT industry with an emphasis on customer experience. I look forward to working with Katlego to continue the growth of our business in Botswana".

MultiChoice has over 10 000 pay-TV subscribers in Botswana.

The country's telecommunications regulator recently ordered MultiChoice Botswana to first submit applications and notifications of possible subscriber price hikes to the regulator for approval, before DStv and Gotv subscribers' fees are increased - something MultiChoice said it won't and can't do.