If you’re watching DStv in Zimbabwe using a South African account, you might want to think twice. MultiChoice Zimbabwe has launched a fresh campaign — DStv ZIMnandi — urging locals to switch to Zimbabwean-registered accounts as part of a major push to curb signal piracy and support the country’s creative economy.
Cracking Down on Piracy
MultiChoice says that using South African DStv accounts while living in Zimbabwe is not just a workaround — it’s piracy, a violation of international copyright law that could lead to prosecution. Beyond the legal issue, the company warns that the practice drains vital revenue from Zimbabwe’s entertainment sector, hurting artists, broadcasters, and even the national treasury.
“Piracy erodes the creative industry, silences Zimbabwean storytellers, and weakens the national economy. It threatens jobs, undermines intellectual property rights, and deprives the state of tax revenue,” said MultiChoice Zimbabwe General Manager, Siyabulela Jemsana, as quoted by The Herald Online.
“Local Is Better”
The ZIMnandi campaign — launched recently in Bulawayo — carries the tagline “Keep it simple, keep it legal. DStv ZIMnandi.” It’s designed to make the switch easy and rewarding for subscribers.
“Our call to action is simple: switch to DStv Zimbabwe, because local is better,” said Jemsana, in remarks delivered on his behalf by MultiChoice Zimbabwe Head of Marketing, Brightwell Manyerenyere.
He added that subscribing locally isn’t just about compliance — it’s an investment in the country’s creative future.
Perks for Local Subscribers
To make the switch more appealing, MultiChoice Zimbabwe is scrapping the R50 reconnection fee and offering a range of local payment options including EcoCash USD, Mukuru Wallet, Visa, MasterCard, and cash payments at over 350 booths and partner banks nationwide.
The campaign’s Bulawayo launch wasn’t by chance either. “As a customer-centric business, we chose Bulawayo to kick-start this campaign because of the city’s significance and the opportunities it presents,” Jemsana explained.
Strengthening Local Partnerships
The company is also using the campaign to highlight its growing investment in local content. MultiChoice has partnered with broadcasters like ZBCtv, 3Ktv, ZTN Prime, and NRTV, and is nurturing new creative talent through initiatives such as the MultiChoice Talent Factory in Lusaka, Zambia.
Globally, piracy costs the entertainment industry an estimated US$71 billion every year — losses that echo across Africa’s creative landscape.
A Call to Protect Zimbabwean Stories
Despite challenges such as competition from free-to-air platforms, MultiChoice Zimbabwe continues to grow — reporting 32% business growth last year and aiming for 20% more this year. The company employs over 150 people and supports more than 170 accredited installers and 60 agents across the country.
Ultimately, ZIMnandi isn’t just an anti-piracy drive. It’s a call to action — to back Zimbabwean creativity, keep entertainment legal, and ensure local stories continue to be told on home soil.
As Jemsana summed it up:
“By subscribing locally, customers are not only complying with the law — they are investing in Zimbabwe’s creative future.”
