TNM plc remains authorised to sell top-flight league tickets electronically despite the collapse of its partnership with the Super League of Malawi (Sulom), the Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) has confirmed. TNM was granted the dealership by CFTC in July 2025 to the match tickets through its debit card, Khadi Mbambande. However, the relationship between the mobile network operatror and Sulom has since been severed, raising questions over the future of the e-ticketing arrangement.
But CFTC spokesperson Innocent Helema in an interview said the commission’s determination still stands. “The decision of the commission on the matter still stands in as long as the ticketing arrangement applied for remains operational,” he said. He, however, pointed out that the authorisation came with clauses and conditions aimed at safeguarding competition and consumer welfare.
“You will recall that the July 2025 determination came with sunset clauses and conditions. One of the conditions required the e-ticketing solution to be opened up to other payment service providers [interoperability] within one year, that is by July 2026,” said Helema. The development comes at a time when new Super League sponsors FDH Bank plc, who have since rebranded the league to FDH Bank Premiership, have their own e-ticketing initiative which was being used during FDH Bank Cup.
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Helema said the commission had already anticipated such scenarios when making its determination. “In its determination, the commission noted that the arrangement had the potential to limit consumer choice and undermine interoperability. The order made to allow interoperability within a period of one year ensured that the league would not be stuck with a single provider of e-ticketing services perpetually,” he said.
The CFTC further clarified that Sulom has the option to terminate the arrangement, subject to contractual obligations. Super League of Malawi president Gilbert Mittawa said the league remains open to working with TNM plc despite the recent fallout. “We are open to partnering with them on several projects including e-ticketing.
We even wrote them to that effect. So, we are ready whenever they are,” he said. TNM director of marketing Sobhuza Ngwenya was not available for comment.
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