Zambia: Government threatens to revoke license of radio station

On 16 June 2010, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services instructed Sky FM Radio to put in writing its commitment that it would desist from running statements that had the potential to incite the public to engage in acts that could threaten the peace and security of the nation and submit it to the Ministry in 48 hours failure to which its license would be revoked.

 

In an interview with MISA Zambia on 22 June 2010, Station Manager for the radio station Esnart Hamiyada said that the station had not aired any of such statements.

According to a letter dated 16 June 2010 and written by Ministry of Information Principal Press and Public Relations Officer Betniko Kayaya which was faxed to the radio station based in the Southern Province of Zambia, Kayaya requested the station to desist from broadcasting the statements or programmes with immediate effect. 

“It has come to the attention of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services that your radio station is broadcasting statements which border on inciting the public to engage in acts that could threaten the peace and security of the nation. A case in point is the setting alight of some Zambia Sugar cane fields recently which is attributed to the statements you have been airing on your radio station”, Kayaya said. 

He stated that the alleged action by the radio station was in conflict and contrary to the provisions of the license the Ministry issued to the radio station. 

“You are advised to desist from broadcasting such statements or programmes with immediate effect. You are further advised to put your commitment in writing which should reach the Ministry in 48 hours, failure to which your broadcast licence will be withdrawn,” Kayaya stated.

  

Background

On May 25, 2010 The Post Newspaper ran a story in which Chief Mwanachingwala of the Tonga people of Mazabuka in Southern province of Zambia threatened to burn sugar cane fields belonging to Zambia Sugar Plc if it did not rescind its decision of dealing with Mazabuka District Business Association when awarding supply contracts. On 23 May 2010 the same newspaper ran a verbatim of the chief stating that the sugar cane fields would be set alight if Zambia Sugar Plc did not rescind its decision. 

According to the report of 20 June 2010 in The Post newspaper, Police had requested Radio Mazabuka to stop playing a recording of chief Mwanachingwala at the time he threatened to direct his subjects to set the cane fields ablaze following the commencement of investigations.

Mazabuka Station Manager Bellon Chintonmba confirmed that Remmy Kajoba had advised the station to do so because of the investigations. He also confirmed that his station used to play the recording of Chief Mwanachingwala remarks on the same issue. Chintomba stated that his station ran the recording to reveal the truth on the matter because there were distorted statements being issued on the same.

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Reagan Malumo

Programme Specialist: Media Freedom Monitoring and Research

Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Regional Secretariat

21 Johann Albrecht St

Private Bag 13386

Windhoek

Namibia

Phone: +264 61 232 975

Fax: +264 61 248 016

Mobile: +264 81 311 2626

Official Email: reagan@misa.org

Private Email: reagan32002@yahoo.com

 

- June 28, 2010 by MISA

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Source : www.misa.org (received via email 28.06.10)