13 radio stations banned, TV station closed

THIRTEEN Radio stations have been suspended while Copperbelt Television’s licence has been revoked for failing to pay operational licence fees, the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) has announced.

IBA board chairperson Brigadier General Justin Mutale said the radio stations were suspended for 14 days adding that failure to pay the fees would lead to the matter being escalated.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday, General Mutale said among the affected radio stations, was Comet, Live, Amar, Pan African, Kariba, Jive and Limulunga FM in Western Province.

Others are Ngoma Radio, Valley, Luanginga, Kwenje, Vison Macha, and Young Generation for being non-compliant.

Gen. Mutale said the decision was arrived at after the Board wrote to radio stations for failing to pay licence fees in line with the Broadcasting and Licensing Act number 26 of 2010.

Gen. Mutale said the affected stations were given a chance to be heard through various hearing meetings before the decision to suspend them was reached and were given a 60-day period in which to settle the fees, but failed to pay.

He said the defaulting media houses were owing the IBA a total of K 272,900 during the period 2016 to 2017.

He has since cautioned all licensees that had not yet settled their 2018 fees to do so in the next seven days.

“We wish to remind the broadcasting stations that non-compliance to any of the licensing conditions, including non- payment of fees is a serious offence and all licence fees fall due on December 31 and are paid for the year in advance,” said Gen. Mutale.