malawi: Regulatory authority threatens to shut down Capital Radio

IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
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ALERT - MALAWI

18 September 2003

Regulatory authority threatens to shut down Capital Radio

SOURCE: Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Windhoek

(MISA/IFEX) - On 4 September 2003, the Malawi Communications Regulatory
Authority (Macra) threatened to shut down privately-owned radio station
Capital Radio, accusing it of carrying out an Outside Broadcasting (OB),
contrary to the provisions of its licence. Capital Radio had invited
political parties to air their rallies live.

Macra Director of Broadcasting James Chimera warned that if Macra
established that the licence did not allow the station to air live OBs, the
authority would withdraw the station's licence.

"The Communications Act is silent on outside broadcasting, but the
conditions of licence do not allow the radio to conduct outside
broadcasting," Chimera said. He admitted, however, that the authority was in
a dilemma because the act does not empower it to take action against a radio
station or regulate its content. Macra is only authorised to regulate format
and frequencies.

Chimera defended the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation's (MBC) airing of OBs,
saying that by virtue of it being a national broadcaster, the MBC was
mandated to do so.

Capital Radio managing director Al Osman noted that it would be against
democratic principles to ban OBs, let alone withdrawing a radio station's
licence. "Whatever action they will take, we will see if it will promote
democracy or not. They are violating the principles of democracy," said
Osman.

Meanwhile, facing a tide of public opposition, Macra says it will announce
its decision on Capital Radio in late September.

BACKGROUND:
Macra has been at odds with privately-owned media houses. Earlier this year,
Macra attempted to ban community radio stations from airing news items,
saying they were hijacking the role of MBC and Television Malawi (see IFEX
alert of 4 June 2003). The decision resulted in an outcry. To date, Macra
has not enforced the ban.

For further information, contact Zoe Titus or Kaitira Kandjii, Regional
Information Coordinator, MISA, Street Address: 21 Johann Albrecht Street,
Mailing Address; Private Bag 13386 Windhoek, Namibia, tel: +264 61 232975,
fax: +264 61 248016, e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected],
Internet: http://www.misa.org/

The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of MISA.
In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit MISA.
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