(MISA/IFEX) – On 19 August 2001, President Chiluba’s government shut down privately-owned Radio Phoenix for non-renewal of its broadcasting licences for Lusaka, the capital city and Kabwe, a neighbouring town, which were due in February and April this year respectively. Officials at Radio Phoenix said the amount involved was about K4 million (US$1,000), which the […]
(MISA/IFEX) – On 19 August 2001, President Chiluba’s government shut down privately-owned Radio Phoenix for non-renewal of its broadcasting licences for Lusaka, the capital city and Kabwe, a neighbouring town, which were due in February and April this year respectively. Officials at Radio Phoenix said the amount involved was about K4 million (US$1,000), which the station had but had inadvertently forgotten to pay to the Ministry of Information. However, all fees to the Communication Authority had been paid long ago. Efforts to pay the money owing to the Ministry of Information on 19 August were unsuccessful because government offices were closed for the weekend.
Minister of Information Vernon Mwaanga said in a statement on 19 August that his ministry was going through its records to ascertain compliance of all radio and television operators with licensing conditions. He said that he would not hesitate to take similar action against any operator who was found flouting them. He further warned that suspended licences would not be automatically renewed.
Suspension of the licences for Lusaka and Kabwe has automatically paralysed the operations of Radio Phoenix, which is based in Lusaka but uses repeater stations in neighbouring towns to send its signal north to the densely populated Copperbelt and south to the border town of Livingstone.
In a carefully worded statement, Radio Phoenix General Manager Elizabeth Pemba attributed the closure of the station to “a technical problem.” She said efforts were being made to “rectify the situation.” However, observers believe the closure of the station was malicious and intended to inconvenience it.
“The fact that the station was not given notice of an impending closure by the minister of information, before the draconian action was taken, is an indication that the government’s action was pre-meditated. It appears the minister of tnformation has been fishing for an excuse to close Radio Phoenix, which has distinguished itself by giving the voiceless a voice. We regard the minister’s action as very mischievous and malicious. Further, his warning that suspended licences will not be automatically renewed is a matter of concern to us,” said Zambia Independent Media Association (ZIMA) Chairperson Masautso Phiri in a statement.
Before its closure, Radio Phoenix was the only non-church, commercially-owned radio station operating in Zambia. However, at least two more stations, “SKY-FM” and “Q-FM” based in Monze and Lusaka respectively, are currently test-transmitting and will begin full-time operations once the Ministry of Information has granted them licences.
