(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 […]
(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.
