Two individuals arrested for allegedly operating illegal radio station, face heavy fine or possible imprisonment
Police in the Kasungu district have arrested two men on suspicion that they were operating a radio station without a licence.
Court reserves ruling on editor’s case
A decision on the case of editor Gabriel Kamlomo, who was accused of broadcasting false information likely to cause public fear and alarm, has been postponed until 22 December 2009.
Court orders regulatory authority to compensate Joy Radio
The communications regulatory authority has been ordered to pay Joy Radio US$98,000 for loss of business while the station was forcibly closed.
Radio presenters acquitted in election coverage lawsuit
A court ruled that two Joy Radio presenters did not have to answer to charges of breaking election rules.
Police harass journalists photographing demolition
Armed police officers harassed two senior journalists for taking photos of city council workers torching unlicensed vending stalls.
Private radio station demands Parliament speaker disclose MPs’ assets
A private broadcaster is demanding that the National Assembly speaker disclose details of members of Parliament who have declared their assets.
Editor arrested, released on bail
(MISA/IFEX) – On 7 July 2009 Malawi’s police in the capital, Lilongwe, arrested Gabriel Kamlomo, editor for Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS), a privately-owned radio station. Kamlomo is accused of misleading a police officer and causing public alarm by broadcasting what the police say is an alleged false murder case. The following day, the Lilongwe Magistrates’ […]
Radio station resumes operations
Court orders police off a radio station, allowing it to go back on air.
Radio station shut down, staff arrested following election coverage
Reporters Without Borders expressed its concern after the 19 May 2009 closure of privately owned opposition radio station Joy Radio and the arrest of four staff members, two of them journalists, accused of breaking election rules
Closure of Mzimba Community Radio Station likely politically motivated, says MISA
(MISA/IFEX) – On 25 February 2009, the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has temporarily closed Mzimba Community Radio Station, based in the northern part of the country, on grounds that the station did not comply with the regulatory body’s rules and regulations as stipulated in the Communications Act. Details behind the community radio station’s closure […]
Radio station wins case against regulatory body
(MISA/IFEX) – The Malawi High Court has declared that the decision by the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) to revoke Joy Radio’s license was unconstitutional, ultra vires and unreasonable, effectively dismissing all cases that MACRA had brought against the private radio station. According to this ruling, it means there is no case between Joy Radio […]
Joy Radio allowed to resume broadcasting
(MISA/IFEX) – Joy Radio station resumed broadcasting on 16 December 2008, 30 days after the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) revoked its broadcasting license for non-compliance with the Communications Act and its licence agreement. The resumption of broadcasting came after the Supreme Court of Appeal reinstated an injunction obtained on 17 October by Joy Radio […]
Police stop march in support of Joy Radio, station authorities appeal to Supreme Court over revoked license
(MISA/IFEX) – On 26 November 2008, police stopped a march by concerned listeners of Joy Radio who wanted to deliver a petition to the district commissioner calling for the radio station to be allowed to go back on air. According to the chairperson of the organising committee for the march, Harris Chisale, they planned for […]
Charges against journalist dismissed
(MISA/IFEX) – The Magistrate’s Court in Lilongwe acquitted Nation Publications journalist Maxwell Ng’ambi of the charge of providing false information to a public officer. Ng’ambi was arrested on 17 May 2008 at Maula Prison where he was suspected of planning to interview a former speaker and minister of education, Sam Mpasu, who is serving a […]
Radio station shut down for a second time
(MISA/IFEX) – The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has shut down Joy Radio for the second time after the High Court in Blantyre lifted an injunction the radio station obtained on 17 October 2008. The injunction restrained MACRA from closing the station on accusations of breaching licence conditions, failing to comply with the provisions of […]
Journalists threatened with arrest for non-cooperation with anti-corruption body
(MISA/IFEX) – The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has warned that it will soon start arresting journalists who make corruption allegations but refuse to cooperate during investigations, on charges of obstructing justice and hiding evidence. On 6 November 2008, ACB Director Alex Nampota said the bureau has been unable to investigate many alleged corruption cases published or […]