The Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) has suspended independent TV station Prime TV for ‘exhibiting unprofessional elements in its broadcasting through unbalanced coverage, opinionated news, material likely to incite violence and use of derogatory language.’
IBA Board Secretary Josephine Mapoma says that during the suspension the station is expected to conduct in-house training on basic journalism ethics and news writing.
Ms. Mapoma said Prime Television has been broadcasting through unbalanced coverage, opinionated news, material likely to incite violence and use of derogatory language.
She was speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka on Monday morning.
“Further to your hearing held on 1st March, 2019, the Board at its 16th Board Meeting resolved to suspend your license with immediate effect for 30 days. During the suspension period, the station is expected to conduct in-house training in basic journalism and news script writing,” stated Ms. Mapoma in a letter to Prime TV proprietor Gerald Shawa.
And IBA Board Chairperson Chanda Kasolo who is also Ministry of Information Permanent Secretary says the decision to suspend Prime TV was made after thorough consultations and engagement with stakeholders.He said there was no political interference involved and the decision comes after thorough consultations and engagement with other stakeholders.
Mr Kasolo said if there was any interference, the noble thing he could have done was to resign and not allow to be used by anyone.
IBA has also issued 22 radio licences, suspended two including Prime TV and Valley FM and revoked another two licences of Ngoma and Kafue radio stations.
Valley FM Radio License of Nyimba is suspended for 60 days due to unprofessional conduct.The station is said to have failed to balance and moderate a discussion program and has during the suspension period been directed to conduct in house training for management and engage trained Journalists.
The radio licenses for Ngoma station of Luanshya and Kafue radio stations were revoked for non-payment of license fees.
Kafue Radio station license was also revoked because it was off air most of the time and when they were on air, had no content but played music throughout.
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Zambia is indeed a failed state. DeadNBC coverage is unbalanced only covers PF. When Northerners and Easteners vote for PF it’s okay. However when Prime TV covers UPND (paid coverage for that matter) and when Southerners and Westerners vote for UPND it’s tribalism. Where is the fairness here? Anyway your days are numbered PF enjoy your last moments
Bangwe Navile was once a reporter at znbc.
Its Long aver due, John Magufuli and Kagami have done it well in their countries, no more fulishness from hell bent media.
LET’S FACE IT. WE SAW THIS ONE COMING. CALL IT WHATEVER YOU WANT BUT LIKE MUVI TV, PRIME NEEDED TO CHECK IT’S BEHAVIOR. A SINGLE TV OR RADIO STATION CAN SET A NATION ABLAZE. I COULD HAVE GIVEN THEM 3 TO 6 MONTHS IF I HAD THE POWER.
No matter how trained or fearless you think you are, portraying a TV station as an opposition element in coverage and airing of sensitive biased programs with a claim of press freedim is extremely dangerous considering that we are what we are. We can’t trade peace for an organisation bent at sowing discontent in the nation by siding with extremely disgruntled elements. If a ZNBC misbehaves, the element concern gets fired.
The works of a man who was talking about “Christ’s love” just yesterday.
A TV station must be shut down and threatened with court action because it offended an uneducated, intolerant, dishonest politician? And when that same politician acts in a disgraceful manner towards journalists, no action is taken?
The PF are now using state institutions to further their ends and massage thier balooning egos. We have seen it with abuse of the police, ZRA, PACRA and now this. It’s really unfortunate. I fear to think what will be the state of our country in 2021, when they will be desperate to stay in power and be willing to sacrifice anything to achieve that end. May God have mercy on our country.
One leader I know blamed parliamentarians for not taking time to read. One Zambian I know made a statement that Zambians are lazy when it comes to reading.
Indeed, if there is an IBM Act that goes miles stipulating how TV and radio stations should behave, haven’t owners of these organizations read and understood how they should carry themselves? Are there lacunas in the IBM Act as well or are TV owners just dull. Regulations in any public sector function extremely important. There’s no way Prime TV was to act like a social media platform. This is Africa. ZICTA, TEVETA, MEDICAL fwakuti Authority, IBM etc. have a clear mandate to stump out culprits.
Cadre power appeasing one Grade 7 empty tin SG Mwila
And what worries me the most is that we actually have people who are busy enjoying supporting such gross abuses. And when we criticise what is clearly wrong, these same people attack us and call us all kinds of names. They accuse us of being sympathetic towards the opposition.
Guys this is not about PF and UPND or MMD or whatever. This is about Zambia! And we must learn to call wrong WRONG. we must learn to be objective in assessing situations. We don’t just support things because it’s our political allies that are perpetrating them. This is what destroys nations.
Imagine what would happen if the donor community was not pressuring PF to show some semblance of respect for the rule of law and human rights!
@Own
In journalism if you do what you have called paid coverage that is like bribing the journalists. Its not allowed.
We need to sort out our governance surely…all those in the photo are handpicked by minister to enjoy allowances
I cant imagine staying without Prime TV for 30 days, that is the only voice of reason with very hard hitting but relevant and appropriate analysis of daily news. These others as long as a minister opens a mouth, its news no matter how not news worthy
PF can close all private TV station if they want. But people will get news about PF’s devilish behaviour published on social media and youtube.
I am launching an online Zambian News Channel where Zambians and Journalists will be free to air their views on PF is stupidity and incompetence and that of other parties in Zambia.
I am currently finalising the code to launch it and let people download an app. We shall see how PF will ban an online channel based in the UK.
@Wanzelu; That’s why United Party for National Delusionals keep losing elections. There main focus is to target people online unfortunately 99.9% of those people are disenfranchised because they live abroad.
All those commenting on the causes of genocide have no facts at all.
Media does not play a major in inflaming genocide but stup1d id1ots in authoritarian regimes do by encouraging tribal segregation and marginalisation.
At this rate PF is going, its preparing ground for genocide because other tribes feel they are paying taxes for which no benefit is enjoyed.
Believe you me if PF is not removed from power soon Zambia will be engulfed in genocide and separation.
@The real Olivia Pope
You must naive to think that UPND loses elections for the mediocre reasons you have provided. If you were intelligent enough you would realise that elections under PF are always held on a non level playing field. UPND party members cannot mobilise or hold meetings because stup1d and paranoid PF has criminalised freedom of assembly.
To make matters worse, when ever UPND try to hold a rally during election period PF police are told by PF minions to cancel the rally for luck of police officers to provide security. But only to deploy more than needed police officers to prevent a rally. This grossly unfair and it is election rigging.
In 2021, UPND has resolved to defend itself against PF thugs. I can assure you this time around UPND will protect the vote using…
So Prime TV refused to apologise to an !d!ot called Davies Mwila after he first chased away Prime TV reporters from his conference and then complained like the !d!ot he is that Prime TV never covered an !d!otic part called the PF in their news broadcasts. Now for their failure to apologise they have been shut down for 30 days. And we have people who have been to school who support bene Mwila. Shocking.
Zambia is Banana Republic.This is what happens in such countries.Trump on the media,disregard of human rights and the rule of law
Politics yaba pfoools and Dull Mwila….lol
Making of another s h i t h o l e state.
Excellent, unprofessional media reporting can cause divisions in society and loss of life. Are workers even licensed to work in media. They should be certified to practice so that repercussions can be brought down to a personal level.
how about znbc which we pay for how does it report,it only reports about PF and ECL
IBA shuts down PRIME TUVI for 30 days…kwekwekwekwekwe….
If you dont like prime why do you watch it
If you dont like zwd why do you visit it
If you don like znbc why do watch it
I personally have never tuned to prime what ever and I have no idea whats all about
You have more than 100 chanels to watch.
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I hope you do understand that using public air waves is a previrag and not a right? That’s why you get a LICENSE to broadcast anything over the air, either as Television or radio. So you have to adhere to certain set laws and regulations. It doesn’t matter whether you personally watch/listen to it, other people do!
No where on Earth where radio and television is not regulated. Even in the good old USA, (considered as the paragon of Press Freedom) there are certain things you cannot say or do on TV or radio!
In America, Federal laws are made by Congress on all kinds of matters, such as speed limits on highways. These laws make sure that all people are kept safe. The United States Congress is the lawmaking body of the Federal Government. Congress has two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate. In Zambia, Parliament make laws. Even in Zambia LAWS MAKE SURE THAT ALL PEOPLE ARE KEPT SAFE.
Iwe Ka Yambayamba.
Which US TV channels have been closed for talking ill of Trump administration and even air very divisive issues? Or for even airing the government crack down on protesters?
Trump is a laughing stock of nearly all the media channels in the US and yet non has even been threatened with closure.
Give me just one example please.
PF is scared because Prime TV captured PF brutality in Sesheke aired it live to the nation. Its too late now the horse has already bolted why close the stable? All what PF should do is avoid such brutality against those who dislike their party.
For those of us have had an opportunity to live developed countries we must learn to speak from the point of knowledge as opposed to ignorance.
Iwe ka @ulibe-Wanzelu, who told you that American moral and social standards are the yardstick for the entire humanity and world? America chooses what is acceptable and appropriate for their population and air Waves. Zambia has the right to pick and choose what is acceptable and appropriate for it’s own air Waves. So are countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran and the rest of them. So if the IBA feels that certain media houses are not following the laid down standards and rules, they have every right to impose appropriate sanction. Just like the FCC in the USA are empowered to do the same.
And if you want to understand what IRRESPONSIBLE MEDIA can do to a country, go back and look at what preceded the Rwanda GENOCIDE, in terms of careless journalism and radio broadcasts. So treed…
Continue….
carefully. This “EXPERIMENT” you call Democracy and it’s offshoot of FREE SPEECH is just as fragile if abused. A Broadcasting License (TV or Radio) is NO license for spreading hate, extremism or for encouraging antisocial attitudes and behaviors, among the population.
Just when I thought I was done with Zambian WatchDog, its like now its back to default settings
The silencing, control and closure of independent media houses is a sign of an authoritarian regime
@ kalu kapoli iwe, hell bent the media coursed Genocide in Rwanda and Burundi
@The Observer: Actually genocide is caused by authoritarian, intolerant, insecure people who want to use all means possible to silence their opponents. We must not try to justify wrong things by falsly citing cases in an artificial manner. The press in the US is very critical of Trump. Does he close them down? Fox news and other right wing media were extremely critical of Obama. Even running stories ofvthe hurt her movement. Did he close them down? But here we have a guy who is not even in government criticised and the station is closed.
Correction: fox news and other right wing media were extremely critical of Obama. Even running stories of the birther movement. Did he close them them down down?
This is Zambia. The real Africa. Are you telling us that the laws in America are the same as ours? This is where you folks miss it. IBM and it’s Act are good for you, your children and Children’s children. Progressive MPs constructed it for you, Muvi TV, Prime TV, Diamond TV, ZNBC TVs and Radios, Q TV, Radio Phoenix, all community stations and what have you. No single Media station should go overboard. They must operate within the confines of the Law. What is questioning their misfortunes is the same ACT. No African Nation will tolerate a TV station that goes against the Law and discredit Government day in day out. Even in your own home, you wouldn’t like anyone transgressing what you have set as rules. No one is above the law not even ECL iwe. Get schooled.
@Thorn in the flesh
Please educate me as to where Prime TV “went overboard”. Mr. Mwila himself said that they hadn’t been covering PF and so he chased the two journalists who tried to cover the PF press conference. So are you saying they went “overboard” in not covering PF?
So in your “logic” we must accept injustice not not strive to be better because we are in “Zambia, the real Africa”?
I appeal to you my brother to put the future and wellbeing of our country ahead of your allegiance to a political party. Analyse objectively and not through the lenses of political bias.
I may not be as “schooled” as you are, as you seem to think, but the wellbeing of my country is always above my political leanings. I will never sell my country simply because I am benefiting from a…
The last time we had one was during kaunda’s reign
@ kalu kapoli iwe, hell bent the media coursed Genocide in Rwanda and Burundi
The Heart of the Hutu-Tutsi Conflict
According to many scholars, Hutus first settled in the Great Lakes region of Central Africa between five hundred and one thousand BC. Generally speaking, Hutus were an agricultural people who lived in large family groups.
The Tutsis, also known as Watutsis, were a nomadic people who began arriving in the Great Lakes region from Ethiopia some four hundred years ago. Eventually, the Tutsis settled amongst the Hutus – adopting their language, beliefs and customs.
But economic differences between the groups soon began to form. The Tutsis as cattle-herders were often in a position of economic dominance to the soil-tilling Hutus. That is not to say that all Tutsis were wealthy and all Hutus were poor, but in many areas, like Rwanda, the minority…
The Hutu and Tutsi conflicts started
way bback before independence, it has nothing to do with the media. Just goggle the history of Hutu/ Tutsi conflicts, 1994 was just the boiling point of whatever was bottled up between the two tribes. If you want to gag the media just gag don’t use the Rwanda genocide as your basis.
In Madagascar, the ka current president was a mere DJ, the guy guy used that platform so politically well that today he is enjoying fruits of his ingenuity.
Ba Divide-While you are right that differences began way back, it is the French that made it worse by highlighting the tribal differences during their colonial rule and favoured the Tutsis over the Hutus. After independence extremism grew among the Hutus and extremist groups like the Interhamwe used the MEDIA to spread their hate that laid the foundation for the genocide. The word “cockroach” to describe Tutsis was effectively used by extremists via media over time to incite the population against their fellow citizens. Be careful what you support.
@Divide and Rule, yes Hutu Tutsi conflicts may have started way back, but it was no Media’s business to exploit the conflict through irresponsible journalism in the hope of helping advance certain politicians’ selfish political agendas. In the process, thousands of innocent people died. So you can’t tell me Media had nothing to do with the genocide…..that would be a lie because even the UN doesn’t agree with you!
Back to the Unip days. PF! Mulilo. U waikato, apya! so sad indeed!
“IBA Board Chairperson Chanda Kasolo who is also Ministry of Information Permanent Secretary says the decision to suspend Prime TV was made after thorough consultations and engagement with stakeholders.He said there was no political interference involved and the decision comes after thorough consultations and engagement with other stakeholders”
Which stakeholders? Consultations with Davis Mwila ,Amos Chanda and Dora Siliya?
Forget about the IMF bailout…More delayed salaries for civil servants, more taxes etc.
Zambia is now topping the list of Africas Banana Republics
Akainde mouth piece. This is good riddance.
Looks like the Secretary General is the one calling the shots here.
Well done. Extend the suspension to 2 years. Inciting violence in the name of freedom of speech is not one of journalism ethics. Watchdog should also be blocked. We want peace in Zambia not fire!!!!!!!!
Comment:very bad indeed let’s pray for our Zambia. then our NBC must be suspended as well.
THE BUSINESS WHICH LOST DIRECTION BY EMBARRASSING POLITICAL BIASSNESS, REPORTING WITH IMPUNITY AND SEEING THEMSELVES AS UNTOUCHABLES AT THE DETRIMENT OF STAKEHOLDERS.
Face it, the political cloud hovering on Prime TV’s on account of it’s regretable organizational behavior can cause untold damage to the TV station business. Besides this regrettable incident, let’s be clear that the TV station has suppliers, customers and other important stakeholders like employees. One month suspension for a business is extremely retrogressive. I pray that the organization does not start court issues because this may just prolong the suspension. Adamancy against Government in business does not pay. Prime TV has many examples to look to. While mgt at Prime can afford to be adamant, stakeholders can…
…not tolerate this tomfoolery vis contacts.
Perhaps IBM needs to do more.
Find constant engagement fora to help these organizations that seem to have no overseer. Looks like when these tuma organizations are misfiring and misbehaving, MISA is sleeping dead. Where is MISA? Who is head at MISA. Do they only come around when a bad egg media house faces close down. Is MISA familiar with the IBM Act? Come on guys, we are better than this.
Let not Prime TV follow blind Support. The TV station was a business before it turned opposition media too. I hope they will not see this one as intimidation rather as some kind of yardstick. You gotta be managed.
…not tolerate this t.o.m.f.o.o.l.e.r.y vis contacts.
Perhaps IBM needs to do more.
Find constant engagement fora to help these organizations that seem to have no overseer. Looks like when these tuma organizations are misfiring and misbehaving, MISA is sleeping dead. Where is MISA? Who is head at MISA. Do they only come around when a bad egg media house faces close down. Is MISA familiar with the IBM Act? Come on guys, we are better than this.
Let not Prime TV follow blind Support. The TV station was a business before it turned opposition media too. I hope they will not see this one as intimidation rather as some kind of yardstick. You gotta be managed.
Everyone is scared of illiterate Davies Mwila. How much power has been given to him yet he cannot even pronounce correctly his name?
I dont need to pay my gotv to watch useless news from znbc i have shut down my gotv for 60day now due to poor finishing programs
Should it take concerned and good citizens to complain before action is taken on these politically sponsored Radio Stations? Ati “During the suspension period, the station is expected to conduct in-house training in basic journalism and news script writing,” why conduct in-house training in the first place? That statement in itself is a sign that IBA doesnt monitor these Stations in terms of quality of personnel, content and intent. If you think we are nauseating, please tuen in to BBC World and experience the difference in journalism. What the public expects of IBA is to to do its work professionally and dont wait from the public to complain on the misconduct of these Radio and TV stations. And why 30 days, I thought IBA could have been more professional by stating “Prime TV will only…
contd
And why 30 days, I thought IBA could have been more professional by stating “Prime TV will only be considered for reopening upon demonstrating and committing to fully comply with the law failure to which permanent licence withdraw would apply.
Dont the terms and conditions of operations and conduct clearly spell out out the DOs and DONTS? I once tuned to Komboni radio by mistake and gosh, didnt I switch off immediately?
It has been long overdue for Prime TV. In fact it should have just been closed down completely. They have been very biased in their reporting of political news against PF. It is the TV station which was allowing rotten Siwale space to defame and tell all manner of lies and innuendos against the President.
We said it last year.Ms Mapoma called Gerald Shawa and he was advised to thoroughly enjoyed his media business without being used by disgruntled politicians especially in opposition political parties.
Disappointedly, because money is sweet, he has yielded to work with politicians who willfully break the lawsuits of media control and regulation. UPND is one of the political party that has used Gerald as proprietor but HH has a big foot in it. The same system they used MUVI TV prior 2016 general elections.Costa Mwansa ( Diamond TV proprietor ) almost faced jail term sentence for broadcasting illicit political news likely to cause anarchy in the country.Steve NYIRENDA ( owner of MUVI TV) apologized on behalf of all stuffs and move was let to operate with harsh conditions.
Mr Kasolo said if there was any interference, the noble thing he could have done was to resign and not allow to be used by anyone. Please do that Mr Kasolo
Bootlickers don’t have to be told what to do to appease their masters …………..
Last time I checked all international media houses in the early 90 and 2000s worked frantically politically biased against one SADDAM HUSSEIN. Bamufwikile amala yambushi, yaya, ati iyo uyu muntu nakwata ama WMDs. The western media in a united single corrupt voice helped bring down and helped kill Umulungwana Saddam. No single WMD has been recovered to date.
So this Prime TV cannot be watched parading content aimed at planting hate and radicalizing hooligans. Even when a story is false, to Prime as long as it has cashed in.
So all of you praising the international media are equally cheats.
I don’t belong to any political party but this is shocking. Can anybody with 5 senses say ZNBC has balanced reporting. And this is a public broadcaster run with tax payers money and IBA is very quite.
Have you ever listened to Prime TV on political matters?? The guys will be there for all the program just condemning PF and Praising UPND. What we expect from them is that they have to be neutral not the way they were doing things. Go and Listen to Millennium — the guys know how to be neutral.
It’s not condeming PF but wrong actions committed, mostly by PF, the party in power.
Millenium radio & Hot FM are social media reinvented. That’s not real journalism but DJ’s of social media. Prime TV has some semblance of jounalism at least.
Mwamona, twalemyeba ago let’s go to school. You didnt want including SG. Now you are busy supporting mediocrity. Very soon, you will see sanctions. Mark my words and watch this space closely.
30 days only for sure! I was expecting 30 years. We don’t want civil war in our nation, please.
Pathetic, inept, corrupt and dilusional chagwa and his minions think zambia belongs to them alone and the rest of us are just squaters. Im glad he will be standing next general election because no amount of violence, propaganda and playing with our votes will keep the wretch in power. He will suffer diahrea and faint again when results will start coming in coz he will lose very heavily. HE IS GOING!!! Bastard!!
I saw it coming as Prime TV was too biased and abusive in Language. Well done job.
1.1 Can define a failed state. Much as I cherish press freedom, I can support a press that is hell bent on dividing the nation. Don’t think what happened in Rwanda cannot happen. ….and the press played a very big role in the genocide. It’s government’s responsibility to ensure that no press is allowed to incite people against each other.
I see pf cadres are rejoicing over such a bad move with the potential of putting thousands of people on the streets and further alienate prime tv audience. ECL was preaching about love, where is love in all this except hatred of those with opposing views.You are shutting down media houses that give coverage to the opposition and tomorrow you will be calling the opposition and prime to join you in prayer since it only serves you well. There is no such thing as unbiased media they all have an agenda and audience they serve
The station that epitomised its nature with the Mutaware b…..it!
After serving this suspension, close it for good.
Just observing..,,…,.
If Prime is biased , then ZNBC is also biased. We must be tolerant of opposing views that we don’t agree with. ..Prime TV journalism , bad or not , is a litmus test of how much Zambian democracy has evolved in comparison to western democracies. I can cite Fox news as an example.
The thorn in the flesh for the regulator and I believe PF PR machinery is the news analysis by Mark Simuwe and others. They are very critical of government and PF.
This is one station that I switched off each time I entered my home. Not that the station itself was disgusting but the messages which were slowly galvanizing the minds of my family to think a coin has only one face. That is what easy gotten money can do. Why prime could not learn from the Chandha…… issue is a million Dollar question. This station’s intentions are abhorrent to good reporting and in my opinion 30 days is just a warning shot. When Stations do not care the consequences of their action should just be shut down. They are just a drop in the ocean considering the number of stations we have in Zambia.