The Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) has given Muvi Television a final warning after finding the station guilty of unprofessional conduct.
IBA Board Chairperson, Mabel Mung’omba says the Authority held a sitting on May 24, 2021 and established a clear case against Muvi TV over the manner it handled its Special Assignment programme which featured Economic and Equity Party (EEP) president Chilufya Tayali.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka today, Mrs. Mung’omba said IBA was incensed with the conduct of the moderator who allowed Mr Tayali to make serious allegations without providing evidence and further failing to guide him against making unsubstantiated claims.
The IBA Chairperson has since sounded a warning to Muvi TV, saying the authority will be compelled to take punitive measures as prescribed by the law if the station is found wanting again.
“The Authority hereby gives Muvi TV a final warning failure to which the Authority will not hesitate to invoke Section 29 of the IBA (Amendment) Act Number 26 of 2010 which gives the Board the power to suspend, revoke or cancel any broadcasting license, issued under the Act,” Mrs. Mung’omba said.
Mrs. Mung’omba said IBA gave Muvi TV an opportunity to exculpate themselves as provided for in the IBA Act.
“In arriving at this decision the board is on firm ground because the due process of the law was followed in finding Muvi TV guilty of unprofessional conduct by giving the station an opportunity to be heard on 18th May, 2021,” she stated.
She said Muvi TV has had a poor compliance record in the past.
She recalled how IBA suspended the station’s license in 2016 for unethical conduct, before, during and after the 2016 general elections.
Mrs. Mung’omba also pointed out that the station has been receiving complaints from the general public.
“The station has had a number of complaints raised against it by members of the public including invasion of privacy by filing and conducting interviews at a business premise without obtaining permission and unauthorized use of a signal of another station,” she said.
And the IBA Board chairperson also recollected that on April 30, 2021, the Authority cautioned Muvi TV for failure to exercise good moral and ethical judgment when it featured Poor People’s Party president Alex Muliokela.
“The Authority directed the station to guard against broadcasting material which may cause humiliation, distress and violate human dignity contrary to Section 33 of the IBA Act Number 17 of 2002,” Mrs. Mung’omba said.
Meanwhile, IBA Board Chairperson also warned media houses against being reckless and irresponsible in their reporting in the run-up to the August 12, 2021 general elections.
Zambia is now under a Dictator. Freedom of speech as enshrined in our Constitution has been killed completely.
This IBA is going with PF on Aug 12th. We tired of dictatorship in all institutions that are meant to protect the constitution & not elite political players. Shame on you Mable. Pure PF surrogate. Start packing your bags too!
Rules are rules. It seems to upnd whenever rules are enforced they rush to claim dictatorship. You cannot have a society where people are free to do as they please. Within the realm of freedoms, you need to have control to ensure law and order
Rules are rules. It seems to upnd whenever rules are enforced they rush to claim dlctatorshlp. You cannot have a society where people are free to do as they please. Within the realm of freedoms, you need to have control to ensure law and order
HANG IN THERE MUVI WE COMI(NG TO SAVE YOU
ONLY 2 MONTHS TO GO
ZNBC should be given a final warning for becoming the photo album of him
IBA has lost respectability because ZNBC is involved in serious falsehoods without consequences. Surely the powers of IBA have been poorly constituted, why should they have the final day. Both IBA and affected entity should be free to go to court and prove a case.
IBA is unconstitutional. The opposition should take IBA to court and challenge its constitutionality. Is IBA a professional body? Ati IBA was incensed with the conduct of the moderator. Who is IBA to be incensed? Is it government’s weapon against journalists? In other words a censorship board hiding under the name Independent Broadcasting
Ba LT, because of the coming elections it is always Your comment is awaiting moderation
IBA is unconstitutional. The opposition should take IBA to court and challenge its constitutionality. Is IBA a professional body? Ati IBA was incensed with the conduct of the moderator. Who is IBA to be incensed? Is it government’s weapon against journalists? In other words a censorship board hiding under the name Independent Broadcasting
WHEN WAS IBA FORMULATED? THERE ARE WAYS IN WHICH FREEDOM OF SPEECH ARE EXPRESSED. YOU CAN NOT CLOSE SOME ONE’S MOUTH AND MAKE HIM LIKE A ROBBOT BY TELLING HIM WHAT TO SAY. SINCE WHEN DID A HUMAN BEING TURNED INTO A PAROT?
PLEASE LET US SPEAK WHAT OUR MIND THINKS AND IT IS NOT RIGHT TO PUNISH AN INSTITUTION WHEN THE OFFENDER WHO HAS PUBLICLY SPOKEN IS THEIR. MEDIA HOUSE ARE PUBLIC INSTITUDES WHERE DEBATES AND A LIKE ARE OF ONE’S MIND ARE PERFORMED. PLEASE LET LET PEOPLE TALK THEIR MINDS THAN CLOSING THEIR MOUTHS.
SUSPICIONS ARE SUCH THAT KALAN MUCHIMA COMMENTED ON THE GBM, CK, AND Maj. K BY EXPOSING THEM OF WHAT TODAY GARY IS SUMMONED OF BY POLICE. YES MUVI AND DIAMOND TV STATIONS ARE THE ONLY HOPE FOR 2021 CAPAIGN FOR THE OPPOSITION PODIA. ZNZBC IS SEALED AND HAS NO INFORMATION APART FROM …MWANE AND HIS TEAM
When are you giving final warning to znbc? Anyway even the IBA will be disbanded after August so just be patient muvi tv and prime.
Ba LT are you and IBA one? Why are you censoring pro muvi comments?
Ba LT are you and IBA one? Why are you censoring pro-muvi comments?
LT IS POOPED SCARED
Why? Who do IBA think they are? They aren’t a professional body. In fact they are unconstitutional
Why? Who do IBA think they are? They aren’t a professional body. In fact IBA is unconstitutional
INDEPENDENT? What a joke. Mabel got a call from State House or OP and complied. Shame! Steve Nyirenda, hang in there, August 12 is almost there!
One of the biggest failures the so called official opposition political party is to lead by example. They are still stuck into the old outdated political quagmire of defiance and hooliganism as a way of gaining popularity. One wonders what they would do in the unlikely event that they formed Govt.
The IBA is a watchdog against unethical, unprofessional, unfair and unconstitutional broadcasting practices and conduct.
No sane individual can disagree and dispute the case the IBA is stressing here.
You cannot be allowed or be encouraged to falsehood on air otherwise you would end up with social media like stories on air. If Journalism is a profession, then the body of knowledge that set guidelines shouldn’t watch malpractices go by. Good job IBA.
“Social media is for all; while journalism is for trained communicators. But if you allow all and sundry to masquerade as journalists, your profession will perish and you will have yourselves to blame,” ECL
Mable is a younger sister to Nkandu Luo
Conducting unsolicited interviews and using others’ audio and video air signals is uncalled for. Alex Mulyokela’s interview was a comedy of errors and an embarrassment. Chilufya Tayali’s discussion was a pure demagogue. Freedom of expression doesn’t mean you indignantly undress other people. It is the responsibility of moderators to run matters well. How I miss Costa Mwansa!
This IBA has no shame …you can not go on threatening media houses like this because there is an insecure visionless bum in State House surrounded by empty tins for advisers using GRZ to settle petty scores!!
This Thorn in the Flesh , who are u PREACHING TO HERE…JUST KEEP QUIET
Journalism will never perish. It will just take another form. Information is like food. Noone can do without it