Community Radio stations to register with Registrar of Society and not PACRA

The Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) has implored stakeholders with intentions of establishing community radio stations to register with the Registrar of Society as they apply for a license to the Authority.

IBA Standard, Licence and Operations Director, Eustace Nkandu told ZANIS in an interview in Mufumbwe today that the IBA board of directors recently resolved that community radio stations should be registered under the Registrar of Society and not with the Patent and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) as was the case a few years ago.

Mr Nkandu said the Authority has over the years discovered that registering a community radio station under PACRA has led to some people in other areas to start behaving like they own the institution thereby starting to push their personal agendas through the facility.

He explained that such kind of self-centered behaviours defeats the purpose of the institution belonging to the community as it has less input in the affairs of the station.

Mr Nkandu said registering a community radio station under Registrar of Society entails that the community will put up a board to which management will report to and the board will also be accountable to the community.

Meanwhile, Mr Nkandu has urged radio and television stations in the country to uphold ethical standards as they carry out their journalistic duties.

He said the Authority will not hesitate to suspend or revoke a licence for any broadcasting station which will be found guilty of unethical conduct.

Mr Nkandu was speaking to ZANIS after a stakeholder’s sensitization on expected broadcasting standards and other regulations which was facilitated by IBA in relations to Mufumbwe Community Radio Station.

Speaking at the same event, Mufumbwe District Commissioner, Masela Sekeseke commended IBA for the sensitization saying the programme is timely as it will help various stakeholders to effectively contribute to the success of the Community Radio Station.

Ms Sekeseke challenged the community radio station management to manage the station professionally as the public will be expecting professionalism from the institution following the knowledge given to them by IBA.

She said presenters from the station are expected to always do their background research so that they always present factual information to the public.