Tanzania government suspends TV/Radio stations

Tanzania government suspends TV/Radio stations

WINDHOEK, Namibia, 14 February 2016 / PRN Africa / -- In January this year, the Tanzanian government suspended 27 television and radio stations for three months for failing to fulfil their licensing requirements.




According to a statement issued in by the Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA) and supported by the Head of Corporate Communications Innocent Mungy, the radio and television stations were notified in September 2015, that they were required to pay their licence fees before the end of the year. Among the numerous media organisations that received the notification only 11 media organisations had managed to pay their fees by the beginning of the year.




The statement went on to say that all stations that failed to comply with the licensing requirements would be taken off air by January 18. Since most major popular television and radio stations were still on air on Monday – the D-Day – the public took to social media claiming that it was a hoax.




In their follow-up with the TCRA, MISA Tanzania was informed by Mungy that the ultimatum was official and those stations that were allowed to continue broadcasting was because they had either paid their dues on Saturday 17th, while other organisations had pleaded with TCRA for leeway so they could pay by Monday the 18th.




"It was suspension for failure to observe license conditions and cause to refuse consumer rights to information by not paying the fees despite seven month reminders and enforcement notice. But after issuing that public notice, they paid and were not taken off air except for those who didn't pay," Mungy explained.




"Section 22 of the Electronic and Postal Communications Act of 2010 gives power to the Authority [TCRA] to suspend or cancel a licence if a service provider fails to pay the fees as directed."




Mungy said that eight of 21 broadcasters were still off air and these were mostly district licensees which included five municipal television stations.




In a news conference in Dar es Salaam, the Minister for Works, Transport and Communication, Professor Makame Mbarawa, instructed all broadcasting service providers to pay their fees on time, stating that those who do not comply with the rules and regulations set down would face the consequences of the law.




Some of the radio stations under the ban included; Kiss FM, Radio Free Africa, Sibuka FM, Uhuru FM, Radio Five, Breeze FM, Country FM, Ebony FM, Generation FM, Kili FM, Kitulo FM, Huruma Radio, Rock FM, Standard FM, Top Radio, Ulanga FM, Hot FM, Impact FM, Kifimbo FM and Pride FM.




Television stations included Star TV, Sumbawanga Municipal TV, Tanga City TV, Iringa TV, Musa Television Network and Mbeya City TV.




There have been no official statements from the media organizations or other stakeholders on the matter.




SOURCE Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)

Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)


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