By Chrissy Nkumba
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has revoked the radio content licences for Joy Radio, Sapitwa FM and Capital Radio for a substantial breach of a condition of their licences , by failing to pay annual licence fee.
The revocation follows expiry of August 15, 2022 deadline for payment.
Joy Radio, Sapitwa FM and Capital FM owed MACRA K18, 115, 992, 00, K14, 119, 000,00 and K 13, 926, 182. 23 respectively in outstanding fees.
In a statement which Maravi post has in possession signed by Director General, Daud Suleman ,
the revocation of the licences will be effective 30 days from 19th August 2022, the date of receipt by Joy Radio Sapitwa FM and Capital Radio, of the notification from MACRA revoking their licences.
“Joy Radio , Sapitwa FM and Capital FM are free to apply, in future , for a content licence if they have no outstanding regulatory issues with MACRA”, reads part of the statement
Sulemani says that Mzati FM and Mzati Television have paid MACRA K6, 199, 875,10 and K17, 180, 000,00 respectively and therefore cleared all outstanding licence fees, Mzati FM and Mzati Television’s cases on outstanding fees have closed.
He further says that it has withdrawn the following frequencies for failure by the operators to utilize those frequencies within the timeline set by the Authority: Timveni Radio 87.5 MHz Chikangawa, Timveni Radio 99.5 MHz Karonga, Radio Maria 100.7 MHz Chitipa, Radio Maria 105.9 MHz Dwangwa, Capital Radio 105.3 MHz Mangochi, Sapitwa FM 104 MHz Lilongwe, Sapitwa FM 101.4 MHz Mangochi.
Meanwhile MACRA advises licences in the telecommunications, broadcasting and postal sectors, that failure to pay annual licence fees risk having their operations revoked.
