Zambian authorities on Monday reinstated the licence of a private TV station they had taken off the air during last month’s presidential poll for its “unprofessional conduct”.
The broadcasting licence of MUVI TV was suspended on August 22 after it broadcast stories before and after Zambia’s closely-fought August 11 vote that were critical of supporters of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) party.
The Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) said at the time that the broadcaster’s conduct “posed a risk to national peace and security.”
Lifting the suspension Monday, IBA Chairperson Justin Mutale said, “MUVI admitted the flouting of their in-house editorial policy by some members of staff resulting in the production of some unfair and unbalanced content during the election period”.
The run-up to the presidential poll was tense, with clashes between President Edgar Lungu’s PF and opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) supporters leaving at least three people dead.
After Lungu was re-elected fresh protests erupted and the division in the country spilled over into the media.
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema, who claims Lungu’s narrow first round victory was fraudlent, had slammed the suspension saying it left Zambians with only government-owned media sources.
