Radio Qfm gets national coverage license

IBA Board chairman, Emmanuel Mwamba has made the announcement in a statement released to Qfm today by IBA Director General Josephine Mapoma.

Mr. Mwamba who is also Information and Broadcasting Permanent Secretary has also disclosed that the IBA has issued construction permits for Iwave Radio and Rise Radio in Chingola, United Voice in Lusaka, Chimwemwe in Ndola and Chinvwano in Mfuwe District.

Others given licenses are Power FM for a Repeater frequency for Kabwe and Walamo in Mpulungu for test transmission.

And Mr. Mwamba has however expressed concern that there are no definitive guidelines on cross-ownership of the media in the country.

He says it regrettable that before the matter could be resolved decisively through policy or regulation, the IBA had previously proceeded to issue licenses to individuals or entities to allow cross-ownership.
Mr. Mwamba has stated that the IBA Act under Section 5(2b) (ii) prohibits monopoly of the industry by any entity.

Mr. Mwamba notes that the IBA had issued licenses to entities without regard to the provisions of its ACT under Section 5(2b) (ii) and that the entities that appear to be affected include Radio Petauke Explorer and Chipata Television, Joy Fm Radio and Prime TV and Muvi TV and Komboni Radio.

He has also pended the consideration for the application for QTV until legal advice he has sought from the Attorney General and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission is given.

Meanwhile Mr. Mwamba has suspended the issuance of radio licenses to entities seeking to start broadcasting Islamic religious programs in the country until the IBA completes a comprehensive consultation with the Church, Government, Islamic Society and other stakeholders.

Mr. Mwamba has further urged the IBA to heighten supervision and monitoring activities to ensure that radio stations are operating in an ethical and professional manner.

He also directed media institutions to adopt a code of ethics as approved by the Zambia Media Council