Kapeya advises procedure before operating a radio station

-Government has advised people intending to set up community and commercial radio stations in the country to always follow the right procedure before beginning their transmission.

 

Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, Mwansa Kapeya, said people should now take advantage of the existence of the Independent Broadcasting  Authority (IBA) and get advice as they embark on setting up their businesses.

 

Mr Kapeya, who is also Chief Government Spokesperson, said it was illegal for people to set up radio stations and start broadcasting without following laid down procedures.

 

He said this in Chinsali when he visited Delight Radio Station which he had ordered to stop broadcasting illegally last year.

 

The minister said anyone who wanted to set up a radio station in the country should always involve experts to provide professional advice in order to ensure that only suitable buildings and material is used in the construction.

 

Mr Kapeya said his ministry and IBA were always ready to provide professional advice and guidance to prospecting radio station proprietors.

 

And Radio Delight Director, Scott Phiri, had no justification for operating a radio station illegally.

 

Mr Phiri has since pledged to follow the right procedure and formalise all the steps that he has taken towards the construction and operations of his station.

 

Meanwhile, Mr Kapeya has disclosed that government was contemplating revising the policy which states that community radio stations should not get any assistance from government.

 

“But we need to change the policy so that government can start assisting community radio stations,” he said today when he appeared on Iso Community Radio station in Isoka district in Muchinga province.

 

The minister is in Muchinga province inspecting developmental projects which government is undertaking.

 

He is accompanied by Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary, Bwalya Ng’andu and other officials.