15 February 2011
Alert
Government refuses to allow community radio station to go back on air
(MISA/IFEX) - On 3 February 2011, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services (MIBS) Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha said the government would not re-open Radio Lymabai in Mongu until investigations into its alleged involvement in the broadcast of seditious materials regarding the Barotseland controversy were completed.
According to the "Zambia Daily Mail" of 4 February, Shikapwasha, who is also chief government spokesperson, said the government would only consider re-opening Radio Lyambai after police had concluded their investigations of the alleged involvement of the station in airing seditious material regarding the Barosteland Agreement of 1964.
Radio Lyambai is based in the Western province of Zambia, the home of the Lozi people who formerly belonged to a British Protectorate called Barotseland. In May 1964, the King of Barotseland and then Northern Rhodesia Prime Minister Kenneth Kaunda signed the Barotseland Agreement, which united the two territories into independent state of Zambia.
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To read the full press release, click here
Source:
Media Institute of Southern Africa
21 Johann Albrecht Street
Private Bag 13386
Windhoek
Namibia
director (@) misa.org
Phone: +264 61 232975
Fax: +264 61 248016
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