Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Human Right Commission has implored the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) to reconsider its decision to suspend the broadcasting license of Prime TV and allow it to operate while addressing the identified shortcomings.
Commission Spokesperson Mweelwa Muleya says after engaging various stakeholders, the Commission strongly recommends that the Independent Broadcasting Authority should consider lifting the suspension of Prime TV.
Mr Muleya says the suspension of the broadcasting license of Prime TV for 30 days is excessive punishment that is likely to seriously undermine the growth of the privately owned television station as well as deprive millions of its viewers of their democratic right to access divergent information and views as require in a democratic state.
He notes that Zambia has a relatively good record of having established a robust liberalized media industry in the quest to promote free expression of, and access to divergent views, information and opinions as a matter of human rights and good governance.
Mr Muleya states that it would be extremely unfortunate if such a record of human rights and good governance was undermined by a decision such as suspended the broadcasting license of Prime TV when the matter could easily have been amicably resolved in a better way.
He says the Commission is therefore confident that the government will listen to numerous voices pleading for its public interest intervention and will accordingly review the decision made by IBA.