Zambia: Catholic radio station gets full licence

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services has finally granted a Catholic radio station full broadcasting permit. "The broadcast permit to Radio Mosi O Tunya allows the station to broadcast on 106 FM. The permit is valid for seven years, renewable every year," Fr Cletus Mwiila (Executive Director of Radio Mosi O Tunya) and Fr Paul Samasumo (the Zambian Episcopal Conference Secretary for Communication) told the Catholic Information Service Africa. (CISA) Radio Mosi O Tunya is a Church community radio belonging to the Catholic Diocese of Livingstone. The main aim of the station is to evangelise through participation in developmental needs of the people of Livingstone and surrounding areas. The ministry shut down the radio station in December 2004, ordering it to acquire a standby electricity generator and ensure a 24-hour police presence. The ban was later lifted for test broadcasts in May 2005 following the re-inspection and certification of the radio station by a combined team of experts from the Ministry, the Communications Authority and the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation. "That Radio Mosi-O-Tunya truly belongs to the people of Livingstone has been evidenced by the participation and selfless contributions made by ordinary residents of Livingstone to ensure that the radio succeeds," the priests said. Source: CISA