Macra closes illegal radio in Salima
Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) has closed Chisomo Radio Station which was being illegally operated by Jefferson Saguga in Salima District.
The closure has been carried out with the help of the police who accompanied Macra officials on November 11 2015 to execute a search warrant obtained from the Lilongwe Magistrate’s Court.
with the courts
Confirming the development on Monday, Macra communications officer Clara Mulonya said the illegal broadcaster has since appeared before the First Grade Magistrate’s Court in Salima.
She said Saguga was charged with two offences under the Communications Act 1998 in particular Section 98 1(a) and (3) which states: “Any person who operates a radio station, except-[a]. a radio exempted under subsection [2] of Section 35, or [b] a radio station controlled by the Authority pursuant to section 43, without a licence issued or deemed to have been issued under Part IV shall be guilty of an offence.
Said Mulonya: “Saguga pleaded guilty to the charges and was later convicted. Owing to the fact that he was a first offender and that he did not waste courts time, the court exercised leniency by sentencing him to six months imprisonment with hard labour [IHL].
“But the jail term was suspended to three months and he was warned not to operate the radio station again up until he fulfills all the regulatory obligations,” said Mulonya adding that Saguga started broadcasting more than a month ago and defied Macra’s warning against his illegal operations. n
