By Rahim Abdul
The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has taken a conciliatory step by reopening the door to individuals and companies whose operating licences were revoked over the past decade.
In a notice issued to the public, the regulator announced a 21-day window during which affected former licensees can apply for reconsideration of their electronic communications, content service or postal and courier licences.
The opportunity targets entities whose licences were withdrawn between 2015 and 2025, a period marked by heightened regulatory enforcement across the communications sector.
MACRA says eligibility will depend on whether applicants previously held valid licences and can demonstrate corrective measures taken since the revocation or provide new and relevant information.
Despite the opening, the authority has been clear that submitting an application does not automatically guarantee reinstatement, as each case will undergo an individual assessment.
The move follows years of controversy in which several media houses were forced off air for allegedly failing to pay annual licence fees, particularly under the previous administration.
Those actions drew sharp criticism from media rights advocates who argued that the closures undermined press freedom and weakened democratic accountability.
Former Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Malawi Chairperson Tereza Ndanga previously warned that such shutdowns threatened the independence and survival of media institutions.
By offering a second chance, MACRA appears to be repositioning itself as a regulator willing to combine enforcement with dialogue and reform.
