By Staff Reporter

The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has revoked Radio Content Licences for Joy Radio, Sapitwa FM and Capital Radio.

MACRA says in a statement that the decision for revocation follows a substantial breach of a condition of their licences namely failure to pay annual licence fees.

The statement says as of 15 August 2022, the deadline for payment,Joy Radio, Sapitwa FM and Capital FM owed MACRA K18, 115, 992.00, K14, 199,000.00 and K13, 926, 182.23 respectively in outstanding fees.

The revocation of the licences will be effective 30 days from 19 August 2022, thedate of receipt by Joy Radio, Sapitwa FM and Capital Radio, of the notification fromMACRA revoking their licences.

MACRA further says Joy Radio, Sapitwa FM and Capital FM are free to apply, in future, for a contentlicence if they have no outstanding regulatory issues with MACRA.

MACRA would like to further inform the public, that Mzati FM and MzatiTelevision have paid MACRA K6, 199, 875.10 and K17, 180, 000.00 respectively
and therefore cleared all outstanding licence fees.

At this juncture, MACRA clarifies that Mzati FM and Mzati Television’s cases on outstanding fees have been closed.

MACRA has also withdrawn the following frequencies for failure by the operatorsto utilize those frequencies within the timelines set by the Authority.

FM Broadcaster Frequency (MHz) Location.

1 Timveni Radio 87.5 Chikangawa

2 Timveni Radio 99.5 Karonga

3 Radio Maria 100.7 Chitipa

4 Radio Maria 105.9 Dwangwa

5 Capital Radio 105.3 Mangochi

6 Sapitwa FM 104 Lilongwe

7 Sapitwa FM 101.4 Mangochi

It further advises all licensees in the Telecommunications, Broadcasting and Postal sectors, that failure to pay annual licence fees is a serious breach of theirlicences and they risk having their licences revoked if the fees are not paid. –