By Mwansa Kaumba
Suspended KBN TV must clearly spell out acceptable broadcasting language and etiquette during 30-day suspension, says the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA ) after they suspended the operating licence of the TV station alongside other 3 others for one month.
IBA director general and board secretary Webster Malido stated that the IBA Board had suspended the broadcasting licences of four (4) stations, three over non-payment of Annual Operating Fees and one breach of the 2026 Election Coverage Guidelines.
He stated that 3FM Radio of Chipata, Mungu FM Radio of Mongu and Healing TV of Lusaka have been suspended for 30 days, with immediate effect, for failing to settle their outstanding 2026 Annual Operating Fees, which fell due on 1st January 2026.
”The stations have been suspended after the Authority exhausted all the laid-down regulatory procedures as contained in the Guidelines for Enforcement and Handling of Compliance Breaches,” Malido stated. “The Authority gave an opportunity to the stations to be heard during hearings held on 16th February 2026 and subsequently gave the stations a grace period of up to 30th April 2026. However, the three stations have not complied with the licensing conditions requiring them to meet their statutory payment obligations as provided for under Section 22(4) of the IBA (Amendment) Act No. 26 of 2010, which provides that a broadcasting licensee shall pay such annual fee for the broadcasting licence as may be determined by the Board.
He stated that the suspensions were subject to settlement of the outstanding Annual Operating Fees.
”During the same meeting, the Board suspended the broadcasting licence of KBN TV for 30 days, with immediate effect, for breaching the 2026 Election Coverage Guidelines and other broadcasting standards,” Malido stated. “The licence shall remain suspended for the full 30-day period. During this period, KBN TV is required to comply with the directives issued by the Authority, including undertaking in-house capacity-building for its staff on basic programme moderation skills, and ethical broadcasting practices. Further, the station must review and strengthen its editorial policy/guidelines to clearly spell out acceptable broadcast language and matters of etiquette.”
Malido stated that the station was suspended following failure to conduct discussions in a balanced, fair, accurate and objective manner, broadcasting of unsubstantiated claims or statements by both guests and hosts, broadcasting of unverified information, failure to present alternative viewpoints, failure to provide the right to reply and failure to effectively moderate a programme by allowing the use of inappropriate language by a guest on air
Malido stated that KBN TV was at liberty to pursue the provisions of Section 31(1) of the IBA (Amendment) Act No. 26 of 2010 which allows stations aggrieved by the decision of the Board to appeal to the Minister of Information and Media within thirty (30) days.
”The Authority recognises that freedom of expression is a fundamental constitutional right. At the same time, the exercise of this freedom in broadcasting carries responsibilities, and broadcasters are expected to operate within the conditions of their licences and applicable broadcasting standards,” Malido stated. “These requirements are intended to support responsible broadcasting while safeguarding the public interest.
KBN TV was among seventeen stations that were cited for breaching Election Coverage Guidelines following the Authority’s regulatory assessment of broadcasting coverage of the 2026 General Election.”
He stated that the Authority determined that five stations out of seventeen had severe breaches and were therefore invited for compliance hearings, while twelve stations had minor infringements of the Election Coverage Guidelines and other broadcasting standards.
”The Board has further cautioned sixteen (16) stations for breaches of the 2026 Election Coverage Guidelines identified through the Authority’s election-monitoring exercise. The following breaches were recorded,” stated Malido.
