Sata gives banned Malawian opposition TV/radio licence to broadcast from Zambia

Newly elected Zambia President Michael Sata has granted Malawi’s opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) a television broadcasting licence, UDF presidential aspirant Atupele Muluzi has confirmed to Malawian media.

The development means Joy-TV, which Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) denied local television broadcasts in 2007, will be beaming its programmes from Chipata in Zambia via satellite.
In an interview on Sunday, Atupele, who is son to former President Bakili Muluzi, said he forwarded his request when he had gone to congratulate President Sata on his election.
“When I went to convey my congratulations for the election, as you know that he is a long time old friend to former president Dr Bakili Muluzi, I was extremely well received by His Excellency [Sata] who knows well how the situation is here.
“I [therefore] did ask him if it was possible to allow us to be broadcasting from Chipata, a television which he accepted and he even informed our Malawi’s High Commissioner [David Bandawe] of that development,” Atupele said.
Last week Sata refused to attend the COMESA summit in Malawi saying he was a prohibited immigrant.