A decision by the Zambian government to remove Prime TV from TopStar Zambia’s digital migration platform has been lambasted by opposition political parties and media groups, among other stakeholders.

The country’s largest privately-owned TV station was removed from the digital signal carrier after allegedly refusing to broadcast free COVID-19 messages.

It is understood that Dora Siliya, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, issued a directive confirming the situation and that all government entities cease any business with the station.

In a letter to Prime TV, TopStar acting CEO Liu Yingnan said since the Zambian government had shares in TopStar, it could not continue to host Prime TV.

“In view of the outlined statement and in compliance with the same, TopStar Communications, a company in which the Zambian government holds shares is hereby ceasing all forms of cooperation with yourself by removing the station from our platform with immediate effect,” said Yingnan.

Prime TV’s CEO Gerald Shawa has since taken the matter to court claiming the rights of the station have been violated.

Reaction

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia, the British Embassy in Zambia, the Panos Institute of Southern Africa and opposition political parties are believed to be mounting pressure on the country’s government to reverse the decision.

MISA Zambia chairperson Hellen Mwale said the removal of Prime TV from TopStar platform is not only going to affect citizens’ access to information, but also sends a wrong message to the citizens that the government does not accommodate divergent views.

“As MISA Zambia, we find this unfair and unacceptable and call upon the government to reverse the decision by TopStar, least they will be viewed as not being tolerant to divergent views and risk seeing Zambia downgraded in terms of press freedom,” said Mwale.

The Panos Institute of Southern Africa said decision may have far reaching effects on the station’s employees and many citizens who rely on the station as their preferred channel of accessing information.

A statement from Panos reads: “The signal distributor should reconsider its decision to remove Prime TV from its platform and immediately reinstate the station on the TopStar bouquet.”