Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, subsidiary of Mauritiun-based pan-African broadcasting network Econet Wireless International, has suspended the recently launched video-on-demand online streaming service, Kwese TV.

Econet was recently reported to have partnered with private 'duly licensed' broadcasting service provider, Dr Dish to launch Kwesé TV in Zimbabwe.

As reported by Techzim, the suspension follows a statement issued by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) last night which said Kwesé TV does not have a valid satellite TV broadcasting license.

On 23 August 2017, Econet Media announced that Kwesé TV was now available in Zimbabwe and that decoders were available at Econet Shops. However, on the same day BAZ dismissed the claim that Kwesé TV had been licensed and warned consumers not to invest in an unlicensed service.

The regulator also warned business operators not to provide "an unlicensed broadcasting service."

In yesterday's statement, BAZ Chief Executive Obert Muganyura said in terms of the Broadcasting Services Act [Chapter 12:06], no person shall provide a broadcasting service in Zimbabwe other than in accordance with a licence issued by BAZ.

"The content distribution licence issued to Dr Dish, which was specific to the provision of the My TV Africa Service, as declared by Dr Dish in its application and stated in the terms and conditions of the licence, was cancelled by the authority for failure by Dr Dish to provide the My TV Africa service," he said.

"BAZ therefore wishes to advise the public not to invest in a service that cannot be provided without a licence and warns anyone who may contemplate providing an unlicensed broadcasting service to acquaint themselves with the course of action that the authority is bound to take in terms of the law," said Maganyura.

The deal was for Dr Dish, which was reportedly duly licenced by BAZ back in 2012, to distribute content from Kwesé TV. "BAZ was notified as soon as the deal was struck back in 2016. They were given full details of the channels that were going to be offered," noted techzim.