IBA SUED OVER 'NO' SIGNAL TV STATION

Fri, 03 Nov 2017 11:43:30 +0000

By Chintu Malambo

A RESIDENT of Lusaka’s Matero Township has sued the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), for allegedly failing to give him a signal to run a Television station.

In a statement of claim filed in the Lusaka High Court, Golden Malama who said he was the chief executive officer of ACTS television also sued Top star Communication Company limited and Zambia information technology Authority.

Mr Malama indicated that he applied for broadcasting licence from the Independent Broadcasting Authority to broadcast Acts Television to which according to their act, the broadcasting was supposed to start with 120 of which the effect date was 1st January 2017, failure to that, the licence would be void.

He said that he got a loan to put up a full studio so as to avoid losing the licence.

Mr Malama claimed that he applied to Top Star communications company Limited to take the signal but that Top Star has not done so giving a reason that Zambia Information Technology had not given them a frequency to carry his signal.

Mr Malama also claimed that he had been accumulating debts through the loans he was getting in an effort of setting up a studio within 3 months as a condition which the Independent Broadcasting Authority demanded.

He however, claimed that upon paying the required monies, he was told that his Acts Television would start its broadcasting on November 1 2017 but unfortunately on October 31 2017, he received an sms from Top start Communications Limited notifying him that he would be refunded his money.

He indicated that he gave Top Star Communications Limited K22, 500. 00 and that K23, 000. 00 which was used in an effort to send signal was borrowed money and thus he was demanding interest.

And now Mr Malama claims specific performance on an agreement that he starts broadcasting a Television station, costs and any other relief that the court deems fit.