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SOUTHERN AFRICA MEDIA LANDSCAPE:

Malawi, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe

Profile compiled by

38 Harvey Brown Road, Milton Park, Harare

Zimbabwe

Contact: monitors@mmpz.org.zw

Tel: 00263 867 710 8362

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MALAWI Malawi is a landlocked country and former British colony. Malawi became independent in 1964.

Population

16.8 million according to the Government of Malawi https://www.malawi.gov.mw/

Languages

English and Chichewa (Chichewa spoken by 75% of the population) are the two officially recognized languages. Other local languages spoken are Lomwe 17%, Yao 20%, Ngoni, 11%, Tumbuka 9%, Nyanja 6%, Sena 4%, Tonga 2% as well as several other languages.

Cities and towns

Capital City – Lilongwe

Commercial capital – Blantyre

Government

President: Peter Mutharika

Currency

Kwacha

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Administrative map of Malawi

Source: http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/malawi-administrative-map.htm

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Summary of Media

▪ Two (2) State owned radio stations

▪ Twenty-four (24) Community radio stations

▪ Ten (10) Privately owned radio stations with national reach

▪ Ten (10) Television stations

▪ One (1) Government news agency

▪ Thirteen (13) Privately owned newspapers with the Blantyre Newspapers Limited

and Nations Publications Limited owning five and four titles respectively under

each media house. The remaining four are community and religious

publications. The dailies are The Nation and The Daily Times. Five (5) magazines, mostly religious (Source: www.osisa.org)

Broadcasting in Malawi

Types of licenses for broadcasting

1. Radio

a) Public national Sound Broadcaster (State/ government owned)

b) Private National Sound

c) Community radio (Split into National community of interest, regional community of interest, geographical community sound)

2. Television

a) Public National Television (State/government owned)

b) Private National Television

c) Community Of Interest Television

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Radio Stations

Malawi has 78 registered broadcast media and 43 are operational. The operational licensees as listed by the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority are shown below.

PRIVATE PUBLIC/STATE COMMUNITY

Zodiac Broadcasting Station

Malawi Broadcasting Corporation Radio 1

Radio Islam (Blantyre)

Capital Radio Malawi Malawi Broadcasting Corporation Radio 2

Dzimwe Community Radio (Mangochi)

Galaxy Radio Radio Maria (Mangochi)

FM 101 Power CCAP Livingstonia

MIJ Radio CCAP Blantyre

Yeneco FM CCAP Nkhoma Synod Radio

Joy Radio Station Seventh Day Adventist ( Blantyre)

Matindi Radio Karonga Diocese

Good News Limbe Muslim Jamat

Mwandama Channel for all Nations (Lilongwe)

Malawi Institute of Journalism

Living Waters radio (Blantyre)

Star FM Pentecostal Life FM

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Maziko Radio Station Good News Broadcasting System

Beyond FM Transworld Radio (Lilongwe)

Radio Maria

Radio Alifane (Lilongwe)

Radio Tigabane (Mzuzu)

Nhotakota Community Radio Nhotakota

Mzimba Community Radio (Mzimba)

Usiya Community Radio (Nkhatabay)

Chancellor College Radio (Zomba)

Umoyo FM (Mangochi)

Mzati FM (Mulanje)

Yoneco FM

Source: www.macra.org.mw

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Television Stations

PRIVATE PUBLIC COMMUNITY

Luso TV Malawi Broadcasting Corporation Television

Timveni Community TV

Times TV African Bible College TV

AFJ Television Television Luntha (Balaka)

Galaxy Television CAN TV - Assemblies of God

Multichoice Malawi (Dstv)

Print

PRIVATE PUBLIC COMMUNITY

The Daily Times Malawi News Agency (MANA)

Malawi Times

The Sunday Times

The Weekend Times

The Business Times

The Nation

Weekend Nation

Fuko Nation

New Vision

Statesman Malawi News

Enquirer

UDF News

Weekly Chronicle

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The Nation and the Daily Times are the largest circulating dailies

Fuko Nation is a bi-weekly, which targets at rural readership in the majority Chichewa language

Regulation

State-Regulation

MACRA

State controlled Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) regulates the media in Malawi. The body was established in 1998 as spelt out in the Communications Act.

The body’s duties include superintending over the Communications Act (1998) inclusive of: promoting open access to information, promoting efficiency and effective competition in the communication sector. It also promotes technological use to meet international standards as well as ensuring purchasers of information are not unfairly charged. In addition, MACRA has a mandate to conduct research and produce statistics on the industry, train and develop personnel and systems for industry efficiency, receiving application, advising the Minister and subsequently approving or rejecting telecommunications, license, frequency allocations

Media Council of Malawi (MCM)

This is Malawi’s self-regulatory body. Its Ethics, Complaints and Disciplinary Committee oversees the formulation, maintaining and implementation of a code of ethics for media organisations, journalists and media practitioners. The other duties include receiving, adjudicating complaints from the media organisations, practitioners and the public through mediation

Constitution (1994)

Section 35 allows every citizen the right to freedom of expression

Section 36 allows the press freedom of establishment and operation without any hindrance as well as full access to information

Section 37 allows every citizen unhindered access to information held by the state.

Legislation

Printed Publications Act (1947) - outlines steps to be taken in licensing and registering a newspaper and other printed publications

Communications Act (1998) - Empowers MACRA to receive applications, register and give licenses to prospective media houses. MACRA, under the ACT can also monitor and investigate media practices, engage in research and training and uplifting industry standards.

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Policies

ICT Policy (2013) – regulate the ICT industry.

National Access to Information Policy (2014) - Promotes access to information in Malawi

Malawi Digital Broadcasting Policy (2013-2018) - the policy seeks to guide Malawi from analogue to digital broadcasting in line with specifications from International Telecommunications Union.

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NAMIBIA

General overview:

Population

2.3 million

LanguagesEnglish (official 7%) Afrikaans (lingua franca) and German are the official languages. Other indigenous languages spoken include Setswana, Lozi, Oshiwambo, Otjiherero, Rukwangali, Damara Literacy: 65% of total populationCapital City – Windhoek

Government

President: Hage Geingob

Currency

Namibian Dollar/ South African Rand

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Administrative map of Namibia

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Summary of the Media

● Ten (10) State owned radio stations ● Ten (10) Community radio stations ● Ten (10) Commercially-owned radio stations● Two (2) Television stations ● Eleven (11) State-owned newspapers (Four dailies and seven weeklies)● Six (6) privately owned newspapers (One privately owned five weeklies)● Five (5) magazines

Types of licensing for broadcasting

1. Radioa) Urban community-based radio stations b) Commercial radio stations c) Rural community-based radio stations

2. Television

a) Commercial television stations. b) Community-based television stations

Radio:

There are about 30 radio stations in Namibia.

State owned Commercial Community

NBC !HA Fresh FM Base FM

NBC Afrikaans Hitradio Namibia Channel &

NBC Damara/Nama Omulungs radio E- FM

NBC German Radio 99 Karas

NBC Lozi Radio Cosmos Live FM

NBC National Service (English)

Radio Energy Namcol

NBC Oshiwambo Radio France International

Ohangwena

NBC Otijiherero Radio Kudu Omaheke

NBC Rukavango Radio Wave Oranjemund FM

NBCTirelo ya Setswana West Coast FM UNAM Radio

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Television:

There are two television stations in Namibia NBC TV and One Africa.

State owned Commercial

NBC TV One Africa

Print

Private Owned State Owned Community

The Namibian Allgermeine Zeitung Erongo

Confidente Die Republikein Kundana

Namib Times New Era

The Villager Namibian Sun

Windhoek Observer Kundana

Namibia Economist Southern Times

Informante Windhoek Express

Regulations

State-regulation

Namibia Communications Commission 1992

The commission has the mandate to issue broadcasting licenses and to supervise broadcasting services and programme content.

Namibia Film Commission (2000)

Regulates the film industry to prevent the production of material that threatens national security.

Communication Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN)

Regulates telecommunication services and networks, broadcasting services, postal services and the use and allocation of radio spectrum.

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Constitution (1990)

Chapter 3

Article 21 (1) (a) guarantees freedom of speech and freedom of expression which include freedom of the press and other media

Article (21) (2) imposes reasonable internal limitations on freedom of expression.

Legislation

The Communications Act of 2009

The ‘Spy Bill’ continues to threaten freedom of expression as it allows interception of communications as well as Apartheid era laws such as the Official Secrets Act, and the Criminal Act.

The Public Service Act of 1995

The Act restricts public servants from disclosing information that should in fact be available to Namibians.

The Protection of Information Act

It sets out a number of provisions relating to the disclosure of security related information.

The Radio Act (1952)

Licenses radio stations and allocates radio frequencies

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BOTSWANA

Botswana is a former British protectorate which gained Independence in 1966.

Population

2,313,100 according to the Government of Botswana Source: www.gov.bw

Languages

English is the official language .Setswana is spoken by the majority (78.2%) of the population, Kalanga-7.9%, Sekgalagadi (3.4%), Shona (2%),Mbukushu (1.6%) and Ndebele (1%). 1.7% speak Tshwa (a Khoe language) and 0.1% speak !Xóõ, a Tuu language (both non-Bantu). A further 2.8% also speak English, the official language as their first language. A small number are conversant in Afrikaans.

Source- http://www.studycountry.com/guide/BW-language.htm

Cities and Towns

Capital City: Gaborone

Second City: Francistown

Government

President: Ian Khama

Currency

Pula

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Administrative map of Botswana

Source:http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/botswana-map.htm

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Summary of Media

● Two (2) government owned radio stations.● Four (4) privately owned radio stations with national reach and live streaming● One (1) government owned television station● Two (2) privately owned television station● Thirteen (13) privately owned newspapers● One (1) government owned newspaper issued for free● One (1) government owned news agency

Broadcasting in Botswana

Types of licenses for broadcasting

1.Radio

a) Public National Sound (for government owned stations)

b) National Private Sound (for commercial stations)

c) Citizen Band Radio License

(d) Private Radio Communication License

2.Television

a) Public National Television (for government-owned stations)

b) Private National Television (for private-owned stations)

c) Satellite Service License

Radio Stations

Botswana has six (6) registered radio stations, four are regulated except for two which are state-owned. The operational licensees as approved by the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) are listed below.

PRIVATE PUBLIC COMMUNITY

Yarona FM Radio Botswana 1 (RB1)

Duma Radio Botswana 2 (RB2)

Gabz FM

Voice of America

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Television

Botswana has three television stations. Only one, the private station is regulated by BOCRA. The list of licensees is shown below:

PRIVATE PUBLIC COMMUNITY

eBotswana Botswana Television (BTV)

Multichoice Botswana (DStv)

Source: www.bocra.org.bw

Print

PRIVATE PUBLIC COMMUNITY

Mmegi Daily News

The Voice Botswana Press Agency (BOPA)

Sunday Standard

Echo

The Botswana Gazette

Botswana Guardian

Midweek Sun

Monitor

Ngami Times

The Mirror

Sunday Tribune

Global Post

Weekend Post

Telegraph

The state-owned Daily News has the widest circulation as well as the widest rural reach. Source: https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press/2013/botswana

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Regulation

State Regulation

BOCRA

State controlled Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) regulates broadcasting in Botswana as spelt out in the Communications Regulatory Act (CRA) of 2012.

MEDIA COUNCIL OF BOTSWANA

The Media Council is a creation of the Media Practitioners Act (MPA) of 2008. It is the sole accreditation authority for all media workers and journalists, media houses (mainly print) as well as handling complaints.

Self-Regulation

PRESS COUNCIL OF BOTSWANA

The media in Botswana also practices industry led self-regulation through the Press Council of Botswana found in 2002.The Council seeks to enforce a code of ethics and professional standards among practitioners by handling complaints through mediation dispute resolution.

Constitution (1966)

The National Constitution (1966) does not explicitly guarantee freedom of the media but safeguards freedoms of expression and speech.

Section 3

Guarantees the protection of fundamental human rights with access to information also included

Section 12

Upholds freedom of expression, speech and access to information but limits these rights to preserve national security and public order.

Legislation

Media Practitioners Act (MPA) 2008

The media is generally regulated by the state through the Media Practitioners Act of 2008 which provides for the establishment of a Media Council.

Communications Regulatory Act 2012

The act provides for the establishment of the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority whose mandate is to license broadcasters, allocate frequencies and uphold a 60% local content quota in broadcasts

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Broadcasting Act of 1998

The Act allows for the licensing of community radio stations but up to now there are no licensed or unlicensed community radio stations.

Policies

Licensing Framework for Commercial Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting (2012)

Seeks to guide BOCRA on how to best license and operationalise the switch from terrestrial to digital broadcasting

Vision 2016

Guarantees the freedom of information and communication

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ZIMBABWE

Zimbabwe is a landlocked former British colony which gained independence in 1980

Population

13.72 million according tothe 2012 National Census

Languages

Zimbabwe has 16 official languages as recognised by the 2013 National Constitution. These are: Chichewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Koisan, Nambya, Ndau, Ndebele, Shangani, Shona, Sign Language, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda and Xhosa.

Of these the most dominant are Shona (70%), Ndebele. (20%) whilst English is still regarded as the main official business language. Other languages account for the remainder.

Cities and Towns

Capital City- Harare

Second City- Bulawayo

Government

President: Robert Mugabe

Currency

Zimbabwe currently has multi-currency basket headlined by the US Dollar as well as other currencies like South Africa Rand, Botswana Pula, British Pound and the Chinese Yen.

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Administrative Map of Zimbabwe

Source :http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/zimbabwe_map2.htm

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Summary of Media

● Four (4) state owned radio stations● Two (2) privately owned National commercial radio stations ● Eight (8) privately-owned local commercial radio stations with provincial reach● Twenty (20) community radio initiatives spread around the country● One (1) state owned television station● One (1) privately-owned regional satellite television station● Eleven (11) government owned newspapers Source:

http://www.herald.co.zw/about-zimpapers/● One (1) government owned news agency● Fourteen (10) privately owned newspapers (two dailies and twelve weeklies) ● Eight (8) government news agency owned provincial newspapers

N.B. More newspaper titles have been registered in Zimbabwe but have failed to sustain their operations Broadcasting in Zimbabwe Types of Radio LicensesRadio

a) Public broadcasting service (government/ state owned)b) Commercial broadcasting service (private owned)c) Community broadcasting service (though yet to be licensed)d) Webcastinge) Rail casting servicef) Road casting service

Television

a) Public broadcasting service (government/state owned)b) Subscription cable broadcasting servicec) Subscription satellite broadcasting serviced) Subscription narrowcasting servicee) Open narrowcasting servicef) Datacasting serviceg) Webcastingh) Video on demand servicei) Content distribution service

Source : http://www.baz.co.zw/index.php/features/licence-classesRadio StationsZimbabwe has 14 licensed radio stations and 20 community radio initiatives that are yet to be licensed. These stations are listed below. Ownership Patterns

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Radio

PRIVATE PUBLIC COMMUNITY INITIATIVES

ZiFM Power FM Berina FM

Star FM National FM Bubja

Ya FM Spot FM Bulawayo Youth Broadcasting

Diamond FM Radio Zimbabwe Community Radio of Radio

Breeze Getjenge FM

98.4 Midlands Hwange FM

Hevoi FM Kumakomo

Skyz Metro Kwelaz FM

Capitalk Radio Mabhikwa

NyamiNyami FM Muzinyathi

Nkabazwe

Nkayi FM

Ntepe Community Radio

Patsaka-Nyaminyami

Radio Chiedza

Radio Dialogue

Twasumpuka

VeMuganga

Wezhira

Zhowane

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TelevisionTwo stations are registered to operate in Zimbabwe as listed below

PRIVATE PUBLIC

Multi Choice Zimbabwe (DStv)

Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation TV (ZBC TV)

Print

PRIVATE PUBLIC COMMUNITY (provincial)

NewsDay The Herald Ilanga

The Standard Chronicle Pungwe News

Financial Gazette The Sunday Mail Chaminuka News

Daily News Manica Post The Times

Tell Zimbabwe Sunday News Masvingo Star

Zimbabwe Independent Kwayedza Indosankusa

Masvingo Mirror B-Metro Mashonaland West Telegraph

Daily News on Sunday H-Metro Nehanda Guardian

The Sun Kwayedza

Midlands Observer The Suburban

The Patriot Southern Times

The People’s Voice

Harare News

Business Connect

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RegulationZimbabwe operates in a mixed zone of State and industry led Self-Regulation.State RegulationZimbabwe Media CommissionZMC is a constitutional body which administers the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA). It has the mandate to receive and process license applications from media houses. It is also tasked with accrediting journalists as well as enforcing good journalistic practices and ethics in the media. Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ)BAZ is a commission created by the 2001 Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) to regulate the airwaves in Zimbabwe. Its mandate includes; issuing of broadcasting licenses and frequencies, developing best practices for the broadcast media and protecting children from harmful broadcast content, promoting fair and accurate coverage as well as encouraging diversity in control of broadcasting services in Zimbabwe. Posts and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ)POTRAZ is the regulator for post and telecommunications which includes internet usage and social media in Zimbabwe. It also regulates the operations of mobile network operators as well as Internet Service Providers (ISP)’s, stipulates rates to be charged by MNO’s and ISP’s to ensure competitiveness and avoid price collusion. The authority also works to ensure the expansion of postal and telecommunication services in Zimbabwe to include the rural poor and marginalised communitiesBoard of Censors The board is created under the Censorship and Entertainment Control Act (1967) and is responsible for administering the approval and rejection of media content as stipulated under the ActSelf-RegulationVoluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ)Media organisations form the core membership of the body which seeks to ensure that journalists uphold media ethics, ensure fair and accurate coverage and as well

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as promoting media independence, freedom of expression, research on trends in the sector, capacity building and training.Constitution 2013Section 248Establishes the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) as a media regulatory body. Section 249 Spells out the mandate of the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) whose brief is to supervise and oversee the country’s media sector. Its duties include licensing of newspapers and registration of media practitioners, advising the Minister of Information as well as researching and advocating for the best practices in the media.Section 61Provides for freedom of expression and the media. It also guarantees editorial independence at state-controlled institutions. Section 62Every Zimbabwean citizen has the right to access information held by the State without hindrance. Additionally, every citizen has the right to have information corrected as well as deletion of untrue and erroneous information LegislationAccess to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) 2002AIPPA seeks to give parameters on how citizens and the media access information held by public bodies, state regulation of the media through ZMC as per the act’s amendment in 2008. The act also seeks to license media houses and journalists for accreditation.Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) 2001The act regulates the broadcasting media through the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) which oversees licensing, registration, frequency allocation and spectrum fees for broadcasters in the countryPublic Order Security Act (POSA) 2002The law regulates the media from publishing information which is harmful and prejudicial to the government as well as inciting public violence and disorder.Interception of Communications Act (ICA) 2007

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Regulates telecommunications, postal and electronic web based communications through monitoring of web and internet communications in the interests of preventing crime and terrorist activities. Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act 2004The law criminalises defamation by the media but has since been declared unconstitutional. Civil defamation still applies under the law and the media can be sued by aggrieved partiesCensorship and Entertainment Control Act (1967)Regulates the content published by the media to prevent pornographic content and other inflammatory images and language in films (both local and foreign), adverts and public entertainment.Computer Crimes and Cyber Bill (CCCB) (2016)Yet to be passed into law, the bill seeks to regulate usage of social media as well as ensuring that e-commerce transactions are above board and within the confines of the law. The bill seeks to penalise use of online media in illegal activities. PoliciesDigital Broadcasting Migration 2015The policy will guide Zimbabwe in the switchover from analogue to digital broadcasting and is currently being implementedCyber Security PolicyStill at proposal stage, Government is currently pushing for several bills to regulate use of social media, e-commerce and digital securityIndependent Media Panel of Inquiry (IMPI) 2014The commission sought to understand the challenges and complexities in the Zimbabwean media landscape and proffer lasting solutions. Its recommendations are yet to be published and implemented.

CONCLUSION

The media landscape in Zimbabwe, Malawi, Namibia and Botswana is an interesting arena which has the following stand out pointers

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State Ownership

Electronic media- television and radio are mostly operated on a public level. In Zimbabwe there is the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, Malawi has Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) and Botswana has Botswana Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). All these models reflect the colonial past of the nations as they are modeled along the lines of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

English Language

Is the commonly used language in all the four countries in the media. It reflects on a high level of literacy in the citizens.

Digital satellite television

In all the countries there is a common pattern of digital satellite television. It shows that there is a huge market for digital satellite services such as music, infotainment as well as sports and news.