Wasafi TV banned for six months

By William Osoro

The decision to ban Wasafi TV was reached after TCRA meet the station's management.

Wasafi TV has been handed a six month ban by the Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA) for allegedly violating broadcast regulations during a recent live show. TCRA acting director

Johannes Kalungule said that the offence was committed on January 1 when the station aired singer Gigy Money dancing at the Tumewasha festival while scantily dressed.  Kalunge said that the move contravened broadcast regulations and that the station was ordered off air and instructed to issue a public apology.

He further said that the decision to ban Wasafi TV was reached after both parties met. At the time of going to press, the station had not issued the apology as per the TCRA’s directive.

Wasafi FM ban

Just three months ago, sister station Wasafi FM was banned for seven days effective September 12. The ban, announced on September 11 by TCRA was as a result of violating communication regulations and airing offensive language. Speaking at a presser, then TCRA director James Kilaba said the station allegedly committed the infringement on August 1 and August 4 2020 on two programs, ‘Switch’ and ‘Mashamsham’. According to Mr Kilaba, the presenters aired abusive language, contrary to licensing regulations.

“From the moment I make this announcement, the station is required to stop regular programming and air an apology for the remaining hours of Friday, before starting serving the ban on September 12,” Mr Kilaba said.

In a statement released hours after the ban, Wasafi FM said “In line with the TCRA directive, the management of Wasafi FM would like to apologise to TCRA and Tanzanians for using inappropriate language in our shows ‘Switch’ and ‘Mashamsham’ in violation of the communications act. We humbly accept the penalty from TCRA and sincerely apologize. We will also be going off-air until September 18.”

Clouds FM ban

On August 27 2020, Clouds FM and Clouds TV suffered a similar fate after the TCRA suspended them for seven days for allegedly violating election coverage. The TCRA said that the two sister stations were suspended for announcing the outcome of party nominations without approval from the National Electoral Commission (NEC) in breach of the Political Party Elections Broadcast Act of 2015.