Zambia closes 'critical' TV station

The authorities in Zambia have suspended the operating licence of a privately owned television station, which the ruling party says is unfair in its coverage.

Prime Television has been switched off by the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) for 30 days for “exhibiting unprofessional elements in its broadcasting”.

IBA board secretary Josephine Mapoma says the station has been “broadcasting through unbalanced coverage, opinionated news, material likely to incite violence and use of derogatory language”.

She says the station is also expected to conduct in-house training on basic journalism ethics and news script writing during the suspension period.

The governing party’s general secretary Davies Mwila recently chased a crew away from his press briefing and accused them of being bias.

The BBC could not reach the station's owner Gerald Shawa for comment, as calls went unanswered.