The Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has issued a statement rebutting claims that the closure of Rainbow Television was politically motivated.
According to MACRA Director, Daudi Suleman, the television station was shut down due to non-compliance with Section 43 (1) of the Communication Act, specifically failure to pay annual license fees.
This contradicts earlier statements made by Prophet Shepherd Bushiri, founder of Rainbow Television, who alleged that the closure was a result of political interference.
In an interview with Zodiak Television, Bushiri claimed that political forces were behind the decision to shut down the station.
However, MACRA’s statement, dated February 12, 2025, reveals that Rainbow Television had an outstanding balance of k14, 930 000 that needed to be settled.
This suggests that the closure was a result of the station’s failure to meet its financial obligations, rather than any political agenda.
The closure of Rainbow Television has sparked concerns about media freedom and the regulatory environment in Malawi.
