Anger over silencing of Lesotho private radio station

A decision by Lesotho's broadcasting authority to order the country's only private radio station off the air was slammed on Tuesday as an assault on freedom of expression by media rights activists.

Harvest FM, which has often been at loggerheads with the government in the small southern Africa kingdom, was last week ordered to cease broadcasting for three months after being accused of failure to co-operate with the licensing authority.

"Freedom of expression is denied if a radio station is closed. It is unbecoming for the government to shut down a radio station while it preaches democracy," Peter Potjo of the Media Institute of Southern Africa's Lesotho chapter told AFP.

"Where is democracy in the whole thing? Government is not immune to criticism."

The radio station was suspended after complaints laid by the commissioner of police and the principal secretary in the communications ministry.

Lesotho Communications Authority chairperson Metsing Mangoaela said the police commissioner complained the station had "tarnished his image" while the communications official said the station "promoted incitement when the government threatened to disconnect the station from the main transmitter."

The station's popular morning talk show Rise and Shine, where the comments were made, has often raised the ire of government.

In 2007, presenter Thabo Thakalekoala was charged with sedition after reading a letter on air calling for the arrest of government officials for bad administration and corruption.

Station manager and another presenter of the show, Reverend Adam Lekhoaba, who is Lesotho born but holds a South African passport, was deported earlier this year after criticising the government.

Mangoaela said the station would be suspended for nine months, six of which would be suspended.

The radio station was asked by the regulator in May to show cause why it could not be closed, and has received several threats that it would be shut down.

The station, which will broadcast again on October 21, has become the first victim of amended laws giving the communications minister powers to close the radio station if he deems it has contravened broadcasting laws.

Tebalo Ntepelle, a staunch listener of the station, was disappointed at the decision.

"I liked the difference that the station was bringing to the community. The variety and forthrightfulness made a lot of impact on many people and we all feel at loss," he said.