By TROY MUKUPA
The Zambian government has announced that it cannot intervene to stop the termination of CAMNET TV’s channel on DSTV and GOTV platforms. This decision comes after a thorough investigation by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), which found that the termination is a contractual matter between CAMNET TV and MultiChoice Africa Holdings.
The controversy began when Mrs. Victoria Chiluba, the widow of CAMNET TV’s founder, Pastor Moses Chiluba, appealed to President Hakainde Hichilema to save the channel from being removed.
However, the Ministry of Information and Media, led by Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana, has concluded that there is no legal basis for the government to intervene.
According to a statement issued by Mr. Kawana, the CCPC’s investigation revealed that CAMNET TV consistently failed to meet performance standards, including feed availability and on-air hours, which led to concerns about equipment damage and service quality. Despite repeated communications from MultiChoice Africa Holdings, the issues remained unresolved for years.
In light of these findings, the Ministry has advised CAMNET TV to either negotiate a revised contract or explore alternative service providers, such as TopStar and Muvi TV.