Diamond’s Wasafi FM suspended for seven days

 The ban on Wasafi FM was announced on September 11 by the Tanzanian Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA). Photo: Courtesy.

Diamond Platnumz's radio station Wasafi FM has been banned for seven days, effective September 12. The ban, announced on September 11 by the Tanzanian Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA), was as a result of violating communication regulations and airing offensive language. Speaking at a presser, TCRA Director-General James Kilaba said the station allegedly committed the infringement on August 1 and August 4 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.

READ ALSO: It’s all systems go! Diamond given green light to launch Wasafi TV 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

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On August 27, 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. In early August, the TCRA also banned the Jahazi radio programme on Clouds FM for allegedly promoting immorality in society.