District administrator shuts down radio station in Mozambique

Reports from Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, say the administrator of the Macanga district, in the western province of Tete, has illegally shut down a local community radio station, Furancungo Plateau Community Radio, on allegations of mismanagement.

The administrator, identified by the independent newsheet Mediafax only as Faite, is said to have personally gone to the station together with four of his staff members on 19 November 2012 and ordered it off the air because of alleged mismanagement by the community association that owns the station.

Vasco Captone, Furancungo Plateau Community Radio’s coordinator, denied the allegations, insisting that the station is "functioning well and has an operational management committee."

According to media reports, Captone believes "the true motivation for Faite’s behaviour is the outspoken way in which the radio has reported on the life of the district, which may not have been to the liking of the district government."

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) will continue to monitor developments in this case.