Hot FM Chairman Oscar Chavula has publicly rejected pressure from Ministry of Information and Media officials to air political advertisements for free, days after being accused of running the station as an NRPUP propaganda platform.
An Escalating Media Dispute
The dispute began when Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana accused Hot FM of operating as a propaganda platform for the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity, alleging the station is owned by NRPUP chairperson Japhen Mwakalombe and had aired unpaid political content. Kawana argued that private broadcasters should inform the public fairly rather than serve as partisan platforms during the campaign period.
Chavula fired back in a strongly worded Facebook post, insisting Hot FM operates as a commercial broadcaster rather than a charity, and that political parties, including the ruling UPND, would need to pay for airtime like any other client, rejecting any suggestion that threats or pressure would change that position. He also claimed the station had faced threats of closure over its refusal to comply, though he said such threats would only harm its employees rather than change station leadership’s stance.
UPND Responds
UPND Media Director Mark Simuuwe subsequently weighed in, saying that anyone taking public political positions, including Chavula, should expect political scrutiny in return. Simuuwe defended government’s record on media freedom, noting no media house has been shut down for criticising government, while maintaining that media freedom does not mean immunity from accountability. He also pushed back on Chavula’s suggestion that President Hichilema could lose the election, characterising it as a political opinion rather than objective analysis.
The exchange comes just days before the August 13 general election, amid heightened scrutiny of media conduct and allegations of bias from multiple directions during the campaign’s final stretch.
