In a public notice issued on January 2 2026, the regulator offered former licence holders an opportunity to apply for reconsideration. However, Macra has clarified that successful applicants will not be issued new licences, but will resume operations for the remainder of their original licence terms, subject to settlement of all outstanding fees. In a written response to our questionnaire yesterday, Macra head of international affairs and corporate communications Limbani Nsapato said the initiative is anchored in the objectives of the Communications Act, particularly those aimed at attracting investment and widening industry participation.
“This initiative seeks to provide a fair opportunity for indigenous players whose licences were previously revoked to re-enter the industry, provided they meet the prescribed eligibility requirements,” said Nsapato. He added that the move is also meant to “clear any misconceptions” surrounding past revocations and to reaffirm Macra’s mandate to regulate the sector with transparency and certainty. On assessment criteria, Nsapato said applications will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, guided by the original grounds for revocation.
“For instance, where a licence was revoked due to non-payment of fees, the applicant will be required to demonstrate financial capacity to meet outstanding and future obligations. This may include settling arrears or providing bank guarantees,” he said. While Macra could not estimate the number of expected applications, Nsapato said a two-tier review process has been established to ensure transparency.
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On the contentious issue of outstanding fees, Nsapato was unequivocal: “For successful applications, all outstanding fees and penalties will be payable.” The move follows a series of licence revocations over the past decade, largely linked to unpaid fees, which significantly reduced the media landscape. Affected broadcasters include Power FM 101, Dziko FM, Capital FM Radio, Joy Radio, Sapitwa Radio and Rainbow Television. When revoking Rainbow Television’s licence in June 2022, Macra cited failure to pay annual licence fees.
At the time, the station’s manager Aubrey Kusakala described the action as selective, a claim echoed by some media advocacy groups. Legal expert Benedicto Kondowe said in an interview yesterday that although the Communications Act empowers Macra to revoke licences, it does not explicitly provide for a formal reconsideration process. Meanwhile, Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) Malawi chairperson Golden Matonga welcomed the development but urged authorities to interrogate the underlying causes of licence defaults.
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