As of midnight, December 17, six broadcasters in Lesotho — Jesu ke Karabo, KEL Media, Tabernacle FM, MXXL FM, Molisa ea Molemo FM, and 357 FM — will see their licenses expire. This development was confirmed by the office of the Public Affairs Manager at the Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA).
The LCA revealed that it has been unable to process the license renewals of three of these broadcasters due to their failure to meet regulatory obligations, particularly the payment of annual license fees. Despite repeated reminders through telephone calls, letters, and meetings, the broadcasters in question failed to settle their outstanding fees, which have been overdue for over 12 months.
In light of these prolonged delays, the LCA took decisive action. On November 8, it issued formal notices warning of its intention to shut down the non-compliant stations upon the expiration of their licenses. The authority stated that it had exhausted all reasonable avenues to encourage compliance, but the broadcasters’ continued inaction left it with no choice but to escalate the matter.
Outcomes for the Broadcasters
Following a meeting of the LCA Board of Directors, the following resolutions were made regarding the non-compliant broadcasters:
- MXXL FM – The broadcaster’s license has been revoked, effective immediately.
- 357 FM – The license has been suspended until March 31, 2025.
- Molisa ea Molemo FM – The license has been suspended, pending the completion of the renewal process.
The authority has emphasized its commitment to enforcing compliance with regulatory requirements to ensure fairness and accountability in Lesotho’s broadcasting sector.
The remaining broadcasters — Jesu ke Karabo, KEL Media, and Tabernacle FM — have also been affected, as their licenses are set to expire unless appropriate measures are taken. The LCA continues to urge all broadcasters to meet their regulatory obligations to maintain their operations and serve their audiences.
This situation underscores the importance of adherence to regulations in safeguarding the sustainability of Lesotho’s media landscape. As the midnight deadline looms, the focus now shifts to how these broadcasters will navigate the regulatory challenges they face.
