Kwese TV is now off air in Zimbabwe until courts decide various applications and appeals

Strive Masiyiwa’s Kwese TV has now gone offline in Zimbabwe as legal wrangles between Kwese TV’s content distributor, Dr Dish, and the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) continue. Dr Dish and Kwese TV had to shut down operations after BAZ filed an appeal at the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe challenging High Court judge Justice Charles Hungwe’s decision to allow Kwese TV to operate as if the letter written by BAZ cancelling Dr Dish’s licence did not exist. However, when BAZ appealed against the ruling at the Supreme Court, it had the effect of suspending Justice Hungwe’s ruling, meaning that for now Dr Dish’s licence has been suspended and Kwese TV cannot air its content within the law.  We have since confirmed that Kwese TV has stopped airing its content.

Kwese TV has also filed an urgent application at the High Court again, seeking permission to continue operating until the matter is resolved by the Supreme Court. The matter is yet to be resolved.