'Gay' reality show Lusaka Hustle back on MultiChoice Zambia and M-Net's Zambezi Magic channel on DStv after shocking censorship.

The "gay" reality show, Lusaka Hustle, following three Zambian socialites are back on MultiChoice Zambia and M-Net's Zambezi Magic (DStv 160) channel on DStv in Southern Africa after Zambia's censorship-prone broadcasting regulator, the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) lifted its idiotic and irrational ban and the suspension of the show.

Zambia's IBA didn't respond to emailed media enquiries about the controversial decision to order a ban on Lusaka Hustle, ordering its removal from the DStv airwaves in Zambia and multiple countries across Southern Africa.

Zambia's Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) refused to admit it was wrong in banning and censoring Lusaka Hustle, only for the wayward regulator to then lift the ban this week without any changes or sanction.

The IBA has been silent on exactly why it banned Lusaka Hustle in the first place and what censorship laws the Zambian programme broke.

Interestingly, in a shocking dereliction of duty but not uncommon for a country with an underdeveloped TV and broadcasting industry and problems with freedom of speech, Zambia's incompetent IBA also ordered the ban before and without ever even watching Lusaka Hustle - simply censoring local TV content without actually seeing it, screening it, or providing specific reasons for where and how the show crossed Zambia's censors.

M-Net and MultiChoice showed a new episode of Lusaka Hustle on Thursday night, 21 February on Zambezi Magic.

Lusaka Hustle that started on 24 January, initially got in the crosshairs Godfridah Sumaili, Zambia's minister for religious affairs and national guidance, who complained that Lusaka Hustle features a character with "gay tendencies" and wearing a dress - a complaint that went viral on social media.

Social media amplified the outrage about the programme that follows three local, flamboyant Zambian celebrities and their drama-filled daily lives - Thandi Vundamina, Cleo Ice Queen and the singer Kuni (Mukuni Godfrey Mulundika), with Kuni who appears in Lusaka Hustle's promotional poster art in a flowing white robe.

Some viewers were disturbed that Kuni wore a dress in a recent episode while doing a spa day in Lusaka.

It is the second censorship of content on Zambezi Magic since the debut of the M-Net packaged and produced channel that is meant as a Southern African version of South Africa's successful Mzansi Magic channel.

Lusaka Hustle was yanked off the air, unwillingly, by MultiChoice Zambia and M-Net's Zambezi Magic channel to comply with the head-scratching order from Zambia's Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), that ordered Lusaka Hustle off the air, over allegedly showing and promoting "gay tendencies".

MultiChoice Africa and M-Net said that it was proud of Lusaka Hustle and was "still unclear about which aspects of the show contravene Zambian law".

Zambia's information ministry that apparently has direct censorship power of what Zambian citizens can and can't see, then also weighed in and also ordered MultiChoice Zambia and M-Net to edit the Lusaka Hustle before it would be allowed back on Zambezi Magic.

Chanda Kasolo, Zambia's information and broadcasting services secretary in an interview on QTV News, reportedly said that MultiChoice and M-Net must censor episodes of Lusaka Hustle and must censor the alleged gayness away.

Chanda Kasolo said that this is the medium-term solution that Zambia's homophobic government has agreed upon with MultiChoice Zambia.

Chanda Kasolo in the interview that Zambia's government in the long-term will decide what restrictions exiting laws impose in terms of censorship of TV programming in Zambia, and that the promotion and practice of homosexuality through television programming is illegal in Zambia.

MultiChoice Zambia and M-Net were asked whether it agreed to edit, make changes and censor episodes of Lusaka Hustle as has been reportedly demanded by the Zambian government but MultiChoice Zambia didn't answer the specific question put to it by TVwithThinus in a media enquiry.

MultiChoice Zambia in a statement to TVwithThinus only says "MultiChoice Zambia is thankful to the IBA board for convening a multi-stakeholder forum to assess concerns about the Lusaka Hustle show."

"We are pleased to confirm the immediate lifting of the suspension and the board’s confirmation that upcoming episodes contain no controversial elements that violate any Zambian law. MultiChoice Zambia has engaged Zambezi Magic to resume the scheduling of the show on Thursday, 21 February 2019."

M-Net's Zambezi Magic in a statement says "Zambezi Magic is delighted to advise fans of Lusaka Hustle that their favourite reality show will resume on DStv on Thursday, 21 February 2019. Zambezi Magic, together with the cast and crew, wish to thank the viewers for their patience and understanding during this process."

Growing authoritarian censorship threat for TV content in Africa

It is the second censorship of content on Zambezi Magic since the debut of the M-Net packaged and produced channel that is meant as a Southern African version of South Africa's successful Mzansi Magic channel.

In November 2017 the show Talk with Kwangu was censored and pulled off the air on Zambezi Magic, following Zambian government interference and pressure.

Zambezi Magic is aimed at helping producers in Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi and Eswatini to get their original content from their countries on the air for local DStv audiences to enjoy.

Zambia's latest TV censorship is not just raising questions around the clampdown of freedom of speech and freedom of expression in the country, but is also worrying Zambian TV and film producers who don't feel that their local work is valued in their own country, with more and more producers looking across borders and outside of Zambia to pitch their projects.

The biggest concern around the ban that was emposed on Lusaka Hustle, however, revolves around how draconian censorship of TV content in just one African country will once again that the censored show will become unavailable to millions of viewers and DStv subscribers in multiple other countries.

Similar to a growing and ongoing trend of recent TV censorship in Nigeria and Kenya ranging from lifestyle and reality shows to even kids animation programming on the Disney Channel and Viacom Africa's Nickelodeon, shows on channels on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform ordered blocked there by local regulators in one country, means that when these shows are removed, they are censored for everyone.

MultiChoice carries only one channel feed for Africa - in some cases two - from a channel distributor, meaning that content on a channel - for instance E! Entertainment (DStv 124) or Disney Channel (DStv 303)  - ordered to be censored and dumped in for instance Kenya, makes it unavailable in South Africa and a range of other African countries outside of where the censorship takes place.

TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read from TVwithThinus - 18 February 2019.

Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:

■ How the Comcast voice remote takes customer-convenience to the next level.
How long before MultiChoice follows the American pay-TV operator with a DStv voice remote that listens to your commands like an Alexa? With the remarkable remote control, young and old can just say "Watch Paw Patrol", or "Play sports".

■ Chicago police now believe that Jussie Smollett from Empire on FOX (DStv 125 / StarSat 131 / Cell C black 201) paid two former brothers suspects Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo from Nigeria - one who has appeared on Empire, to attack him and that Jussie Smollett orchestrated and planned his own attack.
■ Police say Jussie Smollett paid Empire on FOX extras $3 500 to stage the attack on him.

■ Ola played a prison inmate during the second season of Empire, while Abel (the other brother's nickname) says he also worked on Empire. And both brothers through their lawyer now admit that they know Jussie Smollett.
■ Jussie Smollett says in a statement he's "victimised by claims attributed to these alleged perpetrators".
■ Jussie Smollett still hasn't talked to the police again after new "developments".
■ Empire is killing off a major character - FOX insists it isn't Jussie Smollett.


■ SABC senior managers, executive producers and a radio station manager the first to face disciplinary hearings after being implicated in the SABC sexual harassment inquiry report.

■ Zambia's government and Zambia's hypocritical Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) is banning gays while promoting incent and infidelity after forcing MultiChoice Zambia and Zambezi Magic to censor Lusaka Hustle.

■ Is Netflix forcing you to binge-watch shows?

■ The Bachelor's Colton Underwood says he was grabbed inappropriately at an event and that he didn't sign up to be a piece of meat or a zoo animal.

■ Woman throws policeman with TV set.

■ When did reality TV become ... nice?

■ The dead girl trope: Netflix's love of female victims.

Censor out the gay from the Lusaka Hustle reality show before its allowed back on Zambezi Magic, Zambia's information ministry tells MultiChoice Zambia and M-Net.

Censor out the gay and re-edit the Lusaka Hustle reality show before it's allowed back on the Zambezi Magic (DStv 160) channel, Zambia's information ministry is telling MultiChoice Zambia and M-Net in the growing, controversial and latest Africa TV censorship brouhaha that has erupted in the homophobic country.

Lusaka Hustle has been yanked off the air, unwillingly, by MultiChoice Zambia and M-Net's Zambezi Magic channel to comply with the head-scratching order from Zambia's Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), that ordered Lusaka Hustle off the air, over allegedly showing and promoting "gay tendencies".

Now Zambia's information ministry also wants the apparent gayness censored out of Lusaka Hustle before MultiChoice and M-Net can put the show back on Zambezi Magic for viewers in that country and multiple other pan-African nations.

Removing the show from Zambezi Magic - that has only one channel feed - means that Lusaka Hustle has been removed not just for DStv subscribers in Zambia but for MultiChoice's customers across the whole of Southern Africa in multiple countries except for South Africa where the channel isn't available.

In an interview on Zambia's QTV News, Chanda Kasolo, Zambia's information and broadcasting services secretary, reportedly said that MultiChoice and M-Net must censor episodes of Lusaka Hustle and get rid of the purported gayness portrayed.

Chanda Kasolo said that this is the medium-term solution that Zambia's homophobic government has agreed upon with MultiChoice Zambia. It's not immediately clear if MultiChoice Zambia and M-Net's Zambezi Magic packaged channel indeed agreed to self-censorship of its own artistic TV work.

Chanda Kasolo in the QTV News interview, said Zambia's government in the long-term will decide what restrictions exiting laws impose in terms of censorship of TV programming in Zambia, and that the promotion and practice of homosexuality through television programming is illegal in Zambia.


Zambezi Magic: Still unclear what show parts violate law
Lusaka Hustle that started on 24 January, initially got in the crosshairs Godfridah Sumaili, Zambia's minister for religious affairs and national guidance, who complained that Lusaka Hustle features a character with "gay tendencies" and wearing a dress - a complaint that went viral on social media.

Social media amplified the outrage about the programme that follows three local, flamboyant Zambian celebrities and their drama-filled daily lives - Thandi Vundamina, Cleo Ice Queen and the singer Kuni (Mukuni Godfrey Mulundika), with Kuni who appears in Lusaka Hustle's promotional poster art in a flowing white robe.

Some viewers were disturbed that Kuni wore a dress in a recent episode while doing a spa day in Lusaka.

It is the second censorship of content on Zambezi Magic since the debut of the M-Net packaged and produced channel that is meant as a Southern African version of South Africa's successful Mzansi Magic channel.

In November 2017 the show Talk with Kwangu was censored and pulled off the air on Zambezi Magic, following Zambian government interference and pressure.

Zambezi Magic is aimed at helping producers in Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi and Eswatini to get their original content from their countries on the air for local DStv audiences to enjoy.

On Friday Timothy Okwaro, head of Zambezi Magic, in response to a media enquiry from TVwithThinus said that "Zambezi Magic wishes to inform viewers of our decision to temporarily suspend scheduling the show Lusaka Hustle".

"We are proud to be associated with the show, which aimed to bring great reality television to Zambia audiences."

"All our programming is rigorously checked, and we are still unclear about which aspects of the show contravene Zambian law. Zambezi Magic, together with the cast and crew, wishes to thank our viewers for all their support and we look forward to returning to our normal scheduling soon."

MultiChoice Zambia in a statement to TVwithThinus on Friday said that "with regret MultiChoice Zambia has engaged channel provider Zambezi Magic, to suspend scheduling of the Lusaka Hustle show until further notice".

"MultiChoice Zambia received a formal directive from the IBA on 12 February 2019 to suspend the show, with immediate effect, for promoting 'ideas and a lifestyle that the authority doesn't want Zambians to be exposed to' ".

"We are facilitating compliance with the directive but will follow the appeal procedure set out in the Independent  Broadcasting Authority Act to get clarity on the correct interpretation of the law. We remain committed to the promotion of local content and respect for the law."

Zambia's IBA didn't respond to emailed media enquiries.

M-Net's Zambezi Magic channel and MultiChoice Zambia pull Lusaka Hustle show as ordered by Zambia's regulator for allegedly promoting 'gay tendencies'; pay-TV operator says it's still unclear about what in the show contravenes Zambian law.

M-Net's Zambezi Magic (DStv 160) channel has now - begrudingly - removed the controversial Lusaka Hustle reality show from its schedule, as ordered by Zambia's broadcasting regulator over allegedly promoting "gay tendencies", with the pay-TV operator saying it will appeal and that it is still unclear about what in the TV show contravenes Zambian law.

The removal of Lusaka Hustle is effectively censoring and barring the programme for DStv subscribers in countries across the entire Southern Africa region, not just Zambia.

It's the latest example of Africa's encroaching television censorship creep, with the latest TV ban coming from Zambia's broadcasting regulator,  the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), that ordered Lusaka Hustle off the air, over allegedly showing and promoting "gay tendencies".

Lusaka Hustle that started on 24 January, initially got in the crosshairs Godfridah Sumaili, Zambia's minister for religious affairs and national guidance, who complained that Lusaka Hustle features a character with "gay tendencies" and wearing a dress - a complaint that went viral on social media.

Social media amplified the outrage about the programme that follows three local, flamboyant Zambian celebrities and their drama-filled daily lives - Thandi Vundamina, Cleo Ice Queen and the singer Kuni (Mukuni Godfrey Mulundika), with Kuni who appears in Lusaka Hustle's promotional poster art in a flowing white robe.

Some viewers were disturbed that Kuni wore a dress in a recent episode while doing a spa day in Lusaka.

It is the second censorship of content on Zambezi Magic since the debut of the M-Net packaged and produced channel that is meant as a Southern African version of South Africa's successful Mzansi Magic channel.

In November 2017 the show Talk with Kwangu was censored and pulled off the air on Zambezi Magic, following Zambian government interference and pressure.

Zambezi Magic is aimed at helping producers in Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi and Eswatini to get their original content from their countries on the air for local DStv audiences to enjoy.

MultiChoice carries only one channel feed for Africa - in some cases two - from a channel distributor, meaning that content on a channel - for instance E! Entertainment (DStv 124) or Disney Channel (DStv 303)  - ordered to be censored and dumped in for instance Kenya, makes it unavailable in South Africa and a range of other African countries outside of where the censorship takes place.

With Lusaka Hustle now removed on Zambezi Magic for Zambia's DStv subscribers, it becomes unavailable for viewers in every other country where Zambezi Magic is carried since it's the same single channel feed viewed in all the countries.

Timothy Okwaro, head of Zambezi Magic, in response to a media enquiry from TVwithThinus on Friday morning said that "Zambezi Magic wishes to inform viewers of our decision to temporarily suspend scheduling the show Lusaka Hustle".

"We are proud to be associated with the show, which aimed to bring great reality television to Zambia audiences."

"All our programming is rigorously checked, and we are still unclear about which aspects of the show contravene Zambian law. Zambezi Magic, together with the cast and crew, wishes to thank our viewers for all their support and we look forward to returning to our normal scheduling soon."

MultiChoice Zambia in a statement to TVwithThinus says that "with regret MultiChoice Zambia has engaged channel provider Zambezi Magic, to suspend scheduling of the Lusaka Hustle show until further notice".

"MultiChoice Zambia received a formal directive from the IBA on 12 February 2019 to suspend the show, with immediate effect, for promoting 'ideas and a lifestyle that the authority doesn't want Zambians to be exposed to' ".

"We are facilitating compliance with the directive but will follow the appeal procedure set out in the Independent  Broadcasting Authority Act to get clarity on the correct interpretation of the law. We remain committed to the promotion of local content and respect for the law."

Zambia's IBA didn't respond to emailed media enquiries.

Zambia censors TV show over 'gay tendencies' as banned reality series, Lusaka Hustle, is ordered off air on Zambezi Magic for DStv subscribers in the entire Southern Africa.

Africa's encroaching television censorship creep continues with the latest TV ban coming from Zambia's broadcasting regulator, censoring a show over alleged "gay tendencies" that it wants off television and that will see the locally-produced reality show, Lusaka Hustle, going dark on Zambezi Magic - not just for DStv subscribers in Zambia but across multiple countries for all viewers across Southern Africa.

Zambia's broadcasting regulator, the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) has abruptly banned the Zambian produced reality show, Lusaka Hustle that started on 24 January on M-Net's Zambezi Magic (DStv 160) channel available in Southern Africa, for allegedly promoting "gay tendencies".

Zambia's broadcasting regulator hasn't watched the show but is "responding to public outcries", after Zambia's Godfridah Sumaili, the country's minister for religious affairs and national guidance, complained that Lusaka Hustle features a character with "gay tendencies" and wearing a dress.

Social media amplified the outrage about the programme that follows three local, flamboyant Zambian celebrities and their drama-filled daily lives - Thandi Vundamina, Cleo Ice Queen and the singer Kuni (Mukuni Godfrey Mulundika), with Kuni who appears in Lusaka Hustle's promotional poster art in a flowing white robe.

Some viewers were disturbed that Kuni wore a dress in a recent episode while doing a spa day in Lusaka.

It is the second censorship of content on Zambezi Magic since the debut of the M-Net packaged and produced channel that is meant as a Southern African version of South Africa's successful Mzansi Magic channel.

In November 2017 the show Talk with Kwangu was censored and pulled off the air on Zambezi Magic, following Zambian government interference and pressure.

Zambezi Magic is aimed at helping producers in Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi and Eswatini to get their original content from their countries on the air for local DStv audiences to enjoy.

Zambia's latest TV censorship is not just raising questions around the clampdown of freedom of speech and freedom of expression in the country, but is also worrying Zambian TV and film producers who don't feel that their local work is valued in their own country, with more and more producers looking across borders and outside of Zambia to pitch their projects.

The biggest concern around the ban on Lusaka Hustle however revolves around how draconian censorship of TV content in just one African country will once again that the censored show will become unavailable to millions of viewers and DStv subscribers in multiple other countries.

Similar to a growing and ongoing trend of recent TV censorship in Nigeria and Kenya ranging from lifestyle and reality shows to even kids animation programming on the Disney Channel and Viacom Africa's Nickelodeon, shows on channels on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform ordered blocked there by local regulators in one country, means that when these shows are removed, they are censored for everyone.

MultiChoice carries only one channel feed for Africa - in some cases two - from a channel distributor, meaning that content on a channel - for instance E! Entertainment (DStv 124) or Disney Channel (DStv 303)  - ordered to be censored and dumped in for instance Kenya, makes it unavailable in South Africa and a range of other African countries outside of where the censorship takes place.

When Lusaka Hustle is removed on Zambezi Magic for Zambia's DStv subscribers, it becomes unavailable for viewers in every other country where Zambezi Magic is carried since it's the same single channel feed viewed in all the countries.

Josephine Mapona, IBA director-general in Zambia, in a statement, said it is ordering MultiChoice Zambia to "suspend the Lusaka Hustle reality show on the Zambezi Magic channel on DStv".

"This follows public outcries that the Lusaka Hustle reality show promotes a lifestyle contrary to our Zambian values and culture." The IBA says it urges Zambian producers of local content "to produce content that reflect the Zambian culture".

Zambia's IBA in media enquiries was asked what specifically is wrong with Lusaka Hustle and why the IBA censor and removes TV shows as opposed to classifying and issuing advisories, what the IBA's message is to TV and film producers in Zambia and whether they should rather pitch local content for audiences outside of Zambia.

The regulator was also asked how the IBA sees freedom of speech and expression in terms of TV content and to what degree the IBA feels that that exists for Zambian television.

The IBA didn't respond to these media enquiries this week from TVwithThinus.


DStv: Show prejudged on social media, cast deeply distressed
Both MultiChoice Zambia and M-Net's Zambezi Magic channel responded to media enquiries seeking comment.

MultiChoice Zambia told TVwithThinus that "MultiChoice Zambia has noted the public commentary about Lusaka Hustle on the Zambezi Magic channel. We are concerned that the programme has been misrepresented on social media and to address these misrepresentations, we will be facilitating a viewing session with our key stakeholders to allow for an assessment of the programme".

"MultiChoice remains committed to the promotion of local content and respect for the law".

Timothy Okwaro, head of Zambezi Magic tells TVwithThinus that Lusaka Hustle "is a locally-produced reality show which follows the lives of three Zambian celebrities who regularly appear on television".

"The show has been prejudged in social media without an informed assessment of the content or a clear indication of which aspects of the show are unlawful. The cast and crew of Lusaka Hustle have been deeply distressed by the misleading representation of the content".

Zambezi Magic says M-Net and the channel are "respectful of Zambian values and culture. We are working with MultiChoice Zambia to resolve this matter in a constructive way and will join key stakeholders for a viewing session of upcoming episodes".