Journalists should increase the investigative journalism – Oswald Mutuyeyezu

This journalist from the Isango star affirmed that the journalists did not report much on the recent report released by the Parliamentary Account Commission on the misuse of the public funds. He said that the issue behind is that most of journalists chose to cover events that are likely to attract wider public, hence he advocated for investigative journalism.

He advocated for the increase of the investigative journalism as reporting on issues that concern national life but which politicians and business people don’t want to be  made public.

The debate that took place in the Isango star studios theme was built upon the analysis of the report released by the General Auditor of national treasury in  front of the parliamentary public  account commission(PAC), which  report revealed  that billions of Rwandan francs were misused.

The EWSA was most pointed out public institution to have mismanaged over 28 billion Rwf.

The invited guests in the debate comprised the vice-President of the PAC, Mr Karenzi Théoneste, the General Auditor Mr Muhumuza Richard and Ntete Marius , Inspector General  in the National Persecution Office.

Journalists Fred Muvunyi and  Solange Ayanone who was leading the debates wondered whether the PAC assesses whether the misused amounts of public funds are being brought back by responsible officials.

Karenzi said that the key responsibility of the PAC is to analyze the general auditor’ report, find out which institutions and whose persons are involved and lastly provide adequate advises to concerned officials for them to readjust the situation.

He mentioned that the role of the PAC is not to take legal sanctions to the officials involved.

The General Persecutor Muhumuza affirmed that legal pursuits have been issued to those officials responsible for the public funds’ mismanagement.

These legal pursuits include the suspension or removal of official from their respective working posts, a pay back of the funds they are allegedly responsible to misuse,among others.

Journalists Oswald Mutuyeyezu asked both the General Persecutor Muhumuza Richard and the Deputy President of the PAC Karenzi to highlight one or two names of the officials  who have been charged for the mismanagement cases, but invited officials responded that naming someone among 456 listed officials can’t resolve nothing.

Upon which basis can we name a single person among 456 ones who are listed?, officials wondered.

The officials called upon the journalists to attend the court hearings of officials allegedly suspected to be involved into the cases.

Whoever is willing to have a complete list of those 456 officials will get it from our offices, Muhumuza has promised.

For the journalists present in the show, the general persecution condemns the less ranking personnel involved but neglect the legal pursuits against the high ranking officials.

We don’t discriminate officials in regard to the misuse of public funds, officials responded.

Listeners said that the public accounts will always be misused as most of the officials in charge of the management of the public funds are not intellectually skilled.

They also called upon the concerned institutions to bring the suspects to courts and try them for their alleged involvement in the public funds mismanagement.

Listeners condemned the fact that officials listed as responsible of misuse of the public funds remain active in their respective working positions.

This situation increases the impunity and endangers the financial management, listeners said.

This weekly show aims at increasing the debating spirit among Rwandans over key issues that have made up the breaking news of the week, both at national and at international scenes.

The show is coordinated by the Institut Panos- Europe and the ARJ (Association Rwandaise des Journalistes).

The show is also aired at different radio stations which include Isangano, Ishingiro, Izuba, Inkoramutima.

UM– USEKE.RW