Journalists want a more active ARJ’s new executive committee

Sunday, 13 , July- Journalists who gathered in the studios of Isango star expressed their wishes that the newly elected commitee of the ARJ( Association Rwandaise des Journalistes) should provided more efforts in its activities to enhance the quality of both working conditions and their living conditions.

The invited guests involved  Enock Bahati, Nshimiyimana Janvier, Gakire Fidele and Jane Uwimana. Enock Bahati thanked all people have voted on his behalf and promised them to be as active as possible so that their convenience.

Asked where he found the elections fair and transparent, Nshimiyimana said that the elections were  fair, adding that these elections were more transparent compared to the ones held in the past ten years.

Bahati promised his full devotion  to the work  as to create systems susceptible of  improving the working and living styles of journalists during three years ahead.

He added that he will  help the media houses get the adverts that  will help in the financial growth and the capacity building, something he hopes will increase the earnings of the journalists.

For Jane Uwimana who has been part of the outgoing executive committee,  the new commitee members should keenly strive to change the legal framework as to shift from the Association to a Syndicate.

This will significantly help in the sharping of an administrative system that will legally be able to defend the interests of journalists , she said.

She said that this syndicate will help both journalists and their employer to channel their ideas and concerns.

However, Nshimiyimana found this idea likely impossible as long as the ARJ was enable to change its legal status that from an association to a syndicate.

Enock hoped the ARJ will improve its operations  throughout time as it will be strengthening its structures both logistically and professionally.

We have too far  but the journey remains too long but the collaboration of both leading committee and the rest of the ARJ members will make thing moving smoothly, he said.

Janvier  Nshimiyimana expressed his griefs about the fact journalists still encounter serious challenges that otherwise, might have been resolved of the a syndicate was created.

Among these issues include an economically dissatisfying salaries or motivation fees that do not allow journalists to pay the medical insurance that befits their role and social status.

It also includes the fact that a relatively big number of journalists did not sign working contracts with their employers as to be legally recognized as workers able to search for bank loans, among other opportunities.

One challenges that the ARJ has faced since its inception in 2004 is the weak participation of its members, Bahati said.

We call upon all the registered members to feel proud of being part of the association, he urged.

Gakire said that the role of the journalists in regard to the performance of the new executive commitee is to hold it accountable through assessing their performance.

Another issue that was discussed  related to the need of creating ways by which the media houses’ owners who are also journalists should be fulfilling their duties of media house management separately from the journalism profession.

Guests found that this will enhance the quality of setting the Syndicate  that  will advocate for the journalists, not for the media houses’investors.

The participants in the show talked about the World Cup finals scheduled to take place this Sunday between the Germany and Argentine, a one month-long worldly  football contest that took place in Brazil.

The newly  elected  Executive Committee comprises five members. Collin Haba, president; Aldo Havugimana, 1st vice president; Marie Louise Uwizeyimana, second vice president; Edmund Kagire, secretary general and Charles Kwizera, treasurer.

UM– USEKE.RW