Safari Emmanuel of the Rwandan Collective of Leagues and Associations for the Defense of Human Rights (CLADHO) has told journalists that a close collaboration between media and civil society organisations is needed in order to remind to the government its duties towards its citizens and make a follow-up to find out whether it fulfills them accordingly.
He said that during a show hosted at the Isango star radio station where a debate on the reason why the decree of the law that stipulates that a portion taken from the budget should be allocated to Rwandan NGOs is not approved.
For him, the delay of the decree hinders the law from being effective and it needs to be approved as soon as possible, Safari said.
The law No 404/2012 clearly stipulates that a certain portion should be taken from annual budget so to help it conducting their duties effectively.
But to this, journalists including Fred Muvunyi and Solange Ayanone wondered if the allocation of the money cannt create a dependence of the civil society towards the engorgement and does not therefore promote the free operations of the umbrella.
Safari responded that this cannot materialize as the NGO and the civil society have the code of conduct that protects them from being influenced by government bodies.
However Gakire Fidele an invited journalist in the show revealed that the lack of strong and operating strictures of the civil society can bring an ideal space for the government to involve itself into the civil society affairs.
For Safari, this is impossible as each side is regulated by a clear code of conduct, having a common goal of bettering the lives of Rwandans.
We keep on reminding the Minaloc that is in charge of approving the decree and this is what we can do as a civil society, Safari underlined.
At his claim that media do not actively participate into reporting about necessary and useful information to the population, Gakire Fidele responded that the duty of media of reporting does not only concern the civil society.
It covers a wide range of issues and partners. He said that media report on interesting topics.
Safari pointed out that the media as a commercial entity, it should report on all the topics debated between the civil society and government bodies.
The listeners intervened in the show asking the difference between NGO ‘s and civil society. Others said that the civil society in Rwanda cannot be free as long as it receives money from the government.
Other listeners said that the Ministry of local government should explain why the decree delays to be approved.
At international level, the show discussed on a recent debate in Uganda regarding the legalization of gay sexuality.
A recent report from a group of scientists from Makerere University concluded that the gay tendencies are not inborn but rather as sexual abnormalities that should not be tolerated.
This weekly show is hosted simultaneously in six radio stations including Isango, Isangano, Izuba, Ishingiro, Inkoramutima, Voice of Africa, and Rdio 10.
It aims at fostering open discussion among Rwandans about serious topics from both Rwanda and at the international scene.
UM– USEKE.RW
