Rwandan media have enough freedom of speech- G. Mbanda

Gerald Mbanda affirmed that the media in Rwanda are free enough to positively conduct the profession. He said that during a show that took place at Isango star where he debated  with other invited guests including Mugabe Robert , a journalist from The Great Lakes Voice, and Jean d’Amour Ahishakiye from Kigali Today on the freedom of media to cover stories on sensitive issues.

The discussion assessed at which extent journalists are free to access to information and on the delivery of sensitive information.

The show was presented by Fred Muvunyi and Solange Ayanone.

Can we affirm that there is freedom of journalism in Rwanda? one of the presenters asked.

The response to this was balanced. The freedom of speech and access to information is perceptible in some areas but not in general, one the invited guests observed.

It is unfair to learn that the Police has arrested copies of a newspaper and say the information contained in the newspaper is harmful. This does not promote media freedom, one of the journalists said.

Regarding the fact that there are some issues that Rwanda media houses do not cover, journalists both in the studio or listeners affirm that this results from different factors such as fear, lack of increased skills and/or lack of financial means.

For the lack of financial means, the reason is that some media do not have access to adverts which  normally provide them with money, said one of the journalists.

Media houses are facing a financial embargo that hinders them from having access to financial resources through adverts, he said.

This impacts on how free they can work, he added.

Upon all of the above, Mbanda Gerald  the representative of RGB in the show said that the lack of financial means results from the misunderstanding that might occur between the providers of the adverts and the media house that might or might not offer the quality needed.

It is not based on law, he adds.

He also urged the media community to provide relevant information that are beneficial to Rwandans rather than dispatching false or baseless information, something that deteriorates the reputation of media community.

Listeners wrote that different issues hinder journalists from reporting on sensitive topics, and these issues include fear,  poor ethical and professional skills, among others.

This show  was  simultaneously  broadcasted at Isango, Ishingiro, Isangano , Izuba, Inkoramutima, Radio 10, Voice of Africa radio stations.

Presenters of the show also mentioned the role that the RDF (Rwanda Defense Forces) in CAR are playing in the establishment of the peace after several months of deadly clashes between Muslims and Christians.

The aim of this weekly show is to debate on issues that have marked to whole week both at national and at international scenes. It is also in the willingness to promote the culture of debate among Rwandans.

UM– USEKE.RW