Media in Rwanda 2

Media practitioners blast government policy of silence on crucial matters
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Butare:

At a debate meant to highlight the challenges and opportunities of journalism in Rwanda, almost all the reporters could agree on one point -- civil servants continually derail the performance and competence of the media.


Ignatius Kabagambe, the Managing Editor of The New Times, was one of two main speakers during the debate organized during a week-long training conference called "Improving Journalism One Story at a Time".

He said the recent suspension of three senior police officers is a classic example. "Everybody refused to give a comment to the media about the official government position on the matter, speculation went on, and there's no government policy for its activities to remain a secret," he said.

Kabagambe was referring to the indefinite suspension of Rwanda Police Chief Inspector Andrew Rwigamba along with Costa Habyara the director of the Criminal Investigations Department.

The actual date of the suspension is unknown because there was no official release of the information. Then days after media first broke the story the Minister of Internal Security, Sheik Fazil Musa Halerimana held a press conference where he would only describe the suspensions as at the perogative of the President.

Kabagambe blamed the incident on the secretive nature of Rwandan culture which he said emphasizes unnecessary politeness. But he also criticized journalists.
"The media in Rwanda lacks the necessary skills and sophistication to challenge the government on its policies."

Charles Kabonero, the Managing Director of the Rwanda Independent Media Group which publishes Umuseso and Newsline said it was unfair for government and other sectors in Rwanda to always criticize the media in the country for its lack of skills when they knew well the whole country had shortages in many sectors of the economy.

The journalism training workshop is being held this week in Butare and is sponsored by the Rwanda Initiative, a Canadian Rwanda cooperation programme which has seen several Rwandan journalists going for study programmes at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada.
It brought together many Rwanda print and electronic stakeholders including reporters, managers and lecturers from the National University of RTwanda's journalism school as well as facilitators from South Africa, Uganda and Canada.

Professor Allan Thompson the founder of the Rwanda Initiative said that the discussion between journalists was a good move; "i was struck by the honesty and openness of the journlists. The level o the debate and exchange is good for Rwandan journalism."

Canadian newspaper publisher John Honderich is also attending the training programme which has attracted over 50 practicing journalists in the country.