International and Rwandan media practitioners sank into recurring disagreements about media freedom in Rwanda.
Much as International media practitioners pointed an accusing finger to Rwanda blocking media freedom, their counterparts retaliated saying there is a sense of responsive journalism needed though they believe a lot has to be done to develop Rwandan media.
A very hot discussion emerged from Rwanda’s practicing journalist Shyaka Kanuma who presented his paper on media freedom versus social responsibility where he mentioned that Rwanda had to adopt responsive journalism and has to draw a line of how far media freedom should be practiced.
Kanuma’s presentation lifted a hot debate that International media practitioners attacked their counterparts in Rwanda saying that they are censuring themselves.
The attacked Rwandan media practitioners retaliated by saying that international media has not been responsible while dealing and reporting about media freedom in Rwandan case where the most world atrocities of 1994 Genocide occurred.
Shyaka Kanuma, Editor-in-chief of Rwanda Focus news paper, Albert Rudasimburwa the CEO of Contact FM and others insisted there was a high need of responsive journalism in today’s Rwandan society other than hunger for freedom.
Patrice Murama the executive secretary of Media High Council said that Rwanda has developed largely considering to where it was since 1994.
“We have advocated for decriminalising defamation. Recently parliament amended the penal code reducing the length of sentence.It is hoped that parliament will someday consider decriminalizing defamation and actually it is not for only journalists but for the whole Rwandan population,” Mulama said.
Mulama also criticized international media giving an example of reporters with boarders which published an article with a heading ‘Three journalists arrested in the space of a week’ which he found irresponsibly written.
Mulama emphasised that the two journalists were arrested like any other citizen in the country noting that one was arrested due to driving under influence of alcohol and another over suspicion to have stolen a computer from his work place.
Reporters without borders wrote that the latest journalist to be arrested was Joseph Bideri, the editor-in-chief of the New Times, who was released without charges.
Others include Jean Gualbert Burasa, of Rushyashya news paper allegedly arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and René Anthère Rwanyange, also allegedly held for theft of a laptop computer at his work place.
Henery Maina from Kenya says that Rwandan media practitioners are justifying what he termed as nakedness reminding the participants that many countries in Africa was facing the same challenge.
He advised that the important view should be understanding one’s status as far as media freedom and social responsibility.
Media practitioners both international and local are in a 3rd national dialogue with a Theme; Building capacities for sustainable media development in Rwanda”
Promoting media Freedom, responsibility and professionalism of the media has been on top of the two days dialogue.
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