The decision announced by RMC Executive Secretary Emmanuel Mugisha at a press conference on Tuesday, sparked outrage among media practitioners with some saying that they are not ready to renew the card every year.
“This is one of the recommendations from the recent retreat of RMC agents and its partners. The idea behind this decision is to be able to control those who call themselves media professionals when they are not,” he said.
RMC maintains the Rwf20,000 as cost for the card regardless the reduction of validity.
“It is easy to draw up a list of media professionals, to follow the journalists for one year instead of three, to establish the number of complaints against them on offenses committed,” said Mugisha adding that the offenses will decide on the temporary or permanent suspension of one’s press card.
Journalists expressed their disappointment in the RMC’ decision and wondered why the press card’s cost remains the same yet the validity has been reduced by three times.
“The recommendations issued are very unfortunate. We had made some progress so far but now you’re reversing things. You’re shortening the period and you’re not reducing the costs of this card. Few journalists will come to validate it yet others will also continue to work without it. There will be fewer members remaining with RMC, “said the City Radio’s Oswald Mutuyeyezu.
More journalists criticised the decision as inappropriate. There are 804 RMC members accredited and operating in Rwanda.
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