Kagame strongly supports press freedom

I read without surprise the criticism that came during 43rd World Congress of the International Press Institute (IPI) in Cape Town, South Africa, referring to President Kagame as limiting media freedom in Rwanda.

This was in a story published in the Sunday Nation of April 13, under the title, “Uhuru Kenyatta, Paul Kagame criticised over lack of media freedom”.

First of all, three Rwanda journalists had been invited to attend the conference, but were denied visas to travel to South Africa.

This meant that Rwanda’s voice on the state of media freedom was not heard.

Secondly, the government of Rwanda has, since 2011, embarked on comprehensive media reforms meant to create a free, independent, professional and vibrant media sector that fosters accountability on the part of government, acts as the public watchdog, while contributing to the country’s social, political and economic development.

The media law was revised specifically to create an enabling environment for a free press to thrive and also to attract both local and foreign investment within the media sector, while new laws were enacted to give journalist a greater say in regulating themselves.

In 2013, Rwanda became one of the few countries in Africa to pass a law that gives the media self-regulation through an independent body managed by journalists’ associations and civil society members who are democratically elected by a general assembly of journalists’ associations.

An Access to Information law was passed, giving journalists the right to receive and publish or broadcast information from both public and private bodies.

With the above enabling laws for the media to operate freely and independently, it is puzzling to hear voices claiming President Kagame has limited media freedom in Rwanda.

Every government ministry and department has made sure there is an officer who gives information to the public on request and without delay.

PRIVATE INVESTORS

The government has relinquished control of State-owned broadcasting services and created a public broadcaster — Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA) with six radio stations, five of which are community-based, and a television station.

The only two government-owned newspapers have since been privatised and are currently owned by regional investors under the company called Multi-dimensional Print International (MDPI).

Is that what is referred to as State-controlled and a hindrance to the independence of journalists to do their work?

Rwanda has recorded significant increases in both local and foreign investment in the media sector, which is an indication of confidence in the performance of the sector, contradicting claims of lack of media freedom.

An investor cannot put money where there is no freedom to operate.

With only one state-owned television station 20 years ago, Rwanda now has four television stations and two pay TV channels.

Eleven new television stations are waiting to receive licences and will be on air soon. There are over 29 FM radio stations, from only one in 1994 (after silencing the hate radio RTLM).

From five newspapers 20 years ago, there are now over 50. There are over 80 website news sources, which do not need to be registered.

Those who criticise Rwanda for lack of media freedom seem to ignore all the efforts the government has put in place to ensure a free, independent, responsible and profitable media.

Mr Mbanda is the head of Media and Communication, Rwanda Governance Board. ([email protected] Twitter: @GMbanda)