Key takeaways from President Ndayishimiye's meeting with media professionals.
RegionWeek Newsletter Vol IV, Issue #153 | Thursday, January 28, 2021
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Dear Readers,
This Thursday, President Evariste Ndaysihimiye met the media professionals on the second day of discussions initiated by the Ministry in charge of Communication on the role of the media in the development of the country.
In his address, President Ndayishimiye asked the National Communication Council (CNC) to sit down urgently with the suspended media officials to find an adequate solution for the good of Burundi.
“What I am telling you now and promising you right away is that even with the conflicts that we have had in the past we need to come together and find a solution. There are media outlets in sanctions, I ask the CNC to sit down with those media outlets to find a solution and end all the conflicts that exist so that everyone gets to work, we have to reconcile and go beyond the past,” he said.
According to Burundi Head of State, the profession of journalist contributes to the strengthening of democratic culture and the popularization of socio-economic development policies. He calls on media professionals to exercise conscientiously.
“We have already forgiven each other after the killings of the past, we are reconciling, we must avoid continuing to harm each other. We need to forget about the evil we have done in the past and repent. These sanctioned media must sit down with the CNC to resolve their issues and agree on a new start. We must take the path of developing our country together.”
For the President, the media should denounce whatever that constitutes the obstacle to development, media should collaborate with the administration to train and inform on ways and means to achieve development.
“We acknowledge that the media contributes enormously to the life of the population. In the case of authorities who seek to intimidate you for not sharing the right information, come and report the intimidation, because an authority who seeks to intimidate a journalist does so because he has something he wants to hide.” He emphasized
President Ndayishimiye specified that leaders at all levels must ensure the well-being of the population, its protection, and the good management of the public assets. The role of the media is to help establish these positive values.
“A journalist has the duty and the responsibility to tell the truth, nothing but the truth, a journalist uses a weapon that can kill a lot of things in a short time, it takes discipline. Rumors and lies have hurt Burundi terribly, journalists must be the torchbearers, to tell the truth. In the past, some media have taken statements made by the authorities out of context to harm them, it was not easy to get out of this kind of era.”
The Head of State pointed out that a journalist can destabilize as he can save a situation. Opportunity to ask the media to be part of the solutions and avoid being part of the conflict.
“Journalist, you have the right to denounce anyone who is harming the interests of the people, but if you lie you will suffer the consequences because your lies will have distracted those who work for the development of the country”
According to President Evariste Ndayishimiye media have a social duty: A journalist must be a mediator in conflicts and avoid stirring up belligerence. He must be disciplined and has the duty to encourage social harmony.
IN THE REGION
The East African Legislative Assembly today reconsidered and approved the EAC Budget Estimates for the Financial Year 2020/21, amounting to USD 97,669,708, at a Special Sitting held virtually. With it, the Assembly further enacted the recommitted EAC Appropriation Bill, 2020.
Under the 2020/21 vote, the EAC Secretariat is to receive USD 48,564,401, while the East African Legislative Assembly gets USD 16,755,725. The East African Court of Justice is expected to benefit from the kitty, earning USD 3,970,406, while USD 8,380,057 is earmarked for the Lake Victoria Basin Commission. The Assembly further approved USD 1,536,751 for the activities of the East African Science and Technology Commission and USD 1,399,318 for the activities of the East African Kiswahili Commission.
On its part, the East African Health Research Commission is to benefit from USD 1,879,600, East African Competition Authority USD 1,128,240, the Inter-University Council for East Africa, USD 10,977,276 and Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO) USD 3,077,934.
Of the total approved budget, the Assembly reallocated USD 518,050 to other activities considered pertinent to the integration agenda, given the available resources. (EAC)
Thanks for Reading!
Fabrice Iranzi, Editor in Chief
RegionWeek.com
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