Rwanda : The media and gov’t should work as partners – Kagame

President Paul Kagame

President Paul Kagame has called upon the media and Governments of East African Community to work as partners instead of adversaries in order to advance the integration cause.

The president made the remarks while officiating at the opening of the fifth East Africa Media Summit in Kigali.

The function was attended by media practitioners, civil activists, researchers and officials from the East African community.

According to the president, the media and governments can work together independently without compromising each other.

He expressed confidence that the media has both the power and responsibility to get the region to embrace the East African integration with passion.

He said that there are layers in the media, where some are superior and others are inferior and this should be addressed,” said Kagame in reference to the local media which is being dominated by western media.

The President lashed at the international media for its patronizing attitude and said that it tends to set the agenda and at most times, based on distortions of realities on the ground.

“For far too long the international media, with its own objectives, has dominated the region and set the news agenda.

This often means that they tell our story from their perspective at best and, at worst, distort it all together. As has become all too evident in our region, such misrepresentation derails our progress or even fuels conflict and other problems that destroy our gains,” he said.

He said the fact that the summit has been organised with participation of EABC testifies significance of private sector.

The EAC Secretary General Amb. Richard Sezibera said the role of the media is indispensable to EAC shared agenda.