Some of the delegates to the Nairobi media conference

The role of the media in East Africa’s integration process would be greatly enhanced by the establishment of a regional television station as well as radio frequencies transcending the region, according to delegates at the recent Fourth East African Community (EAC) Media Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya.

“The EAC Secretariat should explore establishing an EAC Radio (to be known as Radio Afrika Mashariki) and a television station to purposely highlight the integration issues and keep the citizenry engaged on EAC matters,” the delegates stated in a list of recommendations at the end of the March 14-15 summit.

At least 200 policy-makers, media owners, chief executive officers of media houses, media executives, publishers and editors in East Africa met during the summit and discussed the role of the media in EAC’s integration process. “Claiming The Next Decade – An EAC Agenda” was the summit’s theme.

Kenya’s Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, who opened the conference, expressed concern that EAC matters were receiving little space in the media. “It has been observed that the majority of the existing media in the region overwhelmingly cover individual country issues and dedicate comparably less space for EAC issues,” he said.

Agreeing with Musyoka’s observation, the delegates said this gap could only be filled by the EAC establishing its own radio and TV, which would have reporters specifically covering EAC integration matters from each of the five partner states.

Among other strategies, the delegates recommended that the EAC Communication Policy and Strategy should be expeditiously finalized to provide the basis for comprehensive publicity and sensitization of EAC projects and programmes.

The delegates urged the media to promote mechanisms of holding their governments accountable on their actions regarding the implementation of the EAC’s integration process.

Kenya’s Minister of EAC Affairs, Hellen Sambili, said weak linkages remained a hindrance among media players championing common causes in the integration process.

“I also challenge you, as media practitioners from the region, to take greater interest in filling the information gaps that exist between policy-makers in government and the public they serve,” she said.

Consolata Ndayishimiye, the chairperson of the East African Business Council (EABC), said the media has unrivalled power to shape and influence public opinion in a way that no other profession could. She said free speech was one of the fundamental human rights the media strives to uphold.

“Our experience has shown that an independent media will not only highlight the success and gains made but will also highlight incidences of corruption and give evidence required to punish wrong doers,” she added.

The media landscape in East Africa has greatly improved from what it was 15 years ago, Ndayishimiye said, adding that “unfortunate incidents where journalists are unilaterally sent to jail or denied justice have been on the decline in the region.”

A veteran journalist, Salim Salim from Zanzibar, said that it was one of the most successful EAC workshops he has ever attended. “I learnt a lot from presentations, discussions and informal talks with delegates from partner states and the business council.

I was impressed by the frankness of the participants, their tolerance and respect of different views. Of course there is a black sheep in every flock and I was not shocked, but not surprised by the irresponsible and very undiplomatic comments made by one of the Ugandan delegates…he seemed not to have grasped and understood the objectives of the conference and how pleased the delegates were to see the Kenyan VP joining us,’’ remarked Salim who is a political commentator in Tanzania.

The acting Managing Editor of ‘Daily News/Sunday News’and ‘Habari Leo/Habari Leo Jumapil’, Mr Mkumbwa Ally, said that it was a useful forum.

‘’However, nationalism tended to undermine the debate. Media remains very much Kenyan, Tanzanian, Ugandan etc may be because of the level of co-operation being very low,’’ Mkumbwa told EANA.

By MARK MUGISHA, Tanzania Daily News

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