Focus Media (Kigali)
Abraham Rumanzi
12 November 2009
One of the main frustrations for journalists working in Rwanda is the difficulty of getting information. A new bill on access to information might remedy the problem.
Access to information is often restricted by people who are its custodians, as can be seen in numerous government and private sector institutions where one is denied information or has to go through a long procedure which often means that - for a journalist trying to beat a deadline - it comes too late.
A good example we at The Rwanda Focus have experienced of late is that the police spokesperson is apparently not allowed to give such simple data as the official crime statistics. Instead, you are required to write a letter to the commissioner requesting the information - something which we categorically and systematically refuse to do, since public knowledge of crime statistics is in the people's interest since it can help them to protect themselves. Moreover, it allows the public to assess the efficiency of the police. Therefore, the public is entitled to this information and the police should make it readily available, without any special procedures.
Yet help might be on the way in the form of a new draft law regulating access of information. According to Eugene Ruhinguka, who is in charge of regulation and media development at the Media High Council (MHC), the bill is in the final stages of drafting and will soon be presented before parliament. He says that the bill will give the public the possibility to monitor their leaders' performance by getting relevant information showing how projects and other administration activities are progressing.
The draft law also proposes severe punishment for people who deny information, with jail sentences of up to 6 months or fines up to Frw 200,000.
It should be noted, however, that slowness (or refusal) in providing information is often due to incompetence of the people charged with that task. In other cases, it is the bosses of public or private organizations who are ignorant about the role of a public relations officer, and who will not allow any information to be released by anybody except themselves. As long as those problems are not solved, the proposed law will have little effect.
Ignatius Kabagambe, the director general in the ministry of information, agrees that more capacity building is needed for communication professionals, and he points out that it is being dealt with. "The ministry has conducted several training sessions for public information officers," he remarks.
In his opinion, a law on access to information would be of great help by raising awareness on the issue. "Even heads of institutions need to be taught on ways to update those in charge of giving information to the public," he says.
He is quick to add, however, that certain restrictions can be imposed. This is in reference to article 57 of the bill, often criticized by media practitioners, which details the type of information that should not be published in the media - especially issues related to national security.
Kabagambe, himself a former journalist, explains that there are no solid boundaries in the law, and that it is up to the journalist to provide a genuine reason to access sensitive information. "Not all information should be easily provided to the press, especially security matters that could affect the country's stability," Kabagambe argues.
Some journalists, however, find the article too vague, and fear that it might be used as an excuse for refusing to give certain information, even if it is not sensitive.
By and large, however, media practitioners have welcomed the bill, since it will reduce the time and cost of getting information and encourage more professionalism among public information officers. That would indeed be more than welcome; working in the media is a stressful job, and any reduction in frustration will be a huge relief.
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