Close to 15 delegates from the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) yesterday visited Kigali Genocide Memorial at Gisozi to pay respects to victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Close to 15 delegates from the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) yesterday visited Kigali Genocide Memorial at Gisozi to pay respects to victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
FAJ is holding its steering committee meeting in Kigali, January 24 -26.
The visit to the memorial was coordinated by the Rwanda Journalists Association (ARJ), which is a member of FAJ and also sits on the steering committee of the continental organisation.
The group was briefed on how Rwandans originally lived harmoniously before they were divided along ethnic lines by the colonialists, consequently leading to the Genocide in which more than one million people were killed.
"I learnt that media played a role in spreading hatred which led to the Genocide. This was unethical and an abuse of social responsibility,” Garba said.
Hate media like RTLM and Kangura newspaper were instrumental in fanning hatred in the build up to the Genocide.
"Journalists must be balanced, fair and accurate before publishing stories lest they lead nations to devastation like what happened in Rwanda,” Garba added.
"We will narrate what we have seen in Rwanda to ensure leaders and other people understand conflict, its impact and how it can be prevented,” he said.