A three-day media conference for the Great Lakes Region being held in Kigali, has condemned a recent report on media freedom compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RWB).

The conference which was also addressing freedom of the press as part of its agenda, kicked off on Monday, attracting eleven member States, and representatives of different media houses, both print and electronic.

In spite of RWB’s efforts to raise awareness of third world problems, it has been criticised by the African media as biased and politically inclined. Below are some of the views from the conference participants:

"We have problems with the way they work from the local to international level. Their sources are not clear. We don’t know who they talk too,” Tervil Okoko, Vice President East Africa Journalist Association (EAJA).

"Ok, they do some work on advocacy but not press evaluation. I think they should work in the legal profession rather than in journalism,” Domitien Nyambirigi, Director General of Burundi Education on Communication and Public Information (CIEP).

"I wish they would look at professional but not Political aspects. They must tell the truth’.” Eduard Adzotsa, Secretary General Congo-Brazzaville Trade Union.

"RWB has its own vision other than what some people think. We Africans have got our own vision of portraying the real image of the situation. Even the perspectives are different. I wish we form our own organisation bigger than RWB in the way we see things.” Stanis Nkundiye, Director des Sydicat National de la professionel de la Press (National syndicate of professional press) based in DR Congo.

"The best observers are the particular people in the particular country they report on. The RWB are biased. Where do they get information? We don’t believe them because they don’t believe us too. Why don’t they get information from legal media organisations?”
Beenwell Mwale, Executive Secretary Zambia Media Council.

"We don’t give any authenticity to this organisation. Their report’s credibility is suspicious. They seem to have a colonial perspective for which they go around mobilising funds…Africa to them, is business.” Fred Opolot, Uganda government spokesman and director of media centre in the office of the president.

"They have deviated from their course to serve their personal interests. They are more political. How do you place a country that kills journalists ahead of Rwanda in the world index? It’s said that we moved 2 points up because court released two journalists who had been charged with crimes committed during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis. Is that professional?” Patrice Mulama, Executive Secretary Rwanda High Council of the Media.

 "We cannot accredit this misleading organisation. I personally don’t believe their report. I would advice this conference to come out with a firm resolution to setup our own international satellite television and radios.”  Ambassador Joseph Mutataboba, President’s Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region.

"These reporters without borders are not honest when it comes to African issues.” Robert B. Mugimba, in charge of ICGLR, Uganda Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"We have to carry out the assessment ourselves and keep away from these foreigners who sit in their offices and just fix indexes and release reports without understanding the realities in our countries.”  Marie Jeanne Biassala, National Coordinator ICGLR DR Congo.

"We can not trust these guys but we have to seek our own alternative instead of being dictated upon by their reports. This is because they give us different coats to put on which are not real,” Kajubi D. Mukajanga, Executive Secretary Tanzania Media Council.

Ends