As campaigns for senatorial elections nears, public media houses have been advised to be objective by providing equal coverage to all candidates as this would demonstrate professionalism.

The Executive Secretary of the Media High Council (MCH), Patrice Mulama, made the appeal in an interview with The New Times on the sidelines of a consultative meeting aimed at discussing the proposed media regulations to govern the upcoming polls.

"It’s the obligation of all public media houses to provide equal airtime and space to all candidates. They should avoid giving publicity to some candidates and forgetting others,” he said.

The campaigns will run from September 6 to 25.

Mulama acknowledged that during the last presidential elections, the then ORINFOR, now Rwanda Broadcasting Agency, gave equal publicity to all candidates, a move, which he said, should be replicated.

The elections for the 12 senators to represent all provinces and the City of Kigali are scheduled to take place on September 26, while government and private institutions of higher learning will pick their representatives the following day.

In total, 62 candidates were this week cleared by the Supreme Court to contest in the polls in all categories.

The Senate has a 26 seats.  Eight are appointed by the President, four are designated by the Consultative Forum of Political Parties, and two come from the private and government institutions of higher learning.

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