KIGALI - The High Council of the Press (HCP) has finally elected a chairman for its Board of Directors following last year’s resignation of its former head.

The New Times Managing Editor Ignatius Kabagambe yesterday assumed the helm of the government instituted media regulatory body, replacing Fr Dominique Karekezi who resigned from the post following his appointment to head another catholic-run institution.

"This implies that the HCP now has all its structures in place and the timing is very crucial because of the forthcoming parliamentary elections into which the media will play a significant role as usual,” said Patrice Mulama, the HCP Executive Secretary in an interview.

He explained that the delay in the election of these officials was mainly caused by the cabinet reshuffle which saw the former minister of information replaced before forwarding the names of the members who had been elected to fill in the vacant slots.

"There was a cabinet reshuffle shortly after the media outlets nominated new board members early this year and the new minister had to scrutinize the nomonees before forwarding their names to cabinet,” Mulama said.

Kabagambe, together with Fr Pierre Claver Nkusi, were approved by cabinet as board members of the HCP replacing former board chair Karekezi and member, former Managing Director of The New Times Publications David Kabuye.

Also elected during the election that was held by secret ballot in which seven of the nine members of the board, participated, was Dr Venuste Karambizi, a faculty dean at the Universite Libre de Kigali (ULK), as vice-chairman.
Karambizi represents the civil society.

Mulama however said that despite the delays in replacing the board, the routine activities of the body were unhampered.

"We had a full executive team that did all the work even during the absence of the board chair…but we shall work even more effectively now that all the vacancies have been filled,” he said.

Meanwhile Kabagambe said he would work in accordance with the strategic plan of the HCP already adopted.

"There is a comprehensively designed four-year strategic plan for the period 2008-2012. I intend to work closely with the secretariat to have this plan implemented,” said Kabagambe.

When asked if his work at The New Times wont suffer as a result of added duties, he said that the new responsibilities would not interfere with his current job as Managing Editor of  the country’s only daily.

"The bulk of my time will of course be spent at The New Times. But I should find some quality time for the HCP as well.,” he said.

According to Mulama, the board will serve for a period of one year as the mandatory tenure is three years. "This will be just in time for the implementation of the new HCP law that requires the board to have seven instead of nine members and after the expiration of their mandate, the new law will come into force,” he added.

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