Rather than blame the media, deliver on your promises

Editor,Refer to the article, “Slow progress as city job centre makes six months” (The New Times, November 22). First of all, I would like to thank The New Times for some of the observations in the article – about Kigali Employment Service Centre (KESC). However, in my opinion, the topic isn’t reflecting the content.I don’t really understand what “slow progress” means and in what context. According to my understanding, since KESC was launched six months ago, it has rather enjoyed a remarkable progress in the following aspects:There are 16 jobseekers who found a job through the support of KESC; 80 jobseekers were trained by KESC in job search strategy; 108 jobseekers trained on how to employ themselves; and 95 jobseekers trained in computer skills…the list is long.I would also like to remind the public that KESC’s mandate is only to provide job information, not to provide jobs. So when jobseekers get jobs through the Centre, this is a supplementary service – which is also a big progress.I think it’s better that next time you write the reality on the ground instead of misleading the public.Richard MugishaDepartment of Kigali Employment Service Centre, City of Kigali*******************************I wish to address Mr Mugisha with regard to his reaction to the story in question. We should at least acknowledge that The New Times talked to multiple and credible sources as evidenced by the article. I’d like to say that some governmental institutions (City of Kigali inclusive) like to launch projects but not to evaluate their impact. The New Times only attempted to evaluate what has been done six months after the launch of KESC. For me that’s a great and professional job, and I’m awed by these efforts. What Rwanda needs isn’t just rhetoric and unfruitful projects – we need to know whether what authorities have rolled out delivered the desired output.For instance, look at the Ministry of Youth and ICT. It’s almost a year since they launched the six-month ICT Awareness Campaign across the country. What was the impact? Was there any evaluation? Should the public stay silent and not seek answers?Also, a few months ago, EWSA (Energy Water and Sanitation Authority) blamed the dry season for the scarcity of water in the City of Kigali – meaning that the problem wouldn’t actually persist come the rainy season. Yet today, there’s no water almost everywhere in the city! The same applies to power.We need concrete results, and officials who fool the public should be put on the spot. Any idea what became of Karisimbi Project and the benefits it was expected to deliver? What happened and what went wrong? If the media investigates this project, some of us will try to defend ourselves and probably blame the media instead!Examples are many.It is the role of the media to find out whether leaders are walking the talk.Rather than going on the defensive, Mr Mugisha should rally his colleagues and seek to address the issues raised in the article to ensure that the Centre lives up to public expectations.As I conclude, December is just a few days away, and we are waiting to see those “new 200 buses” that you promised us... If January comes without them and a journalist evaluates this scheme, please don’t blame them.Thank you.Mutara Intore, Kigali

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Rather than blame the media, deliver on your promises