MPs want public broadcaster off govt budget

The yet to be legally instituted Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA) must be productive and quickly wean off the central government budget, lawmakers said yesterday.The agency is affiliated to Ministry of Local Government (Minaloc).The lawmakers were reacting to the ministry’s 2013/2014 budget estimates and Medium Term Expenditure Plan (MTEF) presented to Parliament by the Permanent Secretary Vincent Munyeshyaka.RBA is allocated Rwf1.3 billion out of Minaloc’s Rwf51 billion budget – for its modernisation project that includes digitalisation and expansion.MP Constance Rwaka Mukayuhi, chairperson of parliament’s standing committee on budget and national patrimony pressed the PS on RBA’s plan to wean itself off government budget.“This is a matter we have raised for many years. Will you return asking for money in the next fiscal year, or you will have settled the matter?” Mukayuhi asked.“The idea is that such agencies become self reliant and the government budget only becomes a tool for creating a favourable environment, and we offer support only to the vulnerable.”The recently appointed RBA boss, Arthur Asiimwe, said they plan to source their own budget “in a few years,” but Mukayuhi insisted that he better be precise.Mukayuhi said: “Don’t just say ‘in a few years time,’ we want it reflected in the MTEF such that we know that, say, in three years, we will not have to fund you. Tell us in precise terms.”Asiimwe told MPs that they have a phase out plan. “One thing we are fast tracking now is making sure that we put in place a strong business department that can generate enough money. And we have started this. In about two years, we shall be only requesting for little money for salaries,” Asiimwe said.But Mukayuhi was not done; adding parliament will soon even cut off that salary allocation.Dr. Alivera Mukabaramba, the Minister of State in Charge of Social Affairs, chipped in reminding the lawmakers that the law establishing RBA will require the agency to operate with full independence, including generating its own revenues.“They [RBA] are even preparing a five-year business plan, and all these issues will be catered for. They must get weaned off, whether they like it, or not.”Asiimwe told MPs that part of their current budget allocation is also meant to pay for final works for the ongoing refurbishment and transformation of the new building for Radio and TV. He said they plan to start moving into their new building on October 1.Elias Bayingana, the Director General of National Budget in the Ministry of Finance, emphasised that RBA has the potential to stand on its own.“We requested them for figures and they have provided them. It is very clear that they have the capacity. The only area where we are going to support them is to help them pay their debts because if we do not, it will be difficult for them,” Bayingana said.However, he added that the ministry was considering whether it requires giving RBA funds or helping them source a bank loan. “A decision will be made by the minister, but in actual sense, that is the orientation,” he said.Meanwhile, Parliament is fast tracking the RBA Bill. When the MPs debated amendments by the Senate on the Bill, on Thursday morning, it was agreed that a joint Chamber of Deputies-Senate committee be set up to iron out outstanding issues for the Bill to be passed.The Bill states that the RBA is a Public Service Broadcasting institution that has a legal personality, as well as administrative and financial autonomy.Minaloc budget focused on EDPRS IIAccording to Munyeshyaka, for 2013/2014 budget estimates, the ministry and its affiliated agencies need Rwf51, 092, 237, 291.For 2014/2015, it is estimated at Rwf55, 427, 849, 273, and Rwf64, 683, 652, 803 in 2015/2016.The PS said that the allocated budget to both Minaloc and its affiliated agencies will facilitate achieving the set priorities in line with the second phase of EDPRS.