BUJUMBURA June 23rd (ABP) – The Minister of Communication, Information Technologies and Media, Mrs. Marie Chantal Nijimbere, handed over to the media the material acquired under the support fund for media, a check on the site on Tuesday June 22, 2021 by ABP has revealed.
Minister Nijimbere indicated that after a few years of absence of the media support fund, the government decided to provide each year, in the general State budget, a certain amount for the media support fund, which is provided for by the 2018 Press Law.
This is a realization of the recognition by the government of the role played by the media in the building of peace, democracy, social justice and in the development of the country, underlined the Minister in charge of the Media.
Furthermore, article 16 of the Press Law states that “The media support fund is supplied by annual budget allocations from the State as well as from donor support,” Mrs. Nijimbere pointed out. The material handed over was acquired with government funding only, she said.
The Minister of Communication, Information Technologies and Media clarified that this is an opportunity for the ministry to call on technical and financial partners to help the government to supply that fund because, she said, so far there has been no donor assistance even though we are that the media are only supported by partners of Burundi.
The same person in authority added that the Ministry in charge of Communication is available for the setting up of the criteria for the allocation of that support. All types of media, including online, audiovisual, and faith-based radio stations as well as print media will benefit from this support, she specified.
She recalled that the government of Burundi is attached to the work of the media.
“Never without the media,” said the Burundi Head of State Evariste Ndayishimiye, during his meeting with media officials on January 28, 2021. At that time, he had asked the National Media Council (CNC) to sit down together with those in charge of the media in order to explore ways of reopening the media that were under sanctions, she recalled.
Minister Nijimbere asked those who received that material to be grateful to the government for that gesture which demonstrates its commitment to support the media. She also appealed to technical and financial partners to improve working conditions for the media for the promotion of democracy and good governance.
It is worth noting that 16 laptops and 16 recorders were handed over to the beneficiary media.