BUJUMBURA April 25th (ABP) – The Minister of Communication, Information Technologies and the Media, Mrs. Léocadie Ndacayisaba proceeded on Friday, April 22, 2022, to the presentation of the report of the achievements of this ministry during the third quarter of 2021-2022, which it deemed satisfactory.
Mrs. Ndacayisaba said that the achievements encompass the activities listed in the government’s annual action plan 2021-2022 as well as the initiatives. As part of the strengthening of the legal framework, the Minister specifies that draft decrees have been drawn up and others are in the process of being drawn up. She cited the project to revise the press law with the holding of preparatory meetings for the next Estates General on Communication and ICT. The conclusions of the Estates General will make it possible to have a bill governing the press, adapted to the realities of the moment, she underlined.
Regarding the media, with the aim of mobilizing the population for the execution of the PND 2018-2027, it was planned to produce articles, programs and reports relating to agro-pastoral production, articles focused on increasing the production, tax compliance, the fight against corruption and others.
Indeed, the Burundian News Agency (ABP) totaled 109 articles, of which 37 were related to the increase in agro-pastoral production and 7 to awareness of tax compliance.
Burundian press publications produced and disseminated 42 articles on the PND 2018-2027, and among the 42, the newspaper Le Renouveau produced 31 against 11 of the weekly Ubumwe. National Radio produced and broadcast 8 programs on increased production and job creation, while National Television produced and broadcast 19 programs on increased production and employment.
As part of the implementation of the PND, the CIEP produced a quarterly newsletter with 200 copies and 13 Tujijuke programs were broadcast on National Radio, Radio Izere and Radio-Television Voice of Widows and Orphans.
As part of the support for government action, the public media covered, to total satisfaction, all the activities of the government and its institutions. The Minister further indicated that the RTNB ensured media coverage of 853 activities, the ABP covered 691 and the PPB produced 260 articles on the activities of government institutions.
In addition, a satellite television project for 200 villages in Burundi was carried out by the ministry in collaboration with the Chinese company Star Times. She also added that efforts have been made to operationalize the digital broadcasting company in Burundi, the STNB. Regarding support to the media, a support fund was funded to the tune of 115 million BIF.
In terms of ICT, two ICT clubs were created in secondary schools, in Ngozi and Cankuzo, 6 evaluation raids of already existing ICT clubs were carried out and two of them were reinforced with equipment. The ICT executive secretary also acquired 7 operating licenses and 4 ministry websites hosted at the SETIC data center.
In the field of fixed telephony, ONATEL had set itself the objective of modernizing and extending fixed telephony. A section totaling 1 km 287 m has been rehabilitated and 272 new telephone subscribers have been registered.
In the postal sector, the National Postal Authority through its offices across the country has continued to facilitate the population to access its financial services and pay fees for chemical fertilizers.
The Minister of Communication did not forget to point out certain material challenges. She specified that ONATEL’s financial situation did not allow it to achieve the objectives it had set itself. The same is true for the National Post Office. She took that opportunity to invite the heads of those two institutions to redouble their efforts to improve the financial situation of those companies.
The ministry promised to stay by their side to try to find lasting solutions.