BUJUMBURA July 3rd (ABP) – The Central Census Bureau (BCR), in collaboration with the Ministry of Communication, Information Technologies and the Media, organized on Wednesday June 29, 2022, in Bujumbura, a consultation workshop with media managers for advocacy and communication in favor of the general population, housing, agriculture and livestock census (RGPHAE 2022).
The Chair of the BCR at the same time Director General of ISTEEBU, Mr. Nicolas Ndayishimiye, first recalled that by decree N ° 100/109 of November 30, 2020 establishing the RGPHAE 2022, Burundi reaffirmed, once more, its firm commitment to implement the United Nations recommendations on the 2020 cycle of general censuses of population and housing as well as general censuses of agriculture and livestock.
According to Mr. Ndayishimiye, the purpose of that meeting was to discuss with media officials so that together they have the same understanding of the RGPHAE 2022 process, in order to have the full support of the population.
Given the issues and constraints related to the RGPHAE, the BCR invites the media to contribute to the coverage of activities related to the census before, during and after the count. He pointed out that by referring to the statistical law and that of the press, it is estimated that it is necessary to agree how the media will cover this operation in complete independence. He specified that it is better if there is adoption of a draft code of conduct for the media during the census period.
During the opening of the exchanges, the assistant to the Minister of Communication, Information Technologies and the Media, Mr. Thierry Kitamoya, recalled that the said census constitutes one of statistical operations for collecting the most important and complex data. For its implementation, he underlined, a better collaboration between the media and the technical bodies of the census is necessary. It is in that context that Mr. Kitamoya invited media managers to respond to the request of the BCR concerning the reservation of spaces and to furnish them with programs, reports, editions and others. This will allow the massive support of the Burundian population throughout the process, that is to say, before, during and after the census. The BCR was recommended to provide information that journalists need.
The Chairperson of the National Media Council (CNC), Mrs. Vestine Nahimana, also asked media professionals to cover the activities of the RGPHAE 2022, respecting the ethics and professional conduct of their profession. She mentioned that a journalist who breaks the law by processing information in a tendentious way, misinformation, spreading rumors, unbalanced information and others, will be punished according to law.