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Suspension of the old press card within two months

ByWebmaster

Sep 18, 2022

BUJUMBURA September 16th (ABP) – The chairperson of the National Media Council (CNC), Ambassador Vestine Nahimana, announced on Thursday, September 15, 2022, in Bujumbura, that the old press card, expired or not, is suspended from two months from now while waiting for the new biometric press card to be produced.

According to the CNC chairperson, that announcement is made after a consultation with the heads of both public and private media where they were unanimous in deciding that all identification cards for journalists are now suspended and finally returned to the CNC.

Ambassador Nahimana clarified that the application files for the new biometric press card must contain the old press card, two passport photos of the biometric press card applicant, a certificate of service for the public media and a contract work for the private media.

She indicated that those application files for the new press card must be submitted to the CNC within two months by media managers with 15,000 BIF per press card.

From December 1, 2022, no journalist will be allowed to cover the activities without being provided with the new biometric press card, she underlined while specifying that the latter will be valid for 5 years.

According to the CNC chairperson, the request for the employment contract in the file for the private media falls within the framework of protecting employees because, she explained, it has been observed that some managers of the private media exploit their employees without, however, giving them employment contracts. That is the violation of human rights, she pointed out.

Regarding new journalists who have already signed a contract but do not yet have the old press card, the CNC chairperson stressed that it is better to have an employment contract than a press card. She wanted to indicate that new journalists who have already signed an employment contract but do not have the old press card are also allowed to apply for the new biometric press card.

Mrs. Nahimana took the opportunity to call on media officials to send responsible journalists to the sector for media coverage during this exemption period in order to avoid any mistakes that may arise.