BUJUMBURA, June 7th (ABP) – As part of the “Access to Reliable Information in Burundi” project funded by the European Union (EU), the Burundian Association of Women Journalists (AFJO), together with the project implementation consortium composed of Free Press unlimited, Radio indundi culture and Menya Média, organized on Monday, June 3, in Bujumbura, the ceremony for handing over production equipment to the media.
That lot of equipment was intended for 10 media outlets, namely AFJO, Radio TV Isanganiro, Burundi Eco, Iwacu, Radio Bonesha, Menya Media, Radio indundi culture, Ibihe, Radio ijwi ry’Umukenyezi and Iris News.
In her welcome speech, the AFJO representative, Ms. Francine Ndihokubwayo, indicated that those are 39 equipment items, consisting of 10 recorders, 14 smartphones, 14 laptops and a scanner. She stated that those devices were distributed as part of strengthening the material and technical capacities of the media and journalists in particular, as there are media outlets that want to strengthen their technical assets and working conditions.
The EU Ambassador to Burundi, Mrs. Elisabetta Pietrobon, declared that the provision of that production equipment is part of strengthening the professionalization of the media and the production of quality media content, and facilitating journalists in the exercise of their profession. Ms. Pietrobon called on journalists to work for the public interest and in accordance with professional ethics, fighting against disinformation.
The Minister of Communication, Information Technology and Media, Mrs. Léocadie Ndacayisaba, noted that some media are working in precarious conditions due to lack of equipment. To address that challenge, the Government of Burundi has set up the provision of technical equipment to support them.
According to Mrs. Ndacayisaba, mistreated information always causes false images in the media. She urged those concerned to work in synergy to strengthen the capacities of Burundian media for quality, pluralistic and ethical information in Burundi.