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Injustice the major cause of conflict...
2008-04-12 10:44:35
By Bilham Kimati
Delegates to a regional media summit have called on politicians, members of the business community, media owners and practitioners, and religious and other leaders to sensitise the people on the importance of justice, peace and security.
They said there could be no meaningful development in the absence of the three elements, adding that peace was much more than merely the absence of war.
Addressing the Second East African Media Summit in Dar es Salaam yesterday, University of Dar es Salaam`s Prof Palamagamba Kabudi observed in an excellently received presentation that he supported all efforts to make the EAC stronger and the region more united, peaceful and stable.
He said he was for a political union in the region but was opposed to the federation idea, adding that a gradual or progressive transition was much preferable to the much-touted fast-tracking modality.
``Social engineering after independence taught Tanzanians to think as a nation. That does not mean that there are no ethnic groups, but they have not been taught to think in isolation. This outlook can help in consolidation our unity as a region,`` he noted, urging the media to help sensitise the people on the importance of unity.
He commended East Africa Television and East Africa Radio for their continued efforts in promoting togetherness among East African citizens.
East African Cooperation Minister Diodorus Kamala meanwhile called on the media to go beyond reporting on events by focusing more on constructive ideas, adding that the region was going through a period of transformation during which social cohesion was fundamental in helping eliminate unnecessary divisions.
``The media have a very significant role to play in helping the East African society become united through positive reporting for the region`s common prosperity,`` said Kamala.
EAC Council of Ministers Chairman Eriya Kategaya, who is Uganda`s Deputy Prime Minister, noted that lack of appreciation of the existing political leadership and injustice would always escalate into conflict which might take time to be resolved.
Citing the case of Somalia, he said: ``Fighting over resources due to unfair distribution of the available resources and misappropriation by a section of the community should be avoided to prevent conflict and social breakups. Population growth should correspond with the economic growth.``
In his remarks, EAC Secretary General Juma Mwapachu underscored the importance of using a common language – preferably Kiswahili - to help bring people in the region closer together.
He said the media had a major role to play in promoting peace and stability in the region, adding that all EAC partner states had the obligation to have social, economic and political objectives realised while giving priority to peace and stability.
Contributing to the debate, Oscar Kimanuka from the Rwanda President`s Office underlined the importance of integration and improvement of infrastructure to enhance ``physical cooperation`` and mobility among the EAC member states.
He challenged the media in the region to make deliberate efforts to make the region better known to the outside world instead of relying on western media ``that did not do enough to help defuse the tension that culminated in the 1994 Rwandan genocide``.
Kenya’s Minister for East African Affairs, Dr Wilfred Machage, said it would be wise for member states to give serious consideration to factors like corruption and mismanagement of national resources that usually lead to conflict and disasters.
He said conflicts were imminent in all countries where resources were not equally distributed and managed and where corruption and injustice were rife.
``I pay tribute to the late Father of this nation (Tanzania), Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, for his foresight and his insistence on equal sharing of resources under the Ujamaa policy that contributed to the country`s peace and stability,`` said the minister.
Media Owners Association of Tanzania (MOAT) Chairman Reginald Mengi urged the EAC member states – Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda – to have laws that ensure freedom of information and the media as a way of promoting peace, security and stability in the region
He said having effective media was key to the liberation of the poor and the marginalised, adding that making information available would help the poor and marginalised become more aware of their rights and what they ought to do to enjoy those rights.
``In order to play their role effectively, journalists must have free access to information. Legislations that restrict the media`s access to information dilute the quality of information and deny the public knowledge about matters of national interest. Sometimes denial of freedom of information may be ill intended to cover wrongdoing,`` noted Mengi, who is also IPP Executive Chairman.
He described the media as the watchdogs and guardians of public interests and their role includes exposing and condemning abuses of power and human rights violations as well as defending and protecting justice and the rule of law.
``The media provide checks and balances and expose the inner workings of governments to ensure that governments are responsible and accountable to their citizens. The credibility of the East African media will be determined by their performance and how they exercise their power which is expressed by the strength and performance of their journalists whose ethics shape the corporate image of the media industry,`` he added.
The MOAT chairman said the people of East Africa were bound by political, economic and social relationships and share a common history, culture and infrastructure.
He said that was an advantage the media could use in sensitising acceptance, understanding and tolerance among ethnic groups and in so doing defuse tribal conflicts.
The two-day summit, which ends today, brought together senior government officials and media stakeholders from all the EAC member states as well as members of the diplomatic and officials of the community`s secretariat.
Its theme is ``The Role of the Media in Addressing Causes of Conflict and Instability and their Prevention: The East African Dimension``.
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