African media has enthused with the potentials to fast-track
the implementation of Agenda 2063 through effective coverage and dissemination
of information about the progress of pan-African strategies, reports ITRealms.
The African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson, H.E Dr.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma made this call on on Thursday during the official
opening of the African Editors Forum, on the sidelines of the 27th African Union
Summit in Kigali, Rwanda.
The forum with the theme: “Popularising Agenda 2063 through
The African Editors Forum,” was attended by editors from across the continent,
as well as government officials and business sector players in the area of
communication.
The African Editors Forum (TAEF) is an umbrella organization
for editors from across the continent.
Dr. Dlamini-Zuma told participants in her remarks that
constructive media plays a major role in efforts towards achieving a
prosperous, dynamic and peaceful continent.
“We have seen instances where western journalists continue
to justify the illegal exploitation of resources in what they call ‘colonies’.
This wrong depiction of Africa should be opposed by pan-African journalists who
believe that Africa can determine its future and how to utilize its resources,”
she said.
She added that: “Some African journalists, sadly, go along
with the negative narrative about our motherland, and you find some of them
reporting exactly what the western media is reporting. We know better about
Africa than anyone and we should take the lead in telling the African story.”
The AUC Chairperson emphasized on the need for African journalists to be
objective and responsible in the way they report their stories given that it is
their roles to shape the African narrative with the view to enhance development
in the continent that will impact on the lives of the African citizens.
She called on African editors to foster editorial guidelines
that define the telling of stories about “The Africa We want”, as well as hold
accountable policymakers who are charged with ensuring the development of the
continent.
“The media is charged with promoting Pan-African initiatives
and holding leaders accountable to the decisions that they take and implement….
You have the power to hold a mirror in front of society, so that every one of
us can see who we really are,” she said.
The CEO of Rwanda Governance Board, who officially opened
the forum, called on journalists to fully express their freedoms of expression
and media rights, but advised the journalists to disseminate news with
responsibility and in a balanced manner.
The president of the Rwanda Journalists Association, Collin
Haba, said that there is no doubt that achieving a sovereign, independent and
self-reliant continent is a long term effort that calls for a change in mindset
of the Africans.
“As editors, we must have the blueprint of Agenda 63 at our
finger tips. 47 years to completion date is definitely a long way to go. But it
is our responsibility to break it down into smaller targets that we can
frequently evaluate,” he said.
A staunch member of African Editors Forum, Mr. Mathatha
Tsedu, noted the importance to engage networks of African journalists with the
AUC, particularly the editors in the implementation of the development agenda
of the continent as they have the responsibility to educate the population and
popularise the continental vision, Agenda 2063.
The forum was an opportunity for AUC Commissioners and high
officials to brief the participants and exchange views about the Africa Agenda
2063 and its Ten years implementation plan among others.
+Remmy #27thAUSummit #AUKigali2016 #AUProject2016 #WomenRights #TAEF
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