By Dr Reginald Mengi, 14th May 2015
The peoples of East Africa who are the intended beneficiaries of the EAC’s integration are bound by very strong political, economic and social relationships and share a common history, culture and infrastructure, civil society organizations and community based organizations. They provide a key tool for the success of the integration.
The process of integration needs the support of the people, the business community, civil society organizations and community based organizations. To get this support, the people and the relevant sectors must be educated on the socio-economic benefits of the integration. Their views must be sought and respected at every stage of the integration process to make the integration truly inclusive and people – centered.
The peoples of the East African Community Partner States number over 153 million. How can they be reached to express their views? How can they exercise this democratic right?
In a true democracy, when people exercise their democratic rights adequately and effectively, they are in this way able to control policy. They become the ultimate decision makers with power to judge and question implementation of those policies. But to be able to know and exercise these democratic rights, people need factual information on policies and how they are being implemented; they need to know what is happening around them in their countries, in the Partner States of the EAC and in the rest of the world.
Political and Social Aims of the Media
The Political and social aims of the media are for the furtherance of Democracy. Democracy requires peoples’ constant active participation, and one of the most important roles in this function is to serve society in developing and promoting the peoples’ capacities to exercise their democratic rights. The media does so by informing the people at all times, so that they can form informed decisions. The media acts as the public forum and organ to enable and promote freedom of speech, freedom of expression, pluralism of opinion and unrestricted public discussion in civil society. This freedom through the media plays an important role in the exchange of information and ideas.
The media enables multiplicity of voices and therefore plurality of ideas and diversity of information easily accessible to a vast audience. This is the core nutrient and sustenance of a democratic society, and keeps democracy healthy. The media enables many people to communicate many different ideas and points of view which make their governments aware of citizens’ interests and in this way promote civil rights, constitutional reforms and political democracy.
The majority of EAC population do not know the objective and mission of the EAC. They do not know the policies of the EAC, the reason behind those policies and how the policies are implemented. They have the right to know and to question failures and successes of such policies, but foremost, they have the right to be sufficiently informed about their achievements so that they are spurred to support, have confidence in, and pursue such of those policies which are found successful. The media is the bridge between the people and the EAC through which discontent and consensus could be expressed. The media provides independent criticism and evaluation of government power and exposes any abuse of it and any form of maladministration. The ordinary person does not have the means to access information related to this. The promotion of transparency in government continues to be an important role of the media. Oppression and other forms of abuse of human rights in any form humiliate people and annihilate democracy.
Systematic media exposure of abuse of human rights creates awareness of these atrocities and enables non-governmental institutions established for the protection of human rights to act with more resourcefulness and resolution. The exposure and dissemination of information by the media is a democratic role which contributes to political stability and therefore economic prosperity. And political stability does not only bring prosperity to the nation enjoying it, but regional and neighbouring countries are also spared the exodus of refugees otherwise caused by national conflicts and instability.
Promoting Transparency and Accountability
Transparency in government gives the public confidence that all is well and there is nothing to hide. Lack of transparency fosters corruption and other wrong doing, including plundering of national assets, favouritism in government tenders, illegal payments, transfer of funds to off-shore personal accounts, and nepotism.
A government that is not transparent is incapable of addressing citizens’ needs; it is incapable of combating evil and wrong doing in society. Lack of transparency in government is more likely to cause political instability. Lack of transparency makes it impossible to reveal wrongs and those responsible for the wrongs to make them responsible and accountable.
Watchdog Functions of the Media
The media provides independent criticism and evaluation of government power and exposes any abuse of it or any form of maladministration. It provides a checking function by ensuring that those elected in office perform their duties as is expected of them. The media should educate the people on their political rights to vote. It promotes free, fair and peaceful elections by enabling constant dialogue, discussion and deliberation on all national issues and preferences which contribute to peace and stability.
The media should report on the executive and castigate leaders who entrench themselves in power in disregard of limitations provided for in their countries’ constitutions. These media functions promote observance of the rule of law, check government excesses and foster respect for human rights which are ingredients of good governance.
The media must be sensitive to all evils but more so with regard to evils that hurt and concern society most. They must expose those who practice corruption and those who plunder and misuse public property and money. The exposure of evil in society is a substantial role which must be played by the media to promote and to protect a fair and democratic society.
While the media plays a role in exposing abuse of power and maladministration, it has an important role too in covering the good side of government and the good work of those selfless people who work tirelessly for their country. Knowing the good side of government creates confidence in people and enables the promotion and developments of democracy. Positive economic and political developments must therefore be sufficiently reported.
Combating Corruption
Corruption impedes equitable administration of justice, promotes inequality and abuse of power by public officials, undermines the legitimacy of government and the rule of law, and generates distortions and inefficiency in economic development.
Political corruption undermines good governance and reduces accountability. It distorts representation in policy making when it is practiced in general elections. Corruption in the judiciary compromises the rule of the law.
The media plays a very significant role in combating corruption. Media in-depth investigative journalism exposes acts of corruption, and intensive media reporting of corruption raises public awareness about it. Reporting of corrupt practices may not necessarily result in prosecutions, resignations or sanctions of public officials or other perpetrators. But intensive and regular reporting of such acts may trigger anti-corruption or other official institutions to cause investigations and take appropriate action.
Power to Sensitize and Create Public Awareness
The media has a leading role in national development by sensitizing people about what they need to do about their development. The media raises peoples’ awareness of development policies that affect their lives. People must be informed of the endeavours of their fellow countrymen and communities and successes that have been achieved through self help schemes and income generating projects. In this way people will be made to realize that they themselves are the biggest resource of their development and that they can bring that success by their own efforts.
Terrorism and its nature of violence has been a big threat to the peace, security and stability of the East Africa States and its peoples. Terrorism violates all fundamental human rights regardless of religion, race, nationality or country. The media has an obligation to condemn terrorism as an enemy of human rights. It should not be treated as a religious issue. At this time of fear of terrorism, the media should set the agenda of religious tolerance and mutual understanding on different religions.
However, I believe that many horrible acts of destruction and murder similar to terrorism are committed by disgruntled or disillusioned individuals under the guise of terrorism. Such disillusionment or disgruntlement could result from any form of injustice, poverty where there is plenty, unemployment, etc. There are many other reasons that may force an individual to commit such horrific acts which are not necessarily meant to achieve a political end at all. Recently, some East African individuals have been accused of intending to join a terrorist group. These individuals are not terrorists. They have confessed that they were tempted by attractive offers by the terrorist group.
Such causes are problems that can be addressed and solved. I am of the view, therefore, that each case of horrific destruction akin to terrorism should be investigated to establish the cause. If it is injustice, the rule of law should be improved; if it is unemployment or poverty, policies that address eradication of poverty and create employment should be formulated.
Conflict Resolution
If conflicts in communities or groups occur and are not resolved timely, they may develop to serious conflicts requiring resolution. The media can play a big role in resolving conflicts.
By using its role to inform, the media should report a conflict after complete understanding of the nature and cause thereof. The report must be true, accurate, fare and balanced. An ethical report will assist in resolving a conflict. A report which favours one side treats one side as a hero will inflame the conflict. The media should avoid being used as a propaganda tool in any conflict reporting.
Media’s Social Responsibility
Negative reporting about wars and conflicts has the tendency to express agony and the worst tragic consequences arising therefrom. This naturally makes people apprehensive. Intensive reporting of terrorism unfortunately elates the terrorist and encourages further terrorism. The extent of reporting these occurrences should be at the discretion of the media. However, it should not portray success of the terrorist as this may encourage further actions.
I am not in any way suggesting that the media should not report negative happenings. I am only suggesting that when reporting negative happenings, which is media’s obligation, the story should not be overly exaggerated by tragedy and portray disillusionment and frustration. The media should be positive and report positive happenings as well instead of hyping the bad news. The bad news can be reported with the good news of what is being done to contain a negative situation so that people do not become unduly apprehensive.
Media Set backs
Its useful and important role in democracy notwithstanding, the media with all its power continues to suffer set back in the fulfillment of its democratic role. Government officials with power to control the media continue to use their discretionary powers to ban newspapers the reportage of which is adversarial to government or systematically expose corrupt civil servants or their immorality. Newspapers continue to be censored for publishing what is not wanted by the government of the day.
Journalists under oppressive and authoritarian governments are suppressed, often threatened with arrest or with death for not reporting favourably on government policies.
For this reason, democracy must be protected and deepened so that governments can always be by the people for the people. It is for this reason that the media has an important role to inform the people about their power to govern by giving them knowledge of their democratic rights and guarding the public interest by alerting people about public officials who are abusing their power and doing evils in society.
There is a significant role played by the Media in the integration of the EAC and acknowledgement that the media is the surest medium of reaching the peoples of the EAC to further the EAC’s aspiration and mission. Extensive reach and intensive information to the people about the objective and mission of the EAC to the EAC people will deepen the EAC integration.
End
The article is part of faidamax.com memorial for Africa’s most forward-looking business mogul who was also a philosopher king. The article is an abridged version of DR. REGINALD A. MENGI, EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF IPP LIMITED AND CHAIRMAN OF TANZANIA PRIVATE SECTOR FOUNDATION (TPSF) AND MEDIA OWNERS ASSOCIATION OF TANZANIA (MOAT) DURING THE 4TH ANNUAL EAC-EABC MEDIA AWARDS GALA DINNER on 14TH MAY, 2015, DAR ES SALAAM TANZANIA
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