Rwanda National Police

Having a citizen-centered spirit, being accountable to the public, sharing information and mutual trust took the center stage in the Police-Media interaction Session held in Karongi District. 

The session held on June 30 drew media practitioners and Police Officers operating in the Western Province along with local leaders in the province. Media Interaction Session is under the theme: "Strengthening Partnership for quality service delivery"

Presiding over the meeting, the Provincial Executive Secretary, Pierre Célestin Habiyaremye said; “Such Interactions are geared at enhancing performance and promoting working relations. Also, interactions bridge the gap between authorities and the public.”

Habiyaremye urged attended to be driven by a citizen-centered spirit saying that; “We must always remember that we serve the interests of the people not our own interests and that’s why improving our relations in crucial for the welfare safety and development of our people and our country.”

In his address, the Rwanda National Police Spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Theos Badege gave a detailed lecture on the benefits on improved relations between the police and the media.

He said the relations have improved tremendously since 2011 when the Media-Police interactions began.

“The level of trust has improved, how we share information has also improved tremendously but we must keep up this spirit of partnership since we are accountable to the people we serve,” he said.

He added that both media and police share common interest that’s why honest and open dialogues will continue to ensure each sector achieves its mandate effectively.

“No one benefits from crimes. That's why we need to continuously engage in anti-crime awareness campaigns. Journalists are influencers and we believe they have the power and ability to contribute to a crime-free society,” said the spokesperson.

The Chairperson of Rwanda Media Commissioner, Cleophas Barore spoke at length about responsible journalism and also emphasized accountability to the public.

He highlighted that Professional journalism is about serving the interest of the people when it comes to crime prevention and compliance with the law, journalists’ commitment to public safety is of  a high valued.

Barore reminded that since the time media reforms took shape in Rwanda four years ago, RMC has mediated and adjudicated 233 cases of which 80 percent are complaints filed by the public.

Currently there are 713 and 80 accredited journalists and newspapers in the country respectively.

The Police media interaction sessions were recently decentralized when senior police officers find journalists in their areas of operation and draw strategies of how best they can improve on their relations taking in consideration the journalists’ area of operation.

The Western Region session came weeks after a similar one was held in the Eastern Province and presided over by the governor, Judith Kazayire