05 Sep 2024

The media has a significant role to play in informing the public to help them make informed and meaningful decisions around the issue of migration. 

These sentiments were expressed by panelists when deliberating on migration at the 15^th Session of the African Union of Broadcasting (AUB) general assembly, held at Avani Gaborone Resort and Casino on Wednesday. 

Commenting during the panel discussion that was themed: Migration, Moving Towards a Different Destiny: Challenges and Opportunities. Can the media play a role?, AUB director general, Mr Grègoire Ndjaka said the issue of migration generally concerned Africans.

He invited participants to attend the meeting that AUB was planning to organise in Kigali, Rwanda, next year to further tackle burning issues around migration. 

“Everyone has their own point of view around the issue of migration, but as the media we should have the courage to cover the issue objectively, speak freely to address the issue and constantly question policies and any issues of governance relating to this matter,” said Mr Ndjaka. 

For her part, International Relations and European Affairs director, Ms Simona Martorelli, encouraged the media to always strike a balance when reporting on issues of migration. 

Migration, Ms Martorelli stressed, was not a simple exercise for governments, as it was sometimes also influenced by economic challenges. 

Therefore, as part of a social, cultural, economic and political context, she said it was the responsibility of the public media to create an environment where migration was known, understood and respected. 

Voicing his position as a panelist, the Department of Broadcasting Services (DBS) Acting Director, Mr Buyani Zongwani, also encouraged the African media to rise and write stories on what compelled Africans to move to other countries. 

Mr Zongwani said the issue of migration could be influenced by the information availed and presented across all media platforms. 

“Probably the information that is available is not correct about the African states or the conditions in Africa. That is why investors are coming to Africa and we are leaving Africa,” he said. 

For that reason, Mr Zongwani encouraged the African media to ensure, through partnerships with research institutions, they tackled and exposed all internal and external influences that lead African citizens to migrate. 

“Let’s research and look at the needs of the citizens. After looking at the needs of the citizens, try to equate those needs with policies that are available in the African economies,” he said. 

“Sometimes, you’ll find that the policies are already there, but the uptake is low and it is the role of the media to expose that,” he added. 

When the information available on media platforms was correct about the conditions in Africa, he said African citizens would find no reason to continue migrating to other nations. 

The panelists agreed that the media could help African citizens to make informed decisions. Issues of poor governance, poverty, corruption, unemployment and unfavourable and inhuman conditions were cited as some of the reasons that influenced some people to migrate to other nations, hoping to find greener pastures. 

Meanwhile, during this year’s five-day 15^th AUB general assembly, will elect new officials to run the organisation for the next two years. Ends