2.3. Radio broadcasting in
Rwanda
History of Radiobroadcast in Rwanda was represented most of
the time by radio Rwanda. Since its creation in 1961, it monopolised
audiovisual media sector till 2003 when the Government gave permission to the
private radios to operate in the country. During colonial period Rwanda and
Burundi under Belgium tutor have had one transmitter of 10KW which was based in
Bujumbura. Brief Radio was unknown in Rwanda except those who listened to
foreign radios (Muvunyi, 2010).
According to Aloys Rukebesha (1985: 86) noted that during
1961, Rwandans authorities at provisional period wondered that it should be
better to have a national radiobroadcast of Rwanda. It was officially
inaugurated on 19th May 1961, but the shows of trying and testing
started three months before. From 1961 to 1962, Radio Rwanda developed with
infrastructures and other equipments from outside of the country. This helps
this radio to reach and cover 80% of the country by 1978. In 1993, during the
war between RPF and the Rwandan government, R.R has lost its monopoly with the
creation of RTLM even though it was private (Muvunyi, 2010).
2.3.1. Other radios
After the end of tragic period of the 1994 Genocide against
tutsi, R.R was again the one radio station operating in the country till 2002,
when the law gave private radios the freedom of creation. From this period many
private radios were rapidly created.
Today there about 21 radio stations in country according to
the press release from the media high council on 26th July 2010
signed by Patrice Mulama, the Executive Secretary of Media High Council (MHC).
As provided for under article 96 of the Media law n° 22/2009 of
12/08/2009, all media organs in place before the publication of this law in the
Official Gazette of the Republic of Rwanda shall, within a period not exceeding
three (3) months as from its publication, have declared to the Media High
Council (MHC), the requirements referred to under Article 24 of the same Law;
It is in that framework that the Media High Council (MHC) announces on this
26th day of July 2010 the list of all media organs that meet the
requirements of the law and therefore legally recognized in Rwanda.
According to this press release 3 private radios; Voice of
Africa, Sana Radio and Voice of America were not on the list because they
didn't meet the requirements of the law and as a result they were not legally
recognized in Rwanda. But today these radios are operating n the country.
Among these 21 radio stations, there are 5 community radios called «Radiyo
z'Abaturage» in different provinces; in Huye, Rusizi, Rubavu, Musanze and
Nyagatare created by the government of Rwanda in order to strengthen its
politic of decentralization and in other to confront private radios.
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