Gorgon Sabushimike
FEATURED AUTHOR PROFILE
What is your current position, beat, or area of expertise?
I have been a journalist since 2003. I randomly started my career as traineein 2002 with the National Radio Television. Assisted by veteran journalist in swahili desk, I and him jointly presented a programentitled ‘JIFUNZE KISWAHILI NA MFUNZE MWINGINEO’ a recorded broadcast aiming at teaching Swahili Language for the community. I crossed 4 different media includinga self-owned newspaper entitled EAST AFRICAN BUSINESS WEEK operating in Kampala.
I am currently editor in chief with Rema FM Radio station. I prefer politics and Transitional Justice. I have been trained by BBC World
Service Trust on transitional justice related issues. This is because Burundi journalists need to be trained in this regards to correctly cover the transitional justice in Burundi. Atrocities committed in the country have to be sanctioned.
What brought you to journalism?
My motivation to become a journalist stems from the contribution of journalists to voice out problems faced by citizens during the crisis. As a matter of fact, media outlets played a key role to inform the national and international community on human rights abuses and other atrocities committed by belligerents during the decade of social-political unrest that prevailed in Burundi, that was since 1993 up to 2004. I preferred to become a journalist to be the voice of the
voiceless and help rebuild my homeland that is Burundi.
What is the most memorable story or event you have covered?
I covered the most memorable story in 2004 during my service with Isanganiro Radio station. The news report was about 5 citizens jailed by the administration as they were reportedly accused to collaborate
with rebels in Kabezi commune, a war zone located at 6 km far from Bujumbura Capital during the crisis the claimed hundreds thousands of lives.
The arrested persons were set free following my news report calling upon the administration to release the persons. I consider it most
memorable since it contributed for the liberty of the oppressed persons in that area.
What change have you seen during your career that has most impacted the industry, positively or negatively?
Before the crisis, people had to listen to one national radio station and watch one TV all over the territory, in addition to some international channels like BBC and RFI. However, private media outlets mushroomed since 2000, triggering the competitiveness among media outlets. Listeners have now the choice between many a radio station or print media for well balanced information.
One of the positive changes I observed is media outlets made up a synergy to defend the rights of journalists. The authorities provisionally suspended two radio stations in 2003 following interviews granted to chairpersons of rebels movements. The coalition of media outlets in synergy largely contributed to lift the measures. The synergy has been one of the ways to defend the journalists ‘rights.
