The National Communication Council (CNC) has called on both state-owned and private media outlets to respect Article 30 of the electoral law, which grants all political parties, coalitions, and independent candidates the right to use state media for their campaigns. The Council has also reminded media professionals of their responsibility to ensure balanced coverage during the election period.

Some parties and candidates have expressed concern that certain media outlets lack the resources to provide proper campaign coverage. However, under the CNC’s guidelines, media houses are expected to fund their own coverage independently.

According to Article 6 of the regulator’s code, equal access and fair representation must be maintained throughout the campaign period. Any breach of these rules could lead to sanctions, with the CNC warning that media practitioners who fail to comply will face consequences.

"The role of the media is critical in upholding the integrity of democratic processes," a CNC Spokesperson, Marius Muhirwe stated. "We must ensure that every candidate is given the same opportunity to reach voters through public platforms."

To this end, the CNC recently held a meeting with representatives from political parties, coalitions, and independent candidates to reinforce the need for equitable airtime and space in public media.

Meanwhile, as the campaign season intensifies, some political parties have highlighted the impact of the country’s ongoing economic challenges. In response, the CNC has urged candidates to keep their campaign messages focused on policies and development plans, rather than resorting to insults or inflammatory language.

“Candidates should use their platforms to share ideas and proposals that address the needs of the population, not to spread hate speech or personal attacks,” the Council advised.

In a related announcement, the Independent National Electoral Commission has extended the deadline for voter card collection by one day. The decision was made after officials noted distribution delays affecting several areas.

--ChannelAfrica--