Own Correspondent
BRUSSELS –
TellZim News director and Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) media lecturer,
Golden Maunganidze has urged Africans to take advantage of new media
technologies to fight human rights abuses on the continent.
TellZim News director and Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) media lecturer,
Golden Maunganidze has urged Africans to take advantage of new media
technologies to fight human rights abuses on the continent.
Addressing a
workshop on the side-lines of an on-going conference on peace and security in
the horn of Africa here in Brussels, Maunganidze who was engaged as a social
media expert, urged participants to look for ways they could leverage the
potential of social media to engage the African Union (AU) and European Union (EU)
to dedicate more time, resources and commitment to the fight against gross
human rights violations happening in many parts of Africa.
workshop on the side-lines of an on-going conference on peace and security in
the horn of Africa here in Brussels, Maunganidze who was engaged as a social
media expert, urged participants to look for ways they could leverage the
potential of social media to engage the African Union (AU) and European Union (EU)
to dedicate more time, resources and commitment to the fight against gross
human rights violations happening in many parts of Africa.
“We have heard
sad stories about Eritreans being tortured and abused as they try to flee from
their country going to Europe and other parts of the world. We have heard that
people are being sold for some few hundred dollars in Libya. These are
heart-breaking stories but unfortunately the traditional media both in Africa
and beyond see this as a tired story. I therefore urge you to mobilise each
other and take advantage of new media technologies and tell your own stories in
a manner that you think would be the best for the world to comprehend.
sad stories about Eritreans being tortured and abused as they try to flee from
their country going to Europe and other parts of the world. We have heard that
people are being sold for some few hundred dollars in Libya. These are
heart-breaking stories but unfortunately the traditional media both in Africa
and beyond see this as a tired story. I therefore urge you to mobilise each
other and take advantage of new media technologies and tell your own stories in
a manner that you think would be the best for the world to comprehend.
“Gone are the
days when you would wait for traditional media to come and write your stories.
Let’s take a leading role in denouncing human rights abuses using social
media,” said Maunganidze.
days when you would wait for traditional media to come and write your stories.
Let’s take a leading role in denouncing human rights abuses using social
media,” said Maunganidze.
He said there
was need for a common platform in Africa where people could deposit their
stories so that large global media organisations would have a consistently reliable
source of credible information on Africa.
was need for a common platform in Africa where people could deposit their
stories so that large global media organisations would have a consistently reliable
source of credible information on Africa.
“We have to
change the status quo now and take a leading role on all issues that concern
us. I am not dismissing traditional media in any way but I am saying the
ordinary person is now more empowered than ever before. Smart phones allow
people to document cases of human rights abuses and disseminate such information
for wider audiences,” he added.
Conference organiser, Prof Mirjam van Reisen said it was high time Europe found solutions to end the human rights carnage that Eritreans were suffering.
Prof van Reisen has done extensive research on immigration between Africa and Europe, and has published many books on that topic.
change the status quo now and take a leading role on all issues that concern
us. I am not dismissing traditional media in any way but I am saying the
ordinary person is now more empowered than ever before. Smart phones allow
people to document cases of human rights abuses and disseminate such information
for wider audiences,” he added.
Conference organiser, Prof Mirjam van Reisen said it was high time Europe found solutions to end the human rights carnage that Eritreans were suffering.
Prof van Reisen has done extensive research on immigration between Africa and Europe, and has published many books on that topic.
Seasoned
investigative journalists who attended the conference said it was high time citizens
become more active in publicising issues that directly affect them.
investigative journalists who attended the conference said it was high time citizens
become more active in publicising issues that directly affect them.
“There are many
big stories taking place every day and we have no reason to be always focused
on Eritrea alone … you must push for your own stories through social media
until you draw the attention of big media organisations,” said Martin Plaut, a
UK-based investigative journalist.
big stories taking place every day and we have no reason to be always focused
on Eritrea alone … you must push for your own stories through social media
until you draw the attention of big media organisations,” said Martin Plaut, a
UK-based investigative journalist.
The conference,
which has drawn some 200 delegates from around the world, aims to initiate
strategies to promote peace and stability in the horn of Africa.
which has drawn some 200 delegates from around the world, aims to initiate
strategies to promote peace and stability in the horn of Africa.
