Report economic stories, Mengi tells CNN MultiChoice finalists

By Nelson Kessy

IPP Executive Chairman Dr Reginald Mengi, who is also Chairman of Media Owners Association (MOAT), shares a light moment with some CNN MultiChoice African Journalists 2014 Award finalists.

The IPP Executive Chairman Dr Reginald Mengi has challenged the CNN MultiChoice African Journalists awards 2014 finalists to continue writing more on potential economic resources to attract foreigners to invest in Africa.

 

Speaking with the finalists and judges on Thursday evening at a dinner party in Dar es Salaam, Dr Mengi said African journalists can write on many issues, especially economic ones because they understand African culture. 

 

 “African journalists have the opportunity of writing things they see with their eyes. Their writing will improve African development as well as life of the people,” he said, stressing that Africa is not poor contrary to worldwide perception. 

 

“Africa is very rich because the land is rich in natural resources, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is good example,” he said. 

 

“We hear of Africa’s growing economy but on the other hand we hear of other parts being poor. There must be something wrong. So it is you journalists who have the task of revealing the truth,” the IPP Executive Chairman asserted. 

 

Dr Mengi advised the CNN MultiChoice finalists to write and report about corruption issues because they affect many people on the African continent.

 

“African journalists are responsible to write and reveal the truth so that people could understand the real situation. And through the media it is possible to abolish corruption in African countries,” Dr Mengi explained.

 

He went on: “When you look at the mirror and the mirror shows your face dirty, the solution is for you to wash it, and not to break the mirror since it only reflects what you’ve seen.”

 

“Once you journalists and media in general use your pens and voices, corruption will end and development will be seen vividly,” he added

 

Meanwhile, Tanzania Multichoice Chairman, Ami Mpungwe, encouraged the finalists to continue writing on Africa’s vast opportunities, thereby helping the world know what to find on the continent.

“When writing or reporting you should focus on the future of your continent by revealing hidden truth, which in one way or another hinders African development,” Mpungwe said.

 

The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards for excellence in journalism will take place today evening at Mlimani City Hall.  The awards event is for the first time being held in Tanzania.

 

President Jakaya Kikwete along with other dignitaries and representatives of various media houses from across the country are expected to grace the glamorous function.

 

Finalists competing for the CNN awards are 28 finalists from different countries including Dickson Ng’hily of  The Guardian Ltd, Tanzania, Daniel Biaou Adje, ORTB, Benin, Safia Berkouk, El Watan, Algeria, Vinayak Bhardwaj and Tabelo Timse, M and G Centre for Investigative Journalism, Mail and Guardian, South Africa, Romão Brandão, Jornal OPAÍS, Angola, Sean Christie, Freelance for The Mail and Guardian, South Africa, Obinna Emelike, Business Day, Nigeria, Ben Ezeamalu and Emmanuel Ogala, Premium Times, Nigeria, Suy Kahofi, Freelance for West Africa Democracy Radio, Senegal

Others are Bob Koigi, Farmbizafrica.com, Kenya, Joseph Mathenge, Freelance for The Saturday Nation, Kenya, Anne Mawathe and  Rashid Ibrahim, Citizen TV, Kenya, Patrick Mayoyo, Daily Nation, Kenya, Christine Muthee and Oliver Oscar Ochanda, Media Development in Africa (MEDEVA), Kenya, John MuchangiNjiru, The Star Newspaper, Kenya, Olatunji Ololade, The Nation Newspaper, Nigeria

Bayo Olupohunda, Columnist, Punch Newspaper, Nigeria ,OssèneOuattara, Infoduzanzan.com, Côte d’Ivoire, Brito Simango, Televisão de Moçambique, Joy Summers and Susan Comrie, Mnet Carte Blanche, South Africa, PaballoThekiso, Saturday Star, South Africa , Bento Venâncio, Jornal Domingo, Moçambique and Evelyn Watta, Sportsnewsarena.com, Kenya

 

Judging panel will attributes ten judges who are, Ferial Haffajee - Editor-in-Chief, City Press, South Africa, DeboAdesina – Editor-in-Chief, Guardian Newspapers, Nigeria, Betty Dindi – Managing Editor, Nation Media Group, Kenya, Jean-Paul Gérouard - Editor-in-Chief, France Télévisions, Arlindo Lopes – Acting Managing Director, MultiChoice Angola Media, 

 

Others are Amadou Mahtar Ba - Co-Founder and Executive Chairman AllAfrica Global Development Bank Group, Joel Kibazo –Director of Communications and External Relations at the African Witwatersrand, Anton Harber - Caxton Professor of Journalism at the University of the Aires Walter dos Santos – Account Executive, iSentaComunicação&Imagem SA, Angola and Kim Norgaard - Senior Director of Coverage at CNN’s international desk in Atlanta.