Popular radio program increases Rwandans' knowledge of country issues
It started as an idea. Now the radio program on land issues is so established that the broadcast time has been expanded according to the wishes of the audience.
Radio - the best medium
– Radio is the best medium to communicate through, especially in rural areas where most people can't use social media.
So says Sylvain Muyombano, Registrar of Land Titles within the National Land Authority (NLA). His area of responsibility is the southern province, one of a total of five provinces in the country.
Sylvain takes off the headphones he's been wearing in the radio studio where this week's program on land issues has just been recorded.
For just over 1.5 hours, Sylvain has informed radio listening about new rules regarding changes in land use.
After the information session, the listeners have been allowed into the program. Callers have general questions related to real estate and ownership, but also concerns of a more personal nature.
A man who has called in to the program has farmland on which he would like to build a house. Is it possible?
Sylvain responds without hesitation and the listener is satisfied with what he is told.
– You need to be prepared to get all kinds of questions. Withmore than ten years of experience working in these areas, it's not something that I'm nervous about, Sylvain says with a laugh.
NLA started the radio programs in 2021 as part of increasing citizens' knowledge of land issues. In a country where far from everyone can read and write and where access to network connectivity in rural areas is varied, radio is the best medium to reach out through.
The Radio programmes are financially supported by Lantmäteriet's SIDA-funded project in Rwanda. The experience from the past year is positive and the programmes will continue at least throughout the year. This is according to Lars Berglund, who is Lantmäteriet's project manager, stationed in Rwanda.
– We see that the radio programs are very popular and according to the listeners' wishes, the broadcast time has been increased by half an hour a week. It feels like a very well-motivated initiative, says Lars Berglund.
Increasing knowledge about land issues is an important piece of the puzzle in getting a functioning property system in the country.
Informal land transactions are an example of things that occur and that create problems. If there are no papers that a property is in your possession, you are left with rights.
– Through the radio programs, we can educate people. Especially in rural areas, this is a good way for the authority to interact with people, says Jean Claude Kayitare, head of communications at NLA.
He is often present when the radio shows are recorded. The five provinces broadcast once a month each and the programmes are also disseminated online, for example via Facebook. Many also enter their questions via Facebook or in SMS. Those who do not make it to the broadcast are answered afterwards.
Sylvain and Jean Claude sum up tonight's broadcast along with the host of Radio Huye; Akimana Juliette Latifat.
The clock is approaching 10 p.m. and a long working day is over for the NLA colleagues. But the radio shows also provide energy.
– If you ask anyone outside here, they will have listened to the program. They will say that you have learned things, that you know what to do. It feels important, says Jean Claude Kayitare.
Also in Liberia, Lantmäteriet's ILAMP project supports an investment in the radio program "Land matters" that started this spring. As in Rwanda, the idea is to increase citizens' knowledge of land issues.