BY GETAHUN LEGESSE
ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopian Mass Media Authority (EMMA) urged contending parties to properly make use of the airtime and newspaper column supplied to them for the 6th general elections..
Authority ‘s Election Desk Head Seid Muhe told Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA) that the parties need to exert more efforts to utilize the time allotted to them for the election debate .
Seid said that the political parties, for instance, used only 313 minutes from the total 525 minutes allotted, from March 8 to April 16, which is 212 minutes lesser than the allotted time on Ethiopian Broadcast Corporation (EBC).
He suggested that the aim of the allotted time is to introduce parties’ agenda to the general public and enhance the democratization process of the pre-election prior to the Election Day.
The parties should make proper use of the airtime supplied to them avoiding extravagance and abuse of public property. The political parties lack the habit of adhering to the procedures outlined by EMMA.
Fana Broadcast Corporate Election Desk Delegate Assefa Ahmed on his part said the parties are using the airtime though there has been problem of proper use of the time.
Out of 1,080 total time allotted, about 800 minutes has been used by the parties until April 16, he added.
As per the regulation, the parties need to present their political agenda, 48 hours before the debate time. However, the parties exhibited reluctance in doing so, as to him.
Election debate is the major platform whereby the political parties could earn popular support through promoting their public policy.
Walta TV Election Desk Coordinator Behailu Getachew mentioned that all the l parties have used the airtime allotted to them except one, but the parties have spared precious minutes unused.
Walta is facilitating the time as per the schedule and has advised the parties to utilize all the time given to them as a minute is of significantly useful in conveying appropriate message to millions of electorate through the mass media campaign.
The Ethiopian Herald 20 April 2021
