28 June 2022 Maseru, Kingdom of Lesotho. The APRM held the first Media Training as part of a sensitization mission led by Prof Eddy Maloka on the 27th and 28th June 2022 in Maseru, the Kingdom of Lesotho. The training consisted of a series of workshops. The workshop was co-organized with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, and Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Lesotho.
The Opening Remarks were presented by the Honourable Hon. Sam Rapapa Minister of Communications of the Kingdom of Lesotho. The aim of the workshop was to raise awareness of the APRM mandate, processes, and tools. Specifically, the workshop provided a platform to engage stakeholders such as media towards the establishment of a network of communicators to disseminate information for increased visibility of the mechanism within the Kingdom of Lesotho.
The training workshop was attended by APRM partners including the African Committee on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes, and the South African Institute of International Affairs. It was highlighted that the training was part of a sensitization mission which involves meeting with the Government of Lesotho towards reviving the APRM, considering the rejuvenated interest.
Representatives of the Continental Communicators Network founded in 2019, Ms. Susan Mwape and Mr Emmanuel Bensah, shared their experiences of the mechanism. They also highlighted the importance of promoting an African-led initiative and the need to raise awareness of the APRM. A background of the African Peer Review Mechanism and importance of good governance and democracy were also presented. Further discussed were APRM processes, ongoing initiatives, and the expanded mandate.
As part of efforts to grow the APRM media network, nominations of focal points from the Kingdom were made, to add to the Communicators network from various forms of media such as radio, television, and print. The new members include, Mr Kananelo Boloetse, Mr, Rapitso Rapitso, Thoboloko Ntšonyana and Salemone Ramangoaela.
The training workshops reiterated The African Peer Review Mechanism’s commitment to collaborate with partners and stakeholders within the Kingdom of Lesotho. Certificates of participation were awarded to media personnel for successfully participating in the training workshop. The APRM highlighted that this is part of a series of training workshops, that span the whole Continent.
