After Africa

MP tweeting from custody in Tanzania. The easy part and the real challenge.

I’ve been communicating quite a bit with different people relating to Tanzania about the use of social media over the past few days.

Then suddenly, Zitto Kabwe, MP for Chadema, tweets from custody in Singida:

'Have just been arrested by police in Singida for ' holding a rally after 6pm'

It is awfully hard not to retweet a tweet like this, as it contains the most elementary ingredients of what news are made of.

The tweets go forth and back quickly, and soon the news from the event in a district town in central Tanzania have spread to the rest of the world in no time. Just check the Facebook comments here.

Lots of pole sana. It has even become the subject of debate between people across continents. Alafu - about an hour later the MP is out on self-bail:

'RCO just got an order from his RPC to let me off and report tomorrow. Self-bail.'

Back to my interest in how social media is applied in Tanzania, and how this is perceived in i.e. Europe, I have to conclude that to me this is no longer about the fascination of the raw facts that a Tanzanian MP tweets and facebooks straight from custody.

That is in fact the surprisingly easy part.

To me the real challenge lies in adressing the issues of why he ended up there, what will happen after and how the instant communication affects politics in a longer term perspective. Another, may be to keep focus on how the government goes about its cyberspace policies in the long term.

If interested in the Tanzanian government's take on the Internet, read along here. 

What can technology do for transparency and accountability?

If you are interested in what technology can do for transparency and accountability I suggest you read this report (left) from Transparency & Accountability Initiative in Cambridge.

The authors have reviewed more than 100 projects where new technologies as a means to promote transparency and accountability have been applied.

Seven key findings are presented on page 5-6, and here I just want to focus on what I found particularly interesting from reading the report:

The cool factor:

'However, one lesson from the Ushahidi/Uchaguzi experience
is that the success of a tool in one context can inspire others
to quickly launch projects using the same tool without a clear
strategy or a solid methodology capable of yielding credible
results. We identified a number of these cases during our
research; while they are not profiled here, they reinforce the
point that the ‘cool factor‘ of technology tools can at times
exacerbate the lack of rigor found in some initiatives. This
poses a risk of diminishing the role that technology can play
in the transparency and accountability field.' (page 16).

Traditional organisations continueing to think that using tech tools refer to tweeting and having a website:

'Some efforts are just starting, and some are more solid and
thought out than others, but selected initial efforts already
seem to be moving ahead of traditional transparency
and accountability organisations and their models, many
of which continue to think that using ‘tech‘ tools refers
to tweeting and having a website. These traditional
organisations often fail to take advantage of more powerful
technology tools, even though they are experts on the
transparency and accountability subject matter.' (page 19)

Lack of knowledge of the subject to be monitored:

 In addition to the lack of knowledge on an academic
level, we also sometimes observed a lack of knowledge
about the specific issues that project organisers intend to
monitor or evaluate, such as electoral protocols or complex
mechanisms of corruption in public procurement, all of
which hurts the good intentions the creators of many
projects have.

Don't throw away the old-fashioned tools for all that glitters: 

'Technology for transparency and accountability
tools do not necessarily have to be sophisticated
to succeed, but they need to be designed
intelligently and with an eye towards local
context.' (page 23)

Finally, I think the long list of short descriptions of case studies and the section on commonly used tools are useful for people to get an idea of what technology applied for transparency and accountability really is all about - short, but google on yourself. One example is for instance the description of how the Tanzanian-based NGO, Daraja works with 'Maji Matone' (page 16 and 31).

Tanzanian Government's take on the Internet

 

On May 25, 2011 the Tanzanian newspaper Daily News quotes President Kikwete for promising that 'the national fibre-optic network currently under construction is set to cover all districts in the country by June, next year'.

The article goes from praising Microsoft to the benefits of the implementation of the fibre-optic network. For instance, it mentions 'e-learning at different levels of education', and quotes President Kikwete:

'We will from next financial year set aside a budget for the implementation of the Tanzania Beyond Tomorrow (TBT) project in which through ICT a teacher can teach many students in various regions at a time. This will, to a large extent, reduce the problem of teachers' shortage'

Neatly the article adds clear numbers in term of the assumed progress: According to the article the fibre-optic network has reached 19 regions and 59 districts out of Tanzania's 30 regions. Nice numbers for press conferences. However, the style of the article makes me think of territory of microphone holders, and this article, too, leaves me with a strong wish that the reporter had investigated further:

Is it really true that over half of Tanzania's regions by now are covered by the fibre-optic cable?

According to the blog Bora Kujenga Daraja, it hasn't yet reached Njombe in the Southern Highlands, and the map illustrating the progress leaves space for interpretation (for one, it is in Chinese):

It may be relatively easy to monitor the amount of kilometres of fibre-optic cables digged into Tanzanian soil, but what do the numbers actually mean for the 42 million people living in Tanzania? 

Internet is obviously nothing without electricity, computers, money to buy an Internet subscription and the skills to utilize it for meaningful purposes. So, I'd also like to know more about the numbers of people for whom this makes a difference, and what kind of difference it makes practically. 

The government's 'Tanzania Beyond Tomorrow', as mentioned above, may be a part of the answer, but the President's vision of solving the problems in regard of the lack of teachers eventually depend on the answers to the questions above.

Earlier this week the blog Swahili Street noted another relevant perspective of this development by referring to the government's training of the police force to do on-line patroling. Swahili Street also poses questions: 'And what will it mean practically? How does an “online patrol” take place? Where exactly will be patrolled? And who?'

Certainly, the Tanzanian government has embarked on an intensified process of adressing the use of the Internet, and having the President promoting it up front is definitely interesting. One may however hope that media and others interested in the impact of the Internet, freedom of speech and education also will manage to intensify their observance, too.

The illustration was sent to me from a friend in Tanzania, and is cut from last Wednesday's Mwananchi. My Kiswhaili isn't perfect, but I believe the text can be translated to: 'Citizens, your government is now
on Facebook. You have to be on Facebook.' (Please, do correct me if not so).

#walktowork #walk2work #ugandawalks

Walk-to-Work is a campaign running at present in several Ugandan cities, organised by the opposition who according to Uganda Talks 'are protesting the spiraling inflation and rising fuel and general commodity prices in the country. The police accuse the opposition of inciting the public against the government'.

Hard to figure out what exactly is happening in what order. Like Opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye was shot and injured, but with what, where and to what hospital was he taken? And what's the story about 'walking-permits'? And what will happen if more people join the 'walks' in the days to come?

According to a message from the Royal Danish Embassy in Kampala 140411:'The walk-to-work campaign is still on, many protests in different places in Kampala today and there is heavy police presence in certain areas, disturbances cannot be ruled out. Please exercise vigilance. Since the campaign is announced to continue on Mondays and Thursdays in the weeks ahead, please be reminded to keep yourself informed through local media, contacts etc. and to exercise the necessary caution.'

Ugandans are reporting on Twitter, Facebook and other online media about the 'campaign' Walk to Work. On Twitter it is tagged #walktowork, but do also note #walk2work #ugandawalks.

One of the first reports I came across today was Urban Legend Kampala who takes us through the whole day. Comments full of thick irony:

'According to political experts I have just spoken to (which means, any random person passing by because during times like these everyone becomes a political expert) we are probably going into a Tunisa situation. Nationwide riots and running street battles and daily teargas for at least the next three weeks, culminating in a new government. In short, kiss your asses goodbye.'

In fact, irony is prevalent in the social media commenting and observing I have come across. I'll finish with a recent comment on a Ugandan Facebook friend's Facebook:

'Are we allowed to walk-to-home?'

Respect to Uganda - hope this will work out peacefully.

Tanzanian Parliament, New Technology and Access #Bunge #Tanzania

The Tanzanian Parliament, Bunge, yesterday embarked on the third of its four annual sessions.

An activity which will feed the Tanzanian newspapers and the social media scene for the coming 10 days.

I just picked up some recent statements from the two youthful politicians, I've previously blogged about here:

Zitto Kabwe, MP for Kigoma North and CHADEMA, referring to the national anthem:

and January Makamba, MP for Bumbuli and CCM, who has a good reason for not being in Dodoma yet:

However, as a lovely contrast I have to lead your attention to The Citizen, which today has a brief article up on a new security measure in regard of physical access to Bunge. It is described as 'everyone who wants to enter a certain room has to use a special device in the form of a card'. The article goes on explaining the problems occurring due to this, and quotes the Speaker of Bunge, Ms Anne Makinda, who explained: 'The problems were anticipated as they were part of the new technology.'

Good news for Tanzania (and its democracy-loving donors)

Last year in February Uwazi made a report 'Do they work for us? 17 formal Tanzanian parliamentary sessions surveyed'.

Today Uwazi launched another report concluding that the more active an MP is, the greater chance of being reelected and returning to parliament. Find the report here.

The report says:

One measure voters may use when assessing an MP is how actively he or she participated in the business of Parliament. Does it matter to voters how many basic and supplementary questions an MP asked or how many contributions he or she made while in Parliament?

The brief also shows that elected ordinary MPs who returned were more active than those who did not return. It also shows that the political parties with more active MPs in Parliament gained seats in the elections of October 2010, while the party with less active MPs lost seats. In combination, these facts suggest that the performance of MPs in the Bunge does matter to voters.

So, the more active the MP is, the greater chance he/she stands to keep his/her seat in parliament, and therefore the report concludes that if your political party has the ambition to get more seats, the way forward is to perform, and make interventions.

Good news for Tanzania, and its democracy-loving donors, isn't it?! It all boils down to hard work, and getting off your feet.

Is it really this simple?!

Vijana FM asks 5 questions to Rakesh Rajani

Vijana FM has asked 5 questions to Twaweza-founder Rakesh Rajani - have a look here.

My favorite is Rakesh' answer to the first question, where he also defines 'a good life':

(1) We can read and hear about your commitments, but we are curious about what motivates you. Why do you want to look into often sticky and long-unresolved issues in Tanzania’s development?

'I think it’s pretty simple. I mean, things need to be done, and you work on them. What else does one do with their life, other than work on the things that are important and are worthwhile?

I wake up in the morning and I’m excited about working on those things. You go to bed and you feel a little tired but you have a sense of fulfillment. Every day I get five to ten affirmations; people calling, sending e-mails, engagements you have, a sense of the difference you have made, a sense of how what you have done has been used by others to make a difference. And that’s a good life.

I don’t know what else to do because it seems otherwise you would have a boring life, a shallow life. So it’s the only life I know how to live, at least for now, and its very fulfilling. It gives you the privilege of engaging with others working on issues that really matter, and in that process I meet some very interesting, powerful people, like yourselves.'

In doubt where to start yourself - have a look here, where I just re-found 5 pieces of concrete (and free) advice on how to engage, also from Rakesh Rajani, noted down at a session at the British Council in Dar es Salaam in 2008.

Tanzanian politics: Change comes with the youthful?

I've previously taken an interest in the challenges for Tanzanian youth, or youthful politicians, in regard of entering and being accepted in politics. In September 2009 I posted 'Old enough to become a real Tanzanian politician?', contemplating on an article in The Citizen where the university lecturer Dr. Azaveli Lwaitama from the University of Dar Es Salaam was challenging Tanzanian politics, introducing the fact that Mwalimu Julius Nyerere was one year younger (31) - when he contested and was elected as chairperson of Tanganyika African Association in 1953 - than Zitto Kabwe, who was 32 when he in August 2009 announced that he would be challenging Chadema's secretary general Freeman Mbowe (48).

Zitto had to withdrew then and practice the Tanzanian national sport: kusubiri.

Back then I elaborated on a quote from Lwaitama: 'that these elders do not seem to appreciate that Africa is passing through a period similar to the one it passed through in the 1940s and 1950s in terms of seeking ideological clarity to guide political struggles.'

And I asked: 'But maybe a change is in the making?'

To be honest, I only did so because I wished Tanzanian politics would one day change its conservative idea of youth and its potential, not that I had any idea of what was actually going on. However, something may be changing. Pole pole. I've just read this very well-written article: 'Youthful MPs start grappling with solutions' by Ani Jozen in The Guardian.

The article deals with two MPs, namely Bumbuli MP January Makamba from the government party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and Kigoma North MP Zitto Kabwe from the opposition party Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema), and concludes:

'It (surprising situation) is being catered for by changing mentalities among MPs partly on account of the generation gap, where the likes of January Makamba or Zitto Kabwe don’t have parastatal interests at heart, or seeing Parliament as a disciplinary caucus to control executive ethics, but a problem resolving environment. It is likely to be a relief to the public.'

Both politicians with their own, personal Internet domains, and both frequent users of social media. January Makamba has - probably - the best done website in Tanzania (fine photography, integration with social media, and use of fine details all the way down to the repeated choice of a certain green nuance). January Makamba is also known for his performance at the Pen & Mic where he read the poem 'Letter to My Father', a poem described as 'an appeal for a new generation of leadership in Tanzania'.

Zitto is an avid user of especially Twitter, which he for instance used some weeks ago when he travelled to Iringa and Mbeya Districts in search of solutions to the power problem Tanzania is facing: Tweeting from what he experienced in the field and adding personal attitude, created debate with followers online. Read his blog post here.

The two MPs' ways of communicating via social media - from what I see - have not yet reached their potential, and though they may not reach their rural constituencies, it does mark a change in the direction of openness and will to listen to what other people say. In deed, it also marks a curiousity and interest for opionions and new knowledge which the Tanzanians hardly associate with their MPs. 

When January Makamba on March 10 tweets '@kadebedebe @shurufu @zittokabwe @moplusr new generation of leaders should not be held back by party politics. Focus: to solve problems.' is may sound like a political correct phrase in my Danish ears, but working across political parties in practice in Tanzania does not resemble the pragmatic Danish conditions where we have long ago gotten used to coalition governments.

Tanzanian MPs' use of social media in communications may only be a mere symbol of change, as real change is made by hard work and in overcoming traditional thinking in the way politics is done in practice. Ani Jozen points out clear examples in terms of political efforts by both Zitto and January which mark a change. Read the full article here.

Focusing on solutions and what is best for the nation in stead of favouring your own personal or your political party's agenda is for the brave.

And maybe so that is a job for the youthful, who shouldn't be kept waiting?

Do also read Paul Mason's blog post here 'Twenty reasons why it's kicking off', who in 20 points contemplates on what characterizes the youth wanting change.

As I said: 'I have no illusions' when it comes to my role on making change in Africa

Two weeks ago I won KLM's Club Flying Blue photo competition, where I in return had to give an interview here.

The Facebook page Jadili Africa (Discuss Africa) picked up a quote from my interview (and later invited me to become one of the administrators) of a Facebook page with over 7000 members aiming at discussing issues related to Africa. Here is how people commented:

My point is, KLM's Club Flying Blue communicates to one target group, Jadili Africa to another. Both communicate to people who relate to Africa, but in very different ways.

Obviously, it is an honour to win KLM's competition for the principle of winning and for the 5000 air miles, and to be given the change of expressing my viewpoints for a large target group. It is also encouraging when my friends voted for my photo, and click like on the article. (In fact, I've been amazed by the stable response here.)

However, that was the easy part, so to speak.

The interesting part, and the real challenge to me, the mzungu, is to be invited into the forum of Jadili Africa, and to face comments which fit my own personal kali view so much better on whatever I could be up to in Africa 

This is also one of the reasons why I have digged deep into the African pool of social media, because it offers me alternative views which are much more challenging than passing on a stereotype phrase targeting a European reader group where many seem to think that making change in Africa is something you just do.

You don't - and alternative views are hereby brought on.

Potentials and opportunities

I went through these photos and thought of what a Tanzanian friend recently told me:

'I haven't yet reached my full potential'.

His statement still stays with me. Powerful it is, and confident.

Like when my nephew Baltasar (photo above) called me last week from Iceland to tell me he had been rated a top-performing super-pupil.

Important, especially these days where youth in Northern Africa and in the Middle East is taking to the streets - well - basically because they've got potential which has to be used.

It is not a thing I hear very often in Denmark. That you consider your potential, and that you cannot waste opportunities not to use it.

First, we are brought up to believe that we're all equal, that we must blend in and not brag. Secondly, I feel that the Danes take too many things for granted. As if we're expecting that opportunities will always be there, and that opportunities are only there for us.

Not that we have to do something extraordinarily ourselves to reach it.

I think we have to, though.

Life is simply more interesting that way.