WHO IS WATCHING THE WATCHERS?
You and me? Citizens? No One?
Greetings all, and welcome.
Engage with me in a thought experiment.
And see what you make of it:
(Your point of view — your advice, is humbly sought and welcome).
Okay then:
I subscribe to the belief that the attribute that has allowed us to survive up to this point in time — as a species — is our superpower to verbalise our needs and wants, to and with each other, freely.
To speak our minds, collaborate, compromise, empathise, see the other person’s point of view, and, if need be, agree to disagree.
Aristotle says, “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”
F. Scott Fitzgerald goes two better — “The test of a first-rate mind is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function”.
And I might add — not resort to needless censorship or verbal abuse of any kind, let alone — goodness forbid — physical violence or war.
But history is replete with examples of when this superpower — this civilised verbal intellectual discourse — has been relegated and overshadowed by riding rough-shod over other people’s rights, the greed, the chest-beating, brinkmanship, our superiority complexes — God complexes — and petty differences, some of which no one even recalls, how and why they started.
In such instances, humanity has come to the edge of and looked down the black hole of self-annihilation.
So that is why what is happening in the “West”, specifically, where — since the COVID-19 pandemic (maybe even earlier) — there has been a plethora of legislation proposed and passed which seemingly speak to agitation against some forms of freedom of expression — increased but subtle forms of censorship, yet insidious.
Terms such as “hate speech”, “misinformation”, “disinformation”, “mal-information”, and “fake news” — on the one hand, and “anti-disinformation/-misinformation — on the other, (makes the “uneducated mind” spin), are finding their way into national legislation but appear to be undefined, meaning they can give governments broad powers and leeway for interpretation: —
The even scarier thing for me is that they seem to be creeping into international agreements, treaties, etc.
These terms are seemingly being operationalised without “the fence of definition” — if you ask me.
By way of record:
The violence being perpetuated in the name of “ideology”, “religion”, “causes”, “sexual (or should it be ‘gender’) orientation”, and downright fanaticism and extremism is unacceptable, criminal, unconscionable and inexcusable. It has no place, NO PLACE WHATSOEVER, in human relations and MUST be condemned, without reserve.
But even then, one form of extremism cannot be fought or countered with another form of extremism.
Therefore, Good People, please ‘bend’ your ear to my lips, and listen as I whisper:
This article is not a critique, God forbid — a condemnation of any government, country, nation, state, multilateral institution or multinational corporation, not even of good old civil society.
No!
I have neither the wherewithal, the pedigreed credentials, nor the inclination.
But what I do have — is the blessedly beautiful freedom of expression, the right to express oneself and speak one’s mind, to communicate my perspective and convey my opinion and view — perchance, parley (dare I add, “within reason”).
That, above, Ladies and Gentlemen, is the crux of the matter — whichever way you cut, slice or dice it.
I don’t live in the “West” (never have, actually always lived in the “South”), so why my fears and concerns? Why the big nosey, nose?
Well, three — four really — fundamentally interconnected reasons:
1. Those in the “West” are human (aren’t we all — human, I mean).
2. The nations where these highly emotive phenomena are taking place are what I call “Contagion Nations” — they catch a cold, and we all feel the chill, sneeze and catch cold — so it is important to keep an eye out.
3. Censorship has been blatant here in Africa.
4. Because of all the above, I feel I am entitled to venture and voice an opinion — at the very least — while I still can (without falling foul…).
Okay, let’s launch this thought boat, onto the thought canal (it will either be a sublime cruise, a cacophonous rough sea, but please, not a tepid or lukewarm swaying in place):
Enter the AU (African Union)
According to a report titled, “Media censorship deepens in Africa, further aggravating the state of press freedom”, of 3rd May 2023 posted on its Internet page, the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) — Article authored by @ Mziwandile Ndlovu: [come on, I had to mention the author, look at the surname]
Cited Aspiration 3 of the Agenda 2063: “The Africa We Want”, which envisions:
“An Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law”.
And again, citing a media stakeholders meeting held under the aegis of the AU, in May 2022,
The article noted the following outcomes:
“The media stakeholders attending the African Media Convention in Arusha expressed an urgent need for improved synergies between the media on the continent, governments, internet intermediaries, private and public sectors, civil society, national as well as regional human rights organizations and researchers to mitigate the effects of the digital onslaught on journalism and the media”. (Emphasis mine).
The article further noted that:
“According to the preliminary findings on Round 11 of AFIDEP’s Africa Integrity Indicators (AII), only two countries (Namibia and South Africa) scored good results (scores of 75) while four countries (Senegal, Tunisia, Cote d’Ivoire and Togo) performed moderately (Scores of 50) on indicator 55 which assesses pre-publication censorship of the media by the state and government’s promotion of the media’s self-censorship. (Emphasis mine).
The highest possible score is 100.
What this means is that the vast majority of the countries (48) posted adverse scores on this indicator showing very clearly how prevalent media censorship is in Africa”, concluded the Article.
Enter the EC (European Commission) [I can never tell the difference between the EU and the EC]
President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, opened her speech at the Davos 2024, Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, which took place from 15–19 January in Davos, Switzerland thus:
“Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, dear Klaus, your annual Global Risk report makes for a stunning and sobering read.
For the global business community, the top concern for the next two years is not conflict or climate, it is disinformation and misinformation, followed closely by polarization within our societies”. (bold mine).
It was a brilliantly crafted speech covering a wide range of burning topics, and embedded therein where an acknowledgement of citizens’ rights, in the EU, viz., “…where all of us have the right to speak our mind, to be ourselves, even if we are different from the majority.” (author’s emphasis).
(I believe the President, would not begrudge the rest of us to lay claim to such rights).
In that same brilliantly impassioned speech, the President went on to remind the captive audience as they sat in rapt attention — an audience comprising giants, nay, titans of their respective industries, Leaders of the most powerful nations and “helms-people” of “humongously” large international organisations and multi-national corporations — and spoke of democracies, their freedoms and the inherent risks — that, “…there will always be attempts to put us off track. For example, with disinformation and misinformation.” (emphasis added).
It was a rousing speech, hard-hitting, wide-ranging and sweeping — is it any wonder, as Chairman Klaus Schwab enthused in his introduction of her, “…you have been named the most influential woman in the world” (just had to emphasise this — you have my humble approbation, Madam President).
But just as a by-the-way, where would the EU and the EC put — as a threat to the global business community — counterfeits and infringements of goods, piracy of creative works?
because I know some of these businesses own some of the most valuable Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) that, if sold, could wipe out my country’s foreign debt in one fell swoop.
Or maybe that particular “threat” has been neutralised.
Enter the UN (United Nations)
According to a News release posted on 28 May 2024 on the WHO Internet Page — “WHO Member States agree way forward to conclude Pandemic Agreement” — this is regarding the WHO Pandemic Treaty: —
It states:
“Member States reiterated that the world needs a pandemic agreement built on the principles of equity, sovereignty, and prevention, preparedness and response, and to ensure future generations are safeguarded from the threat of inevitable future pandemics”. (Author’s emphasis).
True. Good and Noble intentions.
We need to pull together in times of global emergencies, so long as we keep in mind what Milton Friedman says, “Concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it”.
To me — noting what is happening in the “West”, and on the international stage, I am of the mind that this phenomenon will be spread by the “Contagion Nations” globally — I can see a day, not in the too distant future, when we shall be censored into oblivion, or at the very least, into dumb submissive automatons.
I also doubt if “equity’ and “sovereignty” are and will be top of the agenda.
Finally, as we seek to dock our Thought Boat, allow me to say that:
To me, it appears, and I believe this, that national governments are ceding their sovereignty and authority to regional, continental and international bodies and institutions; that is scary.
But we must remain optimistic that citizens across the globe will see and rise against what is beginning to be a pervasive over-step by governments, which, at the same time, is the abdication of the trust put in them by us, the voting public, to safeguard our interests, regardless of the forum.
Still, as with humans — governments; international/regional/continental bodies — if given leeway and oversight is lax — will overstep their mandates and that is how tyranny is birthed.
If censorship oversight in those nations called “Developed” and “Democratic” — which is very high and robust — can be sidestepped, what more here in the so-called LDCs, where civil society and citizen vigilance and holding to account of our governments — is weak and in some cases non-existent or obliterated — what do you think will happen?
We will “catch a terrible cold”.
Power, which is meant to be exercised by sovereign nations is — seemingly with good intentions — ceded to and is concentrated in international organisations.
Organizations that are not democratic — having no constituents to answer to — hide behind the purple veil of opaqueness.
I mean, how democratic can an international Organisation be that still gives the option of vetoing any substantive resolution (mind, open to only the 5). A veto power that is surely not justifiable — is it?
By the way, Citizenship should not be a passive badge we wear simply to be called “Citizen”. Nonchalantly strapped and emblazoned across our chests, or to simply be indicated on our travel documents and IDs.
No!
Citizenship is an honour, a sense of duty, a call to service — admission to a club that demands that we pledge to be the best and do the best to deserve that admittance.
It is a clarion call to speak up when we perceive “wrongs being turned into ‘rights’”.
Citizenship is a superpower that gives us the right to engage and “to speak truth, to power”.
Our nations need us.
As Jawaharlal Nehru says, “Citizenship consists in the service of the country”.
And that service must be to be mindful and alert to what our governments are doing — or not doing — in our name and holding them to account.
To what extent should free speech be restricted?”
Under what circumstances would a call to, “censor and restrict freedom of expression, to safeguard democracy” be justified?
For those of us in Africa, remember what Nelson Mandela said he dreamt of, when he called us to “arms” for the unity of our continent:
“I dream of the realisation of the unity of Africa, whereby its leaders combine in their efforts to solve the problems of this continent. I dream of our vast deserts, of our forests, of all our great wilderness.”
I believe what the Great Madiba was saying to us and what he is saying is that — as a collective — we must realise that no one can save us but ourselves. We are grateful for the benevolence of the world, but we must no longer continue in the debilitating “miasma of dependency”.
But I must give credit where credit is due.
At the December 2022 United States-Africa Leaders Summit held in Washington D.C., our African Leaders did indicate to their Host, The US, “…we do not want your aid, we want your investment…private dollars and infrastructure investment…” or words to that effect. (Am proud to say my nation’s President was in that historic meeting).
This is good. A stride in the right direction.
Our leaders of course understand that foreign aid has a role to play and has played a significant role in the areas of food security and healthcare — PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) has done wonders in lives saved-in fact millions of African lives.
We all know this.
But still, we must avoid the “Miasmic Dependency” on Foreign Aid to the greatest extent possible, and in the spirit of acknowledgement of the value-add of this Aid, “We must not throw the Foreign Aid baby, out, together with the Foreign Aid bath water”.
Because here is the thing of it.
We have it all. Everything.
The possibility, the opportunity, the resources, both natural and human, to make this continent of ours, the greatest, most affluent, real estate this planet has ever known.
We have it within us to make it such a place, if we only take a step forward, and dare to dream great dreams.
To dream greatly — as Nelson Mandela and all the other fallen great freedom fighters did.
Should they all, have fought, and died in vain?!
Why do we linger at the doorstep of greatness, restlessly, listlessly looking over our shoulders, while destiny beckons, fearful of taking a step forward and claiming our inheritance?
As we dock — as you disembark, I leave you — with an echo of John Adam’s mournful cry,
“Is anybody there? Does anybody care? Does anybody see what I see?”
Again, I ask:
WHO WATCHES THE WATCHERS?
Notes:
· Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. Article by AFIDEP, Media censorship deepens in Africa, further aggravating the state of press freedom, 2023
· special address by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, Davos, 2024.
· U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit: Strengthening Partnerships to Meet Shared Priorities, Washington, D.C., 2022.
· WHO Member States agree way forward to conclude Pandemic Agreement, Geneva, 2024.
Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.
