We owe much of our achievements to the ancient Romans. The Romans of yore are famed for their great architectural designs, the modern alphabet design, plumbing, pomp and fanfare, but also, most importantly, for their philosophy, democratic political systems and great wisdom. Legend has it that in order to ensure their continued humility, generals returning from triumphs would be accompanied by a slave during the ride, the slave would constantly whisper into the general’s ear the words “Respica te, hominem te memento.” ( Look, behind you, remember you are only human.) and “Memento morri.” (Remember you are mortal.)
I don’t know about you people but ever since last year’s elections concluded, the Member of Parliament for my constituency has not set foot in our neighbourhood. Something that he used to do every other day as he campaigned, cajoled and screamed for votes at rallies and meetings. Being an army brat, our family was always on the move and so I have had the opportunity of living in multiple constituencies. It is customary for elected officials to woo voters and disappear as soon as they are elected, only to reappear on the eve of the next election. Having thus insulated themselves from the people they go on to renege on their promises, cook up weird ill-conceived policies (who on earth came up with ZIMASSET) all the while invoking the people’s will.
Given how widespread technology has become and the 100% mobile penetration rate, our elected officials’ inveterate reluctance to use technology to stay in touch with the electorate is difficult to understand. In other democracies opinion polls are not only frequent, varied, numerous and ubiquitous, they are used as an EKG throughout an elected official’s term to determine not only their popularity via approval rates but to determine the people’s will. People also have the right to call their MP’s call centre, talk (or scream) at his/her chief of staff. This has the effect of staying them or at least give catharsis to the electorate.
I can intrepidly state that government websites probably make it in the most ugly list, the Parliament website is a case in point. The site is hardly ever updated and the Hansard page lands on a static page which, instead of having timely parliamentary updates, has a mission statement and a statement that tells you to visit the parliament website in order to view updates. Visiting the website will present you with a link, which when clicked will lead you back to the static Hansard page. You can click all you want but you will not go anywhere. I wonder if this is not by design.
Even if we accept, for argument’s sake, that the government does not have the resources, and maybe expertise to create good websites (after all even the Obama administration stumbled with this challenge too, so perhaps this is a government thing) what is preventing the government and it’s relevant sectors from creating Facebook pages, joining Twitter and WhatsApp so as to provide information to the gossip hungry public?
Social media lends itself easily well to public and timely dissemination of information. Even the most inveterate anti-technology die-hard can create a Facebook page in minutes. Their obduracy and furtiveness explains why people thronged to the Baba Jukwa page. True or false at least the allegations offered titbits that were not going to come from the official sources. Their cagey refusals to engage with the public tacitly gave credence to the calumny that often appeared on the page.
How hard is it to join Facebook? How hard is it to provide timely Parliament debates on Twitter, why am I not offered the opportunity to berate my Member of Parliament on Whatsapp every time he tries to weasel out of the promises on which he was elected. Politicians draw their power from the electorate and are tasked with representing the wishes of those people and not act like kings unto themselves.
Join Twitter, Facebook and Whatsapp comrades. We really need to talk about those poshy cars that you have been buying for yourselves using loans meant for sewage works, about ZESA and its woeful service and the crappy programming on ZTV. Why a simple Twitter refutal would have saved everyone the trouble of having to worry about the impending collapse of the Kariba Dam wall – I spend the entire day worried that I was really going to lose my usual ration of two hours of electricity per day.
Politicians are supposed to comport themselves in a manner fitting representatives, technology, more especially the Social Media, affords them with a unique opportunity to do just that. When they conduct the state’s affairs in camera we have no choice but to suspect malfeasance. Whatever their need for privacy is, it is greatly outweighed by the right we have for information. One of the reasons why there is so much graft in this country is because so much stuff goes behind doors when it ought to take place in the broad of day.
Join Facebook comrades! Someone needs to remind you that: You are only human! You are mortal!
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