Having grown up in Zimbabwe I am aware of the power of politicians especially when it comes to mobilizing the poor and desperate to further their agenda. I am also aware of the propaganda they can employ to ensure that the news keeps as much of its actions and human rights abuses out of the media. This causes a political crisis as democratic values are abandoned and the nation is dictated by an elite few, who may change laws to suit themselves at a whim. The rececent utterrances of the ANC Youth League President though radical were in the very fashion the Zimbabwean leader used to rally support and wield their power. The power of his words is evident in the violence it has incited around South Africa. With the growing inequalities, rising food prices and poor service delivery that has resulted in strikes nationwide these conditions can be abused by politicians like Malema to niitiate land reform and other radical ideas violently, as they were done in Zimbabwe. Keeping the people informed and aware of these abuses of power is what an Ushahidi platform could provide, through web updates on an independent news website or sms network. This would aim to track mostly the actions of the politicians and any violence it promotes around the country, all in hopes of keeping the democratic process alive.
You need to be a member of Urgent Evoke to add comments!
Join Urgent Evoke