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Transparency is Better Than Secrecy.
(From The Post (Zambia): AAGM)
Byline: Owen Sichone
IT is possible to take photographs from spy satellites that will reveal the number plate on your car parked outside a block of flats. It goes without saying that harassing tourists and citizens for taking photographs of public buildings is just a waste of time. But Africans everywhere are still being bullied by ignorant soldiers and policemen for having cameras, radios and anything else that appears to threaten the security of the state.
Where does this stupidity come from? It is not entirely an African illness, British bureaucrats are also notorious for banning books written by former government employees even when those books are freely available in other countries.
There is however a difference between British stupidity and African state security protocol ritualism. For the British, it is a matter of honour NOT to break one's oath even when it no longer makes sense. Africans actually believe that taking away tourists' cameras makes their countries safer as if by magic.
Former Zambian spymaster Chungu's lawyer reportedly said:
"The oath of secrecy which Chungu took before the president is meant to defend the dignity and integrity of his office. He cannot speak out until he is released from it. But we have these allegations raised against him of which he needs to defend himself," Dignity and integrity?
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