Those who know me closely used to warn me: “Kana Monna Thabo, o tla nyelela. Ba tla go tsenya monoso ba go phampamolla like Kalafatis. A waitse tota!!.”
That did not stop there.
These were followed by a series of episodes, absolute madness and intolerance, including life threatening text messages. I ended up having to report the culprit to the Gaborone Central Police Station (CPS), who on that fateful day un-be known to him, came to CPS accompanied by my neighbor, a legal eagle. As years went by and in connecting the dots, it came clear that all these were well planned and had good operative networks.
On reading the Weekend Post of 09th April 2018 with a title heading “DIS targets PAC members over NPF saga”, it evoked painful emotions from the past. You may muse about the past because you want to recreate a satisfying emotional experience, if only fleetingly, through a daydream. But the memories I had, activated shame and disgust.
I was once headbutted by some monstrous ex-soldier, a BDP operative and a staunch member of KFC (Khama Fan Club) at Dros Restaurant in Molapo Crossing Mall. As if that was not enough, on seeing me yet again at O’Hagans restaurant at Game City Mall, that Mampara lost it. He threw bottled Windhoek Draught (Moimana) at me, which attracted a round of applause from Ma-Gents (his friends). Fortunately it missed me; unfortunately it landed on my date. She collapsed.
The foregoing is just a tip of the iceberg.
The purpose of this piece is to analyze the role of the media in the shaping of legislation, through the social phenomenon of moral panics. The nature of moral panics and the media’s role in shaping public opinion will be discussed and their implications analyzed.
The viral spread of hashtag ‘me too’ has burst the dam of several thousands of repressed voices, those voices that were downplayed by years and years of normalization of freedom of expression and or association. The cracks in the dam have witnessed sporadic seepage of outbursts of voices throughout the years.
Whilst this being the case, the recent development in different media platforms has sent clear warning signals ÔÇô THE DON’T YOU DARE, depicting some INDIVIDUAL (S) as monsters untouchable MAFIOSI with their own cosa-nostra.
The Weekend Post of the 9th April 2018 reported that members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) who have been tasked to review the said National Petroleum fund (NPF) and report back to parliament are living in fear after being warned that there was a plan within the DIS to either harm or kill them. According to the Weekend Post, Hon Keorapetse who is a member of PAC reported the matter to the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and the Commissioner of Police. In his affidavit to the police, the lawmaker for Selibe-Phikwe West stated that, “In our last sitting in the Parliament Public Accounts Committee Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Minerals Resources was extensively questioned on the transactions related to the National Petroleum Fund. Following that enquiry and in subsequent days particularly on the 5th April 2018, in the late afternoon I received a phone call from Guma Samson Moyo relating to our work in the PAC concerning and relating to the NPF.
“In the cause of our conversation aforesaid Moyo informed me that he had received a tip off from an anonymous member of the DIS that there was a plan within the DIS to either harm me or kill myself and him following what was perceived as our hostile and intense attitude in the questioning and interrogation of the National Petroleum Funds in particular the PS who appeared before us”.
“Keorapetse went on to narrate that Moyo pointed out to him that his anonymous source whom he said was a member of the DIS had informed him that they had been particularly so targeted because of their unrelenting interest and extensive questioning which seemed to expose maladministration and short comings within the government bureaucracy in respect of how the NPF was dealt with.
For his part, Former Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Sadique Kebonang who was subpoenaed to give evidence to the PAC reviewing the NPF corruption scandal told the committee that he approved the variation of the funds from the NPF because he was told that national security was at stake. He said that ministers and senior government officials fear the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services (DISS). Kebonang, who is a lawyer by profession, further added, “There is fear around the DISS ÔÇô whether it is real fear or otherwise. Even the DCEC (Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime) fears the DISS and so do I. This is an institution you cannot say no to!”
According to the Lobatse MP, he said that it was unfortunate that people are now facing criminal charges while they thought they acted in line with the Fund by allocating the money to DIS and subsequently approving the variation request.
“I don’t think we can accuse all those who facilitated the disbursements of the funds to DIS. This case is unfortunate. People have been charged with money laundering but we all know where the money is,” he said. .
However, Kebonang said he would not want to put fear above the request for variation from the DIS, which he acceded to because he thought it was compelling as the issue of national security was cited. Moreover, Kebonang indicated to the committee that at the time when he approved the request for variation after receiving a letter, then a call from Kgosi informing him about the request letter, he did not see any wrong with his actions. The former Cabinet minister stated they were in agreement with the then acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security Dr Obolokile Obakeng that there was nothing wrong with acceding to the request by DIS for variation.
The newspaper headlines and different media platforms express fear or concern about threats or supposed threats posed by the agent ÔÇô a civil servant for that matter whom they depict as monstrous animal. The untouchable goliath, holier than thou. This is so wrong. The headlines, or the parties the headlines quote make claims or assertions that are intended to generate even more fear and concern in their audiences and perhaps cry out to the public to mobilize in some ways to contact the appropriate political representatives, demand legislation, join and participate in a relevant social movement about the evil doings of folk devils. Thus creates a window for Moral panic.
Moral panics according to different scholars began as far back as the existence of organized society itself. Hostility toward and fear of agents of evil probably dates to the dawn of humanity, long before writing and before records of social and historical events. The modern mass media therefore, provide the most effective spark for the creation of moral panics as well as an engine for their conveyance.
Is it not time for the civic groups to come together as a collective and say enough is enough to defend democracy and protest against maladministration and corruption. Not talk shopping, grand standing and scoring of political points and sleeping with the enemy. Is it not time for the legislators to develop balls of steel and if need be, serve as sacrificial lambs as one or two killings will not be bad for the country as the late General Sebogodi Merafhe would say? The social media platform is awash with all sorts of commentary all displaying forms of anger without audacity of hope. What are we learning from various case studies – Mama Winnie (MHRIP from across the border, the June 16 Soweto student up risings as well as The Influence of the Sunflower Movement on the Civic Movement in Taiwan inter-alia.
The media depictions of the lines between good and evil, black and white, them and us have become blurred, fuzzy and ambiguous. In a multi mediated world it becomes harder to define folk devils.
The urban legends, unlikely tales, too good to be true told by supposedly credible sources and believed and passed on by one man and woman in the street, triggers the moral panics. A major source of moral panic are the “o blind syndrome, he is a sniper, deadly etc.
Not everybody accept and passes on the tales of good and evil that once gripped the society, such tales are still promulgated of course, but they tend to be confined to specific and diverse sectors of the society rather than in the society as a whole.
For he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten..
*Thabo Lucas Seleke writes from Seleme Farm, Rasesa
