Overview: March 16th till 22nd, 2019
This week we take a closer look at the internet: while some African governments have already blocked internet connectivity only three month into 2019, others are facing the challenges of the spreading of fake news. And then there are alleged miraculous happenings, such as a clip of a pastor bringing someone back from the dead that is doing the rounds on social media. But let’s start with a look at the floods caused by cyclone Idai and its effects in Malawi.
Why Malawi is failing to protect people from floods and what needs to be done
Malawi is the third poorest country in the world, more than 80 percent of the people are reliant on agriculture and farm on little pieces of land in marginalized areas. A lack of economic diversification, different employment possibilities and access to social services means that floods can easily become a disaster – like the most recent one.
Why science matters so much in the era of fake news and fallacies
If it is fake, then it is not news. Fake news is a direct antithesis of science. While science gets to what approximates the truth, fake news is a perversion of reality. Social media has become the center of the paradox: the new technologies enable us to spread more information than ever but also make it possible to facilitate fake news.
African strongmen are the biggest stumbling blocks to internet access on the continent
The less democratic a country is, the higher the chances of state-initiated shutdowns, a recent study found. Five African countries – Gabon, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Chad and the Democratic Republic of Congo – have already blocked internet connectivity just three month into 2019. And they have one other characteristic in common: authoritarianism.
Raising the Dead: Too Many Questions, But More than Enough Answers
A clip on social media showing a South African pastor laying hands on a human corpse, whereupon he allegedly rises from the death, has gone viral. The incident has raised eyebrows and started a discussion about the true sense of religion among many South Africans.