Highway Africa still on track

WHEN the Highway Africa conference started in Grahamstown 20 years ago, the internet was a new technology on the margins of society.

Even though it has become more mainstream, more than 450 delegates from over 40 countries in Africa and beyond have spent the past two days grappling with everything from #hashtag protests to internet regulation.

Director Chris Kabwato said Highway Africa had evolved into a pan-African gathering of people from diverse backgrounds and experiences who got together annually to share the daily challenges they faced at home.

He said people needed to pay attention to issues like the Ugandan government shutting down the internet for four days in the build-up to elections, claiming it was a security threat, to prevent it one day happening in their own countries.

He urged delegates and society to carefully scrutinise any legislation that can be used against the freedom of expression movement.

“For many years South Africa was isolated from everyone else, Highway Africa has given us a window into the rest of the continent.”

Highway Africa steering committee chairwoman Professor Anthea Garman yesterday said the conference was more than just networking.

Garman said it provided an opportunity to support people who were often working in difficult and stressed situations. “When rain falls on the dry, cracked land, it makes a very big difference.”

Issues tackled yesterday in a series of digital citizens indabas included #hashtag protest campaigns and calls in some quarters to regulate internet access and content.

Although panellists agreed the internet needed some regulations when it came to issues like child pornography and terrorism, who would control it and decide what was undesirable was problematic.