[rpd] Some thoughts...

[Badru Ntege]

Dialogue tends to feed and fuel each other.  And at times it's necessary to address the elephant in the room to be able to get an outcome.

I think community on the list was addressing the elephant. Which I also think the policy attempts to address.   We want to get back to a place where we trust in each other and that's the whole essence of community. We should be able to say what's on our mind but also be able to audit each other since we agree that we are using a community resource.

Andrew reading though the entire thread I think all sides discussed a sensitive issue to the bone and many member who read the whole thread will be able to make up their minds in an open and fair way.

At times it s it's necessary to develop a thick skin while maintaining an open mind.

I feel no need to try and curb this every now and then it's ok to have this dialogue especially if we have to eliminate the elephant s inthe room

Regards

Badru Ntege
CEO
NFT Consult Ltd
Www.Nftconsult.com<http://Www.Nftconsult.com>

“Vision without execution is hallucination.”
― Thomas A. Edison






On 28 Jun 2017, at 6:21 am, Ismail Settenda <ismail at tispa.or.tz<mailto:ismail at tispa.or.tz>> wrote:

Hi,

A bit strong worded (kinder like responding to fire with fire...not wise I think)

Anyway isn't this sort of talk meant for the community discussion list and not the RPD list.

Best regards

--
Ismail Settenda

Please excuse any typos or omissions as this email has been sent on the mobile

On 27 Jun 2017 22:50, "Andrew Alston" <Andrew.Alston at liquidtelecom.com<mailto:Andrew.Alston at liquidtelecom.com>> wrote:
So,

I debated sending this offlist to each person I feel is affected – or sending this publicly – I have opted to actually do both in certain cases.

To start with – what I have seen on this list today from certain members of this community has disgusted me – and sickened me.  The reality is – we have foreign companies doing business on this continent – and they are investing money, they are investing resources, they are creating jobs.  They are not the enemy – indeed – the enemy is often ourselves – and remarks that insult people based on nationality and could effectively deter foreign investment coming into this continent are dangerous, they are short sighted, they are economically damaging, and they amount to a form of blatant xenophobia.

And so – I want to say – very publicly – to the foreign companies on this list – I, and others on this list, value your contributions.  I have argued with many of you on many topics – and we debate, and we discuss, but your contributions are useful, and they are appreciated, and they stimulate thought and debate.  We here in Africa are not an island – this is a global world – with global players – and global ideas.  We as African’s, have ideas we need to export to the rest of the world that the world could benefit from, and skills, and knowledge, and equally, the rest of the world has much to offer us – but in order for this symbiotic exchange of information and ideas to happen, we have to change our mindset here in Africa, to embrace those with differing opinions, hear them, consider them, and then, once adequately considered based on the merits of what is being said, THEN and ONLY then decide what should be accepted or rejected.

This list has degenerated into a series of attacks and honestly what I see here has NOTHING to do with the policy at hand – it is downright disgusting.

So, to end – I say this to every foreign company on this list – and I say this in a personal capacity – I may be on this list- I may be part of this community – and I may have been a board member – but I totally, without exception, without reserve, and without apology condemn the xenophobic style remarks I have seen on this list today, and I know there are many others who join me in these sentiments. Know this – Africa is open to do business with the res to the world – and please – do not be discouraged by a few small minded individuals intent on disparaging remarks – they do NOT represent the majority of the views on this continent.  On behalf of myself, and all of those who condemn the style of attacks and emails on this list today that I have spoken to, I apologise for what has been happening here, and I ask you please, don’t let it discourage you from keeping participating – your contributions are valuable to us on this continent.

Thanks

Andrew Alston



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