[rpd] RDP Discussion

[Mandla Matshika]

Dear Musa, Tshepo, Gugu, and all,

I’d like to respond to some of the concerns raised.

On new contributors: The PDWG is intentionally open. Part of the strength
of AFRINIC policy development is that it allows new stakeholders to engage
when an issue becomes relevant to them, even if they were not active before
the PPM. People’s capacity, organizational priorities, and awareness
evolve, and that often brings new voices to the list.

Regarding Tshepo and Gugu specifically: I don’t think we should assume bad
faith because two people may reference similar facts, data, or community
talking points. Convergence in policy positions is common, especially when
we are all responding to the same policy text and community impact. That
does not mean they are “using the same AI prompt.” Let’s engage with the
substance of their contributions instead.

I also agree that authenticity matters. However KYC-style verification on
an open mailing list risks creating barriers to participation that the PDP
was designed to avoid. A better approach is to judge contributions on
merit, relevance, and alignment AFRINIC’s mission and the needs of network
operators in the region.

Let’s keep the discussion focused on policy and evidence.

Kind regards,
Mandla
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