[rpd] RDP Discussion

[Ben Roberts - AfriNIC]

Hi Mandla,

I saw when you joined that you are a Policy insights contributor at NRS.  Can we assume here that you are speaking on behalf of the NRS?

Kind regards
Ben

Sent from my iPhone

> On 22 Jul 2026, at 18:10, Mandla Matshika <mandlamatshika at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> 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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