By Isaac Zulu
National Democratic Congress leader Saboi Imboela has said that female politicians are now scared of using social media because they become victims of cyber bullying.
In an interview, Imboela said that if the administration is serious about encouraging women to utilise the digital space and technology for their advancement, it should protect women from cyber bullying.
She said that some people, especially young girls and boys, are using social media to issue disparaging remarks against female politicians, “in the name of youth participation in politics.”
“While the idea to encourage the femalefork to use the digital space and technology for their social, economic and political advancement, I think it is also important for the government to ensure that women are protected from cyber bullying,” Imboela said. “I say so because female politicians have become victims of cyber bullying such that even very young girls and boys are using social media to insult adults, women especially; all in the name of youth participation in politics. Just the other day, we had a meeting with the Namibian Electoral Commission and the South African Electoral Commission, where there were MPs and I was the only political party leader. And some female politicians said that they are no longer using Facebook and other social media platforms because they are scared of cyber bullying.”
She said that women are now finding it discouraging to join politics for fear of being cyber bullying and insults.
“People, particularly women, are seeing how we female politicians are being insulted using social media, where we have become victims of cyber bullying. And because of that, the females are feeling discouraged from joining politics,” Imboela said.
She also noted that law enforcement agencies are quick to pursue individuals suspected of insulting the Head of State using social media, whereas if it is a leader of an opposition political party, they move at a snail’s pace.
“If a person is accused of insulting the President using social media, even that person is in a remote area; the police and other law enforcement agencies will act swiftly. But if it is a leader of an opposition political party who who is insulted or subjected to cyber bullying; the police will move at a snail’s pace,” said Imboela.
