Tue, 26 Sep 2017 09:02:06 +0000
…how terrorism can change a country
By Bwalya Mbewe
TERRORISM is abhorrent in whichever way one wants to think of it.
It is like a cancer that once it sets roots in a nation, becomes difficult to uproot. The more reason governments fight hard to prevent any acts that might lead to the establishment of terror groups.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations in the United Stares defines terrorism as “The unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a Government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.”
The senseless act usually has an adverse effect on many people to such an extent that it changes life as commonly known.
Not only are lives lost in large numbers, but it also breeds fear to an extent that people no longer live their lives in peace or tranquillity.
It brings apprehension and suspicion among friends and family.
It also puts more financial strains on economies because of the destruction that is associated with terrorism.
It is not uncommon to find a building being brought down through bombings, and this could be through a vehicle parked near an installation or public place.
In some cases, terrorists have been known to plant bombs inside buildings. The aim is obviously to achieve maximum casualty.
Increased investment in security is one such cost that arises when a nation is gripped with fear. The security companies are the major beneficiaries because the more insecure society gets, the more business they get.
However, it is the change that terror inflicts on society that people find hard to live with and may be forced to change just to stop the attacks. Capitulating to the whims of the terrorists is, however, not the right path to take because once this takes root, a whole nation is lost. And that is why Western democracies fight terrorism.
Terror attacks in Africa were previously not so common, but that is no longer the case. Tanzania, Kenya, Tunisia and Egypt are among countries that have been victims of terrorism. Thousands of people have died at the hands of extremists who target tourist spots, frequented by Western tourists.
Most of these countries have responded with heavy investment in security.
One such country grappling with ways to fight terrorism is Kenya.
A Google search on terrorism in Kenya pops up several results; “Kenya has been the scene of various attacks attributed to terrorist elements.(1). In 1980, the Jewish-owned Norfolk Hotel was attacked by the PLO. In 1998, the US embassy in Nairobi was bombed, as was the Israeli-owned Paradise Hotel in 2002. In 2013, the militant group Al-Shabaab killed 67 people at Nairobi’s Westgate Shopping Mall. There have been numerous other lesser attacks”
Most recently, suspected al-Shabaab fighters beheaded nine men in an overnight assault on a village in the Kenyan coastal district of Lamu, according to police. This was days after the armed group killed three police officers in an attack on a nearby village.
This hallowing tale of terrorism is all too real and it is something that the Kenyans have recognised and are fighting to retain some semblance of normalcy.
As a foreigner, the first thing one notices about Kenya is the heavy presence of security, length and intrusive searches one is subjected to.
For instance, if one is flying out of the country, it is advisable to get to the airport a couple of hours before check in time just to complete the elaborate security procedures. Nothing is taken for granted. Searches are routine and everywhere and on everyone.
In Kenya, one can be searched and frisked anywhere. Shopping malls, hotels and even some churches have invested heavily in security with metal detectors and scanners installed at entrances.
Kenyans do not complain about this intrusion and this is because it is for the good of everyone.
For many Kenyans, having lived through some devastating terrorist attacks, it is both a relief and welcome move that there is an increase in security alertness in public and private buildings and installations.
Shopping malls are no exception and this is extended to shops within the malls. Not only are all bags scanned but individuals are also scanned and frisked. And it’s all taken in good stride.
As a foreigner, from a country where such security measures do not exist, except at the airport and State House, it can be daunting being subjected to searches everywhere one goes.
Such however is life in bustling Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, one of the biggest economies in East Africa.
The terror group, Al-shabaab, has caused so much fear in the nation that companies go to extremes to protect their properties and the people within. No expense is spared to safeguard lives of citizens.
In a day, one can expect to be body scanned, frisked and searched as many times as one enters a shop or hotel.
It does not matter how long one has stayed at a hotel, scanning will happen as often as one leaves or enters the premises.
The other noticeable features are street cameras that literally light up the roads and buildings.
Does this bother the locals?
“Not at all. When you have lived through bombings at the hands of terrorists, it’s not a good experience,” said John Mathambiri, a shop owner in Nairobi’s CBD.
“In fact, we want the government to put latest scanners because some areas are not adequately covered and the possibility of being attacked is always on everyone’s mind,” Mr Mathambiri said.
What lessons should other African countries draw from these developments? That security is the responsibility of every citizen and that no act of suspected sabotage should be ignored.
And then there is cyber terrorism, something that should be worrying every nation.
According to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, cyber terrorism is any “premeditated, politically motivated attack against information, computer systems, computer programs, and data which results in violence against non-combatant targets by sub-national groups or clandestine agents.”
Increased usage of the cyber system to launch attacks against government is not uncommon, it is something that Zambians can relate to whichever side of the political dispensation one has leanings to. The use of misinformation in the political arena through the information technology is becoming the norm because it is fast and can spread to millions within seconds, it is difficult to keep track.
Investment in security can never be too much. The more investment the better. With the evolving cyber threats coupled with increasing terror threats globally, governments and private entities need to be a step ahead in investing in innovations to safeguard lives and properties.
Sleepy governments will be left behind and caught napping.
