VOA常速英语:公民网络参与热度高，非洲“数字民主”加速发展

From cashless payments to smartphone apps offering everything from taxis to take-out food -Africa’s digital revolution is gathering pace.
从无现金支付到智能手机应用，叫出租车、定外卖，功能一应俱全---非洲的数字革命正在加速发展。

You’re seeing a lot of the people changing the way they live their lives and also creating for themselves wealth, jobs, opportunities.But also to engage politically on a very different level."Sarungi is the founder of the #Change Tanzania platform.What began as a social media hashtag has ballooned into an online social movement with an app and website listing dozens of petitions and initiatives ranging from demands for security cameras at bus stops to a community beach clean.
“可以看到，很多人改变了自己的生活方式，他们不仅为自己创造财富、赢得工作与机会。而且同之前相比，在政治参与度上有了很大的提升。”Sarungi是“#改变坦桑尼亚”(#Change Tanzania)这一社交平台的创始人。最初它只是社交媒体的主题标签，如今已经发展成为在线社交运动，在其软件应用和网站上，列出了数十项申请及倡议，如：要求在公交车站安装安全摄像头，对社区沙滩进行清扫等。

Before (it) used to be people sitting on the streets just talking a lot about politics.But today they have become influencers. With the social media platforms, your voice can be amplified."
“以前，人们只是坐在街头巷尾，谈论很多关于政治的事情。但今天，他们已经成为能够施加影响的人。随着社交媒体平台的发展，你的声音可以被放大。”

In Uganda, the website Yogera, or ’speak out,’ offers a platform for citizens to scrutinize government,complain about poor service, blow the whistle on corruption.
在乌干达，Yogera网站也称作“大声说”，为公民提供了一个监督政府的平台，他们可以抱怨政府部门的服务，揭露腐败行为。

Kenya’s Mzalendo website styles itself as the ’Eye on the Kenyan Parliament,’profiling politicians, scrutinizing expenses, highlighting citizens’ rights.
肯尼亚的Mzalendo网站自称是“肯尼亚议会监督之眼”：刊登政治家简介，审查费用，高度重视公民权利。

But the new platforms for political engagement also risk a backlash.We are seeing governments trying to control as much as they can the virtual space.”
但是，提高民众政治参与度的新兴平台也有可能招致反弹。“现在我们看到，政府在试图尽可能地控制虚拟空间。”

The founder of whistleblowing website Jamii Forums last year fell afoul of Tanzania’s Cyber Crimes Act,charged with failing to disclose users’ data.
去年，一家名为“Jamii 论坛”举报网站的创始人因未向有关部门披露用户数据遭到指控，因而违反了坦桑尼亚的《网络犯罪法案》。

We are not against the government, nor judges, nor the police forces.What we are against is the Cyber Crimes Act, which seems to oppress the people."
“我们既不反对政府、法官，也不反对警察部队。我们反对的是《网络犯罪法案》，因为这一法案有压迫人民之嫌。”

Meanwhile, authorities in Cameroon cut off Internet access for millions of people earlier this year following anti-government protests in English-speaking regions of the country.The French campaign group Internet without Borders warns that African governments are increasingly using Internet blackouts to stifle political opposition.
同时，今年早些时候，继喀麦隆讲英语的地区发生了抗议政府事件后，喀麦隆当局切断了上百万人的互联网连接。法国名为“互联网无国界”的运动组织警告称，越来越多的非洲国家采用断网的方式，压制政治上的反对声音。

Henry Ridgwell, for VOA News, London.
VOA新闻，亨利·里奇维尔于伦敦为您播报。