Want to send a nude? Think twice!

NDANGWA MWITTAH

NOT too long ago, social media was littered with a story that went viral of a Rwandan businesswoman.

The woman, who at the age of 35 declared that she was going to contest for the Rwandan presidency, had a rude ‘shock’ welcome on her presidential bid when on Friday, May 5, 2017, nude photos of herself leaked and did the rounds on social media.

We all know how social media thrives on such stories.

The photos, which are still making rounds on several platforms, I must say, show the woman completely naked, with striking poses in different positions inside a house.

Coming back home, here in Zambia, there was also a story that equally found itself trending on social media of a civic leader on the Copperbelt who ‘accidentally’ sent a picture of her topless self to a WhatsApp group.

She said the picture was sent by mistake.

Again, not too long ago, there was another story that made rounds on social media of a 30-year-old man, who said he is a resident of Choma. The man wrote to the editor of a named online publication asking for help about his cheating girlfriend.

Apparently, his girlfriend of many years and a student at a named medical school in Lusaka had been sending nude pictures of herself to his best friend. That was one thing she had never done for him.

These are just examples of something that many people like doing – sending nude pictures to one’s loved ones.

This is actually a common thing, especially on social networking platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. It is very common among those in long-distance relationships.

Well, to all those who are doing it, there’s some news for you.

The Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) says this practice is illegal. No matter how much love or affection you may have for a particular person, ZICTA says it is wrong to send any nude pictures of oneself to their loved one, or indeed to anyone.

The ramifications are many, actually. Let’s take, for instance, the case of the Rwandan woman. The ‘mistake’, even though she may not have seen it that way at the time, has come back to haunt her. It may even put her business and political career at risk.

ZICTA acting executive director Patrick Mutimushi categorises the trend as pornography and recently advised that all those who do it to “keep the fire burning” with their loved ones should restrict it to their bedrooms. Rightly so, in fact!

Speaking when he featured on Radio Phoenix’s Let the People Talk programme recently, Mr Mutimushi said there is no exception to the laws governing pornography.

He said: “Pornography is clearly illegal, so whether you are sending to your loved ones and trying to keep the fire burning, you might as well find a way of doing that; if it’s between the two of you! I am not saying it is right, illegal is illegal, whether it’s the loved one trying to express their love, go and do it in your room as a way of burning fire together or whatever it is,” he said.

Indeed, what is illegal is illegal. The law states clearly that it is illegal for anyone to transmit, produce, or to have in possession any pornographic materials. The issue is really an aspect of one’s dignity.

So, if you are thinking of sending ‘them’ a nude picture tonight, you must think twice before doing it. You never know who receives it or what they decide to do with all the nude pictures you send them once you decide to end your relationship.

Who knows, it might just as well fall into wrong hands. Anything is possible these days.

So ndiye so! The next time they ask for a nude photo, tell them to come see it for themselves. It’s actually better to be safe than sorry. Don’t you think so?