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DIGITAL DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA New Media Rise on the Tombstones of the Old in Zimbabwe

DIGITAL DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA New Media Rise on the Tombstones of the Old in Zimbabwe. Approach. A Brief Introduction to Zimbabwe: Local vs. Global Dynamics Status of the Old Media and Civil Society in Zimbabwe

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DIGITAL DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA New Media Rise on the Tombstones of the Old in Zimbabwe

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  1. DIGITAL DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA New Media Rise on the Tombstones of the Old in Zimbabwe

  2. Approach • A Brief Introduction to Zimbabwe: Local vs. Global Dynamics • Status of the Old Media and Civil Society in Zimbabwe • The Rise of the New Media: Structure, Policies, Discourses, Uses, Challenges and Prospects • Conclusion

  3. Zimbabwe: Local vs. Global Dynamics

  4. What is the State of Old Media in Zimbabwe?Fossilised Dictatorial Tendencies: Media &Governance • DICTACTORSHIP A PRO OF 3 LEGACIES • Political culture of violence: Mate atrocities, present crisis • Restrictive medialaws:inheritence & continuation,FoI, FoP, FoE

  5. Lib Movements: just, egal vs. contra 2 demo, top-down structures, orders, intolerance of dissent, • Crystallisation: attitudes now inform policies for public instits, i.e. public media • Overall effect: Conceal dissent, realities of oppress & exploitation, stall debate, promote homogeneity etc

  6. ‘With the exception of a small elite…people all over the world resent loss of control over their lives, over their…environment…jobs…economies, governments, countries’ (Castells, M, 1998:69) • Resentment leads to resistance- xenophobia, extremism, nationalism, (resistance identities) etc • Nowhere, is the anti-globalisation nationalism spirit more vivid in new media policy than in Zim (also hegemonic purposes for political elite)

  7. What Exactly are we talking about here? EXAMPLE • Promote a national culture, identity, consciousness, & point of view (news!) • 75% local content after 2 years of broadcasting • No foreign ownership or funding (same for CSO) • Only Zim citizens resident • State Monopoly continues- programmes trying to reinforce idea of national identity, culture, etc • No foreign global media ‘mercenary’ - CNN, BBC, etc • Print media WORST!

  8. From Policies of Restriction to Extra Judicial TacticsWhat other methods are used to deal with Media ? • Beat, torture, arrest, deport or bomb them! • Satellite media, agents of neocolo, !!!! EXAMPLES • 20 arrested, 3 deported (RwB,2001) • 44 arrested, 5 beaten up, 7 deported (2002, AI) • Bombed (DN printing press, Jan’01) • VOP offices (Aug, 2002)

  9. What is total Impact of Elite Jingoism & Hegemony? Obvious! • Media, Citizens Gagged in the name of nationhood, identity etc • No FoE & FoI: fear,inimical to a participatory democracy, pple must be heard • Exclusion & isolation: new nationalism a class based agenda, legitimising identity • New Avenues and platforms: political expre, protest & resistance, redefinition of national agenda, self determination,

  10. EXAMPLES! • Music • Graffiti • Condoms • Mobile-SMS in2000 • Internet

  11. What is the Infrastructure for Online public spheres in Zim?Semi-deregulation vs. Universal Coverage • Semi der author environ : 5 major ISPs : few with Intern gateways, all depend on Tel One national grid, used with conditions • Highest shared/public access: In cities, rural digital divide high though! • 500,000 users & 900% growth rate btwn 2000- 2004 (World Stats) • Fixed line providers: 2 (TelOne, Tele Access) • 3 Mobile phone companies: 700, 000 users,leapfrogging dream, affordability problems

  12. The Democratic Potential Of the Intern in Zim Emerging Alternative Online Public Spheres Characteristics & Uses • Counter hegemonic- cyber activism • Radical political content • Democratic participation • Advocacy journalism • Innovative-logos, slogans, etc • Micro/ Institutional • Virtual Communities/Strategic Alliances (Meso, Macro)

  13. Radical Online Spheres EXAMPLE ‘We call upon all Zim to take courage and defy any person, state authority that infringes your rights’ ------------------------------- • Radical political content • Innovative- on & off line • Political action (civil disobedience)

  14. Online News Public spheresFilling the Information vacuum caused by Closures • Fill the Info- gap, but still elitist • Feed from mainstream media • Evading harsh laws • More Interactive • Run by exiled reporters- stories e-mailed

  15. Virtual Communities and Alliances EXAMPLE • Advocacy forum, cyber activism • Information resource centre • Mobilisation and networking • Meso & Macro potential

  16. How can the full potential of the Internet be realised? CHALLENGES • Accessibility • Availability • Affordability

  17. Conclude ! • Mugabe, R: The Times (UK), 11 December, 2003 at WSIS, Geneva These last two years have shown us how ICTs…are often deployed as a prelude … to aggressing the sovereignties of poor and small nations. I say this because my country …continues to be a victim of such aggression with both the UK and the United States using ICTs to challenge our sovereignty through hostile and malicious broadcasts calculated to foment instability and destroy the state … • Statement policy cue for Tel One, POTRAZ, Parliament, etc

  18. THANK YOU

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