Digital Democracy

Empowering Civic Engagement Through Digital Technologies

Zimbabwe Research 2008

 Digital Democracy
Empowering Civic Engagement Through Digital Technologies

On The Line
Zimbabwe During Transition and Hyperinflation

Empty supermarket shelves due to
hyperinflation
Why We Went
In November 2008, Digital
Democracy traveled to Harare,
Zimbabwe, to investigate how
technology was being used to
overcome obstacles set forth
by a closed society. We
researched methods of
survival despite hyper-inflation
and looked at how
communications strategies
help citizens to address needs.
Lines at ATM machines
Country Snapshot
!
Since Zimbabwe came to independence in 1980, the country
formerly known as Rhodesia has benruled byRobert Mugabe
andhis ZANU-PF party. Conditions have declined, exeplified b
hyper-inflation of rates
exceeding 231 million
percent and cholera
outbreaks in the capital. The
2008 elections led to a
power-sharing agreement
between the ruling party and
the opposing Movement for
Democratic Change led by
Morgan Tsvangirai. This was
in part due to transparency
campaigns, including blogs, Map of Zimbabwe
SMS, and mobile phone
photography in which local election results were photographed
after being posted outside of election offices alongside the front
page of that days newspaper. A compilation of these photos led
to an alternative tally and political progress was partially made
due to the transparency offered by new technology.
What We Did
Community Interviews
!
Digital Democracy met with community Based Organizations
for a community needs analysis and a look at technical
capacity. Topics ranged from civil society, organizing under
the Mugabe government, technology access & use, access
to information, economics and health. A particular focus was
on mobile phone access and usage.

Digital Democracy is a non-profit organization using digital technologies to empower civic engagement. We
work with local partners to develop tools that help community organizations promote human rights and build local
capacity. Emphasizing the need for new media literacy, we prepare youth & communities with the tools they need
to be informed and engaged citizens in the 21st century. 
 Digital Democracy
Empowering Civic Engagement Through Digital Technologies

What We Learned
Hyperinflation
Our first meal cost 4,800,000 Zimbabwean dollars. Given that locals
were only allowed to take out 50,000 per day, that meant that one
meal cost more than people could take out in a year.
Technology
Landlines and mobiles, while accessible, are in destitute conditions.
Registration for either is rigorous. Placing calls is rarely successful.
Sending an SMS required repeatedly tapping the send button for
minutes on end before the carrier could handle the request.
One hundred billion dollar note Human Rights
Despite harassment and authoritarian conditions, human rights
groups continue to function and access information mainly via the
internet. Student groups inquired about Obamaʼs campaign strategy
as a way to gather support for the issue amongst peers using tech.

What We Recommend
1. Support for basic necessities such as food, water, electricity and
medicine, particularly to prevent the cholera outbreak from
furthering.
2. Provide youth access to 21st century education, including:
Film at theatre in Harare a. Citizen journalism that identifies local needs and resources and
highlights community voices
b. Multimedia such as photo & video, mapping
c. A means to communicate through existing media sources such
as television and community radio
3. Trainings - Our new media literacy & journalism training showed a
desire and need for this type of support. Moreover there need
to be trainings on technology tools for a variety of professions
and on security.
4. Localization of tools &
educational materials -
Given the variety of
Made Possible By
Thank you to our individual donors,
languages and this very
supporters, Advisory Board and our heroic
specific scenario, the local partners. This is made possible by our
need for open source fiscal sponsor, Institute for Multi-Track
Cost of top-up cards for software becomes Diplomacy. Travel support was provided by
minutes on mobile phones increasingly apparent. the Arca Foundation.

Digital Democracy
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+1-347-688-DDEM [3336] | info@digital-democracy.org | Twitter @DigiDem | www.digital-democracy.org