7 - The Internet as Public Sphere: A Zimbabwean Case Study (1999-2008)
Corresponding Author(s) : Kudakwashe Manganga
Africa Development,
Vol. 37 No. 1 (2012): Africa Development: Special Issue onThe African Public Sphere:Concepts, Histories, Voices and Processes
Abstract
The appearance of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) on Zimbabwe’s political landscape in 1999 and the publication of independent newspapers provided Zimbabweans with alternative public spheres to the government controlled media. Through these counter-publics Zimbabweans articulated their protests against the deteriorating economic and political situation in the country. However, legislations like the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) have since 2002 enabled the government to exert a stranglehold over the free flow of information. This has subsequently forced Zimbabweans to resort to the Internet to articulate their political views without fear of reprisals from the state. This paper addresses the key features, problems, and prospects of this cyber public sphere.
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- Alexander, K., 2006, ‘The Future of Democratic Politics in Zimbabwe’, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, http://www.ijr.org.za/transitionaljustice/zimbabwe-monitor/debate, 8 October 2008.
- ‘Comment: A Dream Deferred’, (2008). The Financial Gazette, October 23-29. 8. Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, 2004, Analysis of the Implications of the Proposed Amendments of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 25 June.
- ‘Daily News Wins Damages Against Zimbabwe State Officials’, Zimonline, 30 July 2004.
- Ferber, P., Foltz, F. and Pugliese, R., 2004, ‘Cyberdemocracy Vs Egovernment: The Degree of Interactivity on State Legislative Websites’, Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Institute of Technology, Chicago, 01-05 September.
- Government of Zimbabwe, 2007, Interception of Communications Act. Harare: GOZ.
- Government of Zimbabwe, 2002, Access to Information and the Protection of Privacy Act. Harare: GOZ.
- Government of Zimbabwe, 2002 Public Order and Security Act. Harare: GOZ. Habermas, J., 1989, The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere, Cambridge: Polity Press.
- Internet World Stats, 2004, ‘Zimbabwe Internet Usage and Marketing Report’, http://www.internetworldstats.com/af/zw.htm, 2 March 2009.
- Internet’, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet, 13 October 2008.
- InfoSec News, 2006, ‘Internet Use in Zimbabwe Limited’, http://www.bernama.com.my/berna/v3/news.php?=192201, 10 January 2009.
- Kole, E. S., ‘Cyberdemocracy: A Condition, not an Outcome. Turning the Internet into a Tool for Civil Society Development, Democracy and Women’s Empo- werment’, http://www.xs4all.nl/~ekole/public/cyberdem.html, 24 June 2008.
- Kwinjeh, G., 2005, ‘Third Force or Counter Revolutionary Claptrap?’ http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/thirdforce4.12475.html, 4 April 2005. Labuschagne, P., 2003, ‘Revisiting Civil Society in Africa’, African Studies Association of Australasia and the Pacific 2003 Conference Proceedings-Africa on a Global Stage.
- Masunungure, E., 2004, ‘Travails of Opposition Politics in Zimbabwe Since Independence’, Harold-Barry, D (ed). Zimbabwe: The Past is the Future, Harare: Weaver.
- Media of Zimbabwe, 2009, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/media_of_Zimbabwe, 2 March.
- MISA-Zimbabwe, 2004, Press Statement, 3 August.
- ‘New Zimbabwe Newspaper Faces Government Ban’, http://www.afrol.com, 30 July 2008."
- Ndlovu, R., 2009, ‘ICT Guide- Zimbabwe’, http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/march23_2009html, 23 March.
- Ndlovu, R., 2008 ‘Public Sphere’, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_sphere , 19 June.
- Sachikonye, L., 2000b, ‘Just Victory’, SAPEM, 6 July.
- SADC, 2002, ‘SADC Parliamentary Forum Election Observation Mission, 2002, Zimbabwe Presidential Elections 9-10 March’, Harare, 13 March).
- Saunders, R., 1997, ‘The Press and Popular Organizations in Zimbabwe: A Frayed Alliance’, Third Quarterly, vol. 17. no. 1.
- Tomaselli, K. G., 2009, ‘Repositioning African Media studies: thoughts and Provocations’, Journal of African Media Studies, vol. 1, no.1. (9-21).
- Raftopoulos, B., 2004, ‘Current Politics in Zimbabwe: Confronting the Crisis’, in Harold-Barry, D, ed,. Zimbabwe: The Past is the Future, Harare: Weaver.
- Raftopoulos, B., 2001, ‘The New Constitution: What Next?’, Agenda. Special Edition, vol 4, no 1. (1-1).
- Raftopoulos, B., 2005, ‘The Zimbabwean Crisis and Challenges for the Left’, Public Lecture, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 23 June.
- Waldahl, R., 2004, Politics and Persuasion: Media Coverage of Zimbabwe’s 2000 Elections, Harare: Weaver Press.
- Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), 2000, Report on the 2000 Parliamentary Elections, Harare: Zimbabwe."
References
Alexander, K., 2006, ‘The Future of Democratic Politics in Zimbabwe’, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, http://www.ijr.org.za/transitionaljustice/zimbabwe-monitor/debate, 8 October 2008.
‘Comment: A Dream Deferred’, (2008). The Financial Gazette, October 23-29. 8. Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, 2004, Analysis of the Implications of the Proposed Amendments of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 25 June.
‘Daily News Wins Damages Against Zimbabwe State Officials’, Zimonline, 30 July 2004.
Ferber, P., Foltz, F. and Pugliese, R., 2004, ‘Cyberdemocracy Vs Egovernment: The Degree of Interactivity on State Legislative Websites’, Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Institute of Technology, Chicago, 01-05 September.
Government of Zimbabwe, 2007, Interception of Communications Act. Harare: GOZ.
Government of Zimbabwe, 2002, Access to Information and the Protection of Privacy Act. Harare: GOZ.
Government of Zimbabwe, 2002 Public Order and Security Act. Harare: GOZ. Habermas, J., 1989, The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere, Cambridge: Polity Press.
Internet World Stats, 2004, ‘Zimbabwe Internet Usage and Marketing Report’, http://www.internetworldstats.com/af/zw.htm, 2 March 2009.
Internet’, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet, 13 October 2008.
InfoSec News, 2006, ‘Internet Use in Zimbabwe Limited’, http://www.bernama.com.my/berna/v3/news.php?=192201, 10 January 2009.
Kole, E. S., ‘Cyberdemocracy: A Condition, not an Outcome. Turning the Internet into a Tool for Civil Society Development, Democracy and Women’s Empo- werment’, http://www.xs4all.nl/~ekole/public/cyberdem.html, 24 June 2008.
Kwinjeh, G., 2005, ‘Third Force or Counter Revolutionary Claptrap?’ http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/thirdforce4.12475.html, 4 April 2005. Labuschagne, P., 2003, ‘Revisiting Civil Society in Africa’, African Studies Association of Australasia and the Pacific 2003 Conference Proceedings-Africa on a Global Stage.
Masunungure, E., 2004, ‘Travails of Opposition Politics in Zimbabwe Since Independence’, Harold-Barry, D (ed). Zimbabwe: The Past is the Future, Harare: Weaver.
Media of Zimbabwe, 2009, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/media_of_Zimbabwe, 2 March.
MISA-Zimbabwe, 2004, Press Statement, 3 August.
‘New Zimbabwe Newspaper Faces Government Ban’, http://www.afrol.com, 30 July 2008."
Ndlovu, R., 2009, ‘ICT Guide- Zimbabwe’, http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/march23_2009html, 23 March.
Ndlovu, R., 2008 ‘Public Sphere’, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_sphere , 19 June.
Sachikonye, L., 2000b, ‘Just Victory’, SAPEM, 6 July.
SADC, 2002, ‘SADC Parliamentary Forum Election Observation Mission, 2002, Zimbabwe Presidential Elections 9-10 March’, Harare, 13 March).
Saunders, R., 1997, ‘The Press and Popular Organizations in Zimbabwe: A Frayed Alliance’, Third Quarterly, vol. 17. no. 1.
Tomaselli, K. G., 2009, ‘Repositioning African Media studies: thoughts and Provocations’, Journal of African Media Studies, vol. 1, no.1. (9-21).
Raftopoulos, B., 2004, ‘Current Politics in Zimbabwe: Confronting the Crisis’, in Harold-Barry, D, ed,. Zimbabwe: The Past is the Future, Harare: Weaver.
Raftopoulos, B., 2001, ‘The New Constitution: What Next?’, Agenda. Special Edition, vol 4, no 1. (1-1).
Raftopoulos, B., 2005, ‘The Zimbabwean Crisis and Challenges for the Left’, Public Lecture, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 23 June.
Waldahl, R., 2004, Politics and Persuasion: Media Coverage of Zimbabwe’s 2000 Elections, Harare: Weaver Press.
Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), 2000, Report on the 2000 Parliamentary Elections, Harare: Zimbabwe."