Examining the contribution of social media in reinforcing political participation in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Lys-anne sirksLeiden University examining the contribution of social media in reinforcing political participation in Zimbabwe aBstract It normally is assumed that new media activism, in the wake of the 'Arab Spring' political protests in the Middle East, has the potential to promote and effectively enable social and political changes in contemporary societies. However, nowhere does the influence of the digital explosion appear somehow exaggerated as in the case of Africa, where lack of empirical evidence has seen policy-makers, commentators and journalists making extraordinary conclusions justifying the Internet's perceived potential to shape political processes on the continent. This article questions this notion through an online ethnographic assessment of Zimbabwean blogger Baba Jukwa's Facebook webpage, which became a prominent platform for the anti-Robert Mugabe establishment up until its sudden withdrawal from the web in August 2014. At its peak, the webpage became a meeting point for activists opposed to Zimbabwe's long-time president as the anonymous blogger shared what he (assuming he was a man) claimed were juicy state secrets with the rest of the world. His pronouncements especially ahead of the 2013 elections gave hope to opposition campaigners that the keywords Zimbabwe Jukwa social media political participation Facebook

Tweeting to Democracy: A new anti-authoritarian liberation struggle in Zimbabwe

“…In this particular case, the researcher joined the group as a member (participant) but did not make any contributions to the conversations, thus maintaining an ethnographic distance and allowing for participant observation. The use of digital ethnographic methods to study communication and citizen behavior on the internet is becoming more standard (Murthy, 2008;Mutsvairo & Sirks, 2015). However, scholars continue to debate the best strategies to use and the ethics of studying behavior on the internet (Wilson et al, 2012).…”

Evan Mawarire’s #ThisFlag as Tactical Lyric: The Role of Digital Speech in Imagining a Networked Zimbabwean Nation

“…Social media platforms supported popular participation in the movement; the digital networks and open publication of social media platforms both allowed a wide range of politically active Zimbabweans to participate in the movement and connected activists around the world. However, as demonstrated by Gukurume's (2017) analysis of the #ThisFlag movement, and Mutsvairo and Sirks's (2015) description of participation in the Baba Jukwa Facebook page, such passive engagement is insufficient. Instead, as rhetorical analysis of the original video, its circulation on social media, and selected responses illustrates, the particular rhetoric of "This Flag" uniquely compelled further action.…”

Media, conflict and democratisation in Africa: Political communication by other means

“…While observing the usual caveats about weak social ties on the Internet and the limits of online activism, [Mutsvairo & Sirks 2015] carefully concede that this Facebook account might have contributed to an increased level of political participation in Zimbabwe. This is not so much because of any demonstrable democratising effect it might have had on political processes, but the fact that the blog became a popular topic of political conversation in an otherwise highly restrictive environment.…”