Leveraging New Technologies for Constructive Dialogue,

Knowledge and Information Packaging for Development

#CSZSummerSchoolFriday 15 Nov 2013

Leveraging New Technologies for Constructive Dialogue

• Real Name: Nigel Mugamu • Twitter: @SirNige• Facebook: Sir Nigel’s Journey•Website: www.sirnige.com• Instagram: SirNige

#263Chat & @263Chat

What is #263Chat?

• Crowd-sourcing solutions for challenges/issues ordinary people face daily

• Twitter based weekly discussion on Zimbabwe• 1 theme & therefore 1 focus• Takes place at 6pm CAT/Zim time• Plays a role in creating local content for

various media & DIALOGUE• Used to gauge the Zimbabwean pulse

#263Chat Uses

• Creation of CONTENT esp. LOCAL content• Helping Zimbabweans and non-Zimbabweans

understand Zim more through dialogue• Crowd source solutions and raise awareness of

relevant national & societal issues• Change or influence the Zimbabwean narrative• Aim: Involve Auntie in the conversation one day

My Aunt

Auntie Stats

• Very little educational opportunity• Worked for a textile company in Harare for

several years before moving back to village• Lives in our village approx 72kms from Harare• Market gardener• Frequently sells her produce in Mbare • Auntie is familiar with Baba Jukwa

Auntie’s Vegetable Garden

Auntie & ICT

3 Fundamental Roles of ICT in her life: -1. Accessing of information & knowledge2. Reducing cost of production and

transaction3. Making connections e.g. traders at

Mbare

Challenges of Social/New Media

• Relevance to her life – How relevant & useful is social media to Auntie?

• Cost 1) data to get online 2) the actual phone• How much does ICT contribute to Zim’s GDP?• Perception that tech/social media is a toy• Auntie’s voice is irrelevant in her eyes• Polarised & politicised environment

Social Media & Development

• Social media can save lives e.g. Westgate Mall in Nairobi Kenya

• Social media as a equalizer i.e. access to info • Social media for economic

benefit/empowerment• Social media to garner public opinion e.g.

#263Chat• Social media used in elections• Social media to report &/or monitor corruption

Facts re Zimbabwe

• Zim has highest mobile subscriber’s penetration in Africa – 98%.• Zim has one of highest internet

penetration rates in Africa – 35%.• Zimbabwe has the highest literacy

rate in Africa – 90.7%

Interesting Stats re Zimbabwe

• 70% of Zim population are the youth• 65% of Zim population live in

the rural areas• 52% of Zim population are

women

Opportunities of Social/New Media re Auntie

• The use of social media to give Auntie detailed info on the price of produce in Mbare before travelling

• Info re prices of inputs or special sale with suppliers e.g. fertilisers, seed, tools etc

• What produce is in demand in Mbare at any given period?

• What produce is affected by over-supply?• CRITICAL TO ALL THIS IS AUNTIE’S CELL PHONE

Moving forward

• Whatever solutions are adopted in distributing or accessing info re development across Zim, the use of our cell/mobile phones is CRITICAL.

• Costs of accessing internet data needs to decrease

• Costs of mobile phones needs to decrease• There has to be a 2-way communication

process

Thank you