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