Rethinking Ethical Journalism in the Worsening Socio-Economic and Political Crisis in Zimbabwe

Party nominee or independent candidate? Examining Electoral Reforms and the Use of Digital Technologies for Voter Participation in South Africa

“…Thus, technological electoral tools can only be supplementary where there is conducive ground for voter participation. Mathe (2020a) argues that technology cannot be used as a panacea for socio-political problems. Social constructionists also note that technology cannot override electoral problems or undo societal problems without policies or human effort for change (Dahl 1989, p. 339;Castells 2004).…”

“…Theorising democratic participation using electoral policies or digital technologies has been difficult, especially in Africa where there are specific political contexts. Some studies show that digital technologies can enhance democracy through fair media coverage for all political parties, equal access to digital tools (such as social networking sites) and reliable tools for voting and tabulating votes, on the premise that the contextual socio-political factors are conducive for the success of such technologies (Mathe 2020a;Chiumbu 2015;Mathe 2021). The technological determinism paradigm acknowledges a relationship between politics and technology or innovation, stating that technological innovations can promote democracy (Ellul 1990), although the 'properties of certain kinds of technologies are intrinsically linked to particular institutionalised patterns of power and authority' (Winner 1986).…”

“…Thus, social actions can determine the importance of technology (Hoff 2000) because it is 'susceptible to modification by its social practice, thereby leading to a whole range of potential social outcomes' (Castells 2001, p. 5). For instance, in Zimbabwe the internet has been littered with fake news or propaganda and the state has had considerable control of the media (Mathe 2020a).…”

Play on Twitter During Health Crisis in Non-Democratic Context: Gratification or Dissent?

“…The private press and journalists were “sole endangered species in a dictatorial establishment” of the ZANU-PF government (Chuma, 2005, p. 56). As aforementioned, several media laws were enforced to silence opposition and the private media as the government accused editors of criminal defamation (Mathe, 2020c). Harassment of journalists worsened due to economic and political turmoil.…”