The lack of advancement in ICTs is no coincidence. A repressive government’s survival depends on information blackouts. In the 1990s, government did its damndest to block the set-up of the country’s first independent mobile phone services provider. During the 2008 election, Zanu (PF) thugs went around the townships, ordering residents to pull down their satellite dishes, in what became known as ‘Operation Bvisai maDish.’
The rural electrification programme has stalled because electricity will lead to TV and computers. Attempting to block the establishment of community radio stations, Jonathan Moyo has cunningly redefined the definition of the word ‘community’ to mean only rural settlements.
For as long the masses remain in the dark, they are much easier to control. If Zanu (PF) have their way, we would all be using Moses’ stone tablets, rather than tablet PCs.
Post published in: News