Media Policy Framework for Zimbabwe: a model by MISA-Zimbabwe

This is a report I helped write for the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) as part of a model media policy framework required by Zimbabwe in the wake of the country's new constitution of 2013. New provisions that have a bearing on the exercise and enjoyment of the rights to media freedom, access to information and freedom of expression were yet to be operationalised. The Zimbabwe government has been slow in re-aligning media policy with the new constitution. Further, there is no clear policy direction on how aspects ushered in by the new constitution will be effected. While the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe [an alliance of media organizations working together in the fight for media freedoms] has in the years past come up with a model policy framework, this was way before the coming into force of the new constitution, which event MISA-Zimbabwe believes necessitates the drafting of an up to date policy framework also draws from the current constitution and is in tandem with regional and international standards on media freedom, access to information, freedom of expression, privacy and related rights. MISA-Zimbabwe is therefore looking to have in place a new policy framework that gives clear policy direction on the steps/ measures that Zimbabwe should put in place in order to democratize its media space, which document is vital for its lobby and advocacy work

Geopolitics of China's Rising Media and Soft Power in Africa: Eating and Being Eaten

China is part of a group of countries rapidly projecting their geopolitical power in an expanded engagement with Africa. The extent to which this is imperialism is debatable among Africans, with some arguing that China is actually Africa's best ally when it comes to trade and development. Using Zimbabwe as a case study of local responses to China's expansionist geopolitics, the article contributes to debates on international development based new forms of imperialism and dependency perpetrated by rising economic powers in the Global South. The article innovatively analyses China's rapidly rising media and soft power in Africa as evidence of a new scramble for the continent and South-South imperialism. This is done in terms of what the Cameroonian anthropologist Francis Nyamnjoh regards as “eating and being eaten”, a form of dog-eat-dog “cannibalism” at the heart of global capitalism that has been evident in past enslavement, extractive colonialism and in today's exploitative neoliberal economic arrangements. The findings from the current Zimbabwean study build on the author's previous research on the media coverage of China in Zimbabwe that showed how for smaller and less powerful states, when dealing with China, there are mixed and complex responses within the emerging Sino-African relations. Using research from 2011–2020, including interviews and findings from the media, the Sino-Zimbabwean relations illustrate acceptance, resistance and negotiation as pragmatic strategies, in an attempt to “eat” whilst trying not be “eaten”. The current study contributes to work on media and geopolitical relations from the theoretical lens of new imperialism and dependency

Engaging with China’s Soft Power in Zimbabwe: Harare Citizens’ Perceptions of China-Zimbabwe Relations

Africans have responded to China’s growing soft power or charm offensive in many ways but this has hardly been studied. Mano investigates the responses to China’s soft power in Zimbabwe, a key ally with a Look East “policy’ since 2002. While “win-win” trade, media and cultural linkages between China and Zimbabwe have been growing rarely has there been research focused on how this has influenced how Beijing is perceived amongst Africans. Using a survey of residents of Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital city, Mano investigates the emerging perceptions of China’s interventions in Zimbabwe. The findings contradict official claims of a mutually beneficial cosy South-South relationship. Harare residents predominantly perceive China as a “new colonial” power out to “loot” Zimbabwe’s natural resources. They criticise China’s obsession with profits at the expense of human rights. The chapter discusses such views in relation to media portrayal of China. Beijing will need to do more to reassure people in Harare and other places in the Global South about its real intentions in human development

Towards alternative media as critical media in Africa

Social media have enhanced and reshaped alternative media in Africa. It was unsurprising, for example, that the February 2016 edition of New African magazine dedicated its cover to protesters from South Africa, under the heading ‘The #ashtag generation: Inside the new protest movements’. It referred to hashtags such as #RhodesMustFall, #FeesMustFall and #ZumaMustFall as having played a critical role in shaping the struggles from below (Nyamnjoh, 2016). [...

Civil society coalitions as pathways to PSB reform in Southern Africa

Democracy requires open public service broadcasting (PSB) institutions that constantly interact with active informed citizens. This article posits that a more proactive network of civil society across Southern Africa can produce an impact on PSB institutions in these countries enhancing reform and accountability to the public. We enter this topic by identifying pathways towards increased cooperation among public service broadcasters, civil society coalitions and other stakeholders in South Africa and Zimbabwe. The main focus is on the interaction between broadcasters, policy-makers and civil society groups, namely SOS: Support Public Broadcasting in South Africa and the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe, two leading media activist organizations in Southern Africa. The engagement by such networks can deepen public interest and reconnect PSB institutions and PSB staff to the PSB mandate and mission. Civil society coalitions working collaboratively with PSB will engender a context within which a collaboratively defined PSB mission, institutional structure and programme outcomes are constantly foregrounded in the operations and performance of the broadcasters

AdS3 Gravitational Instantons from Conformal Field Theory

A conformal field theory on the boundary of three-dimensional asymptotic anti-de Sitter spaces which appear as near horizon geometry of D-brane bound states is discussed. It is shown that partition functions of gravitational instantons appear as high and low temperature limits of the partition function of the conformal field theory. The result reproduces phase transition between the anti-de Sitter space and the BTZ black hole in the bulk gravity.Comment: 22 pages, minor correction

Wettability influences cell behavior on superhydrophobic surfaces with different topographies

Surface wettability and topography are recognized as critical factors influencing cell behavior on biomaterials. So far only few works have reported cell responses on surfaces exhibiting extreme wettability in combination with surface topography. The goal of this work is to study whether cell behavior on superhydrophobic surfaces is influenced by surface topography and polymer type. Biomimetic superhydrophobic rough surfaces of polystyrene and poly(l-lactic acid) with different micro/nanotopographies were obtained from smooth surfaces using a simple phase-separation based method. Total protein was quantified and showed a less adsorption of bovine serum albumin onto rough surfaces as compared to smooth surfaces of the same material. The mouse osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cell line and primary bovine articular chondrocytes were used to study cell attachment and proliferation. Cells attached and proliferate better in the smooth surfaces. The superhydrophobic surfaces allowed cells to adhere but inhibited their proliferation. This study indicates that surface wettability, rather than polymer type or the topography of the superhydrophobic surfaces, is a critical factor in determining cell behavior

Charged black holes: Wave equations for gravitational and electromagnetic perturbations

A pair of wave equations for the electromagnetic and gravitational perturbations of the charged Kerr black hole are derived. The perturbed Einstein-Maxwell equations in a new gauge are employed in the derivation. The wave equations refer to the perturbed Maxwell spinor $\Phi_0$ and to the shear $\sigma$ of a principal null direction of the Weyl curvature. The whole construction rests on the tripod of three distinct derivatives of the first curvature $\kappa$ of a principal null direction.Comment: 12 pages, to appear in Ap.