An Alternative Arena for “Communities of Resistance”? Podcasting, Democratic Spaces, and Counterpublics in Zimbabwe

Abstract

This chapter examines how the youth in Zimbabwe are using podcasting tools to create and disseminate content that articulate their concerns. The rise of participatory media such as podcasting is transforming communicative practices across the globe. As a new form of storytelling, podcasting is shaping the production, dissemination, and consumption of knowledge for democratic engagements. Drawing upon Robert Asen’s concept of subaltern counterpublics, we examine how content creators, community reporters, citizen journalists, and so on in Zimbabwe are utilising the opportunities offered by podcasting technologies and platforms to participate and tell the stories of young people. Given that podcasting offers the means for participation, representation, and cultural citizenship, we explore how the youth are involved in the production of content in ways that are widening the democratic cultures in the country. Data were drawn from a network of young podcasters who have been trained by Bulawayo-based media-related organisations such as the Centre for Innovation and Technology (CITE) and Internews. Through interviews with selected podcast hosts and an analysis of their podcast content, we argue that podcasting reinvigorates the democratic environment in Zimbabwe by offering an alternative space for the youth to articulate their grievances. However, the exorbitant data costs and the digital divide in the country are undermining the opportunities offered by these podcasting technologies.