CITIZEN JOURNALISM AND THE PARALLEL MARKET OF INFORMATION IN ZIMBABWE'S 2008 ELECTION

Abstract

This article discusses the role of citizen journalism in Zimbabwe, focusing specifically on citizens’ uses of SMS and web logs to exchange information during the controversial delay in releasing the 2008 general election results. It explores and analyses the various emerging aspects of citizen journalism and how they manifested themselves during this moment of political tension. The paper argues that citizen journalism contributed a great deal to the circulation of public opinion, and to some extent influenced the way mainstream media covered this post-election period. By adding voice to the coverage from mainstream media, this “parallel market” of information contributed to the further exposure of the Mugabe regime's sinister machinations, thereby stopping the potential wholesale theft of the Zimbabwean people's victory in that election.