Daily News
By Sharon Muguwu
31 March 2013
HARARE – Zimbabwe’s public figures are increasingly utilising information technology gismos to promote their profiles in the seamless global village that the world has become thanks to technology. The Internet provides cheaper platforms for celebrities and other public figures to publicise their activities to their followers. These personalities employ social networking platforms like Facebook, Twitter in addition to blogs and websites.
Arguably the most technologically-connected Zimbabwean public official is Education, Sport, Arts and Culture minister Senator David Coltart. The Bulawayo senator has a Twitter and Facebook account. He also has his personal website on which people can get information on activities in his ministry. Through Twitter and Facebook people get a chance to interact with Coltart on issues to do with education and sport. The Education minister actively responds to tweets, comments and readily provides people with the information they need.
Another prolific user of information technology platforms is Youth and Indigenisation minister Savior Kasukuwere. Many Twitter users follow the controversial minister who is battling to recover from the Zimplats indigenisation scandal. Kasukuwere sometimes spends days without tweeting or posting anything on Facebook.
On the entertainment scene, comedian Carl Joshua Ncube is one celebrity who has mastered the intricacies of information technology. Ncube has a website, a Twitter, Facebook and a Youtube account. The stand-up comedian actively uses information technology platforms to connect with fans and market himself. Ncube is always tweeting, posting on Facebook and this has really helped in raising his profile. Ncube says the Internet is the best thing to happen to the showbiz industry which he uses to connect with the world and secure shows.
South African-based musician Nox (Enock Guni) is another celebrity who is exploiting the power of social networks to connect with his fans. Nox sometimes avails his music for free to his fans and followers, makes surveys on his music and generally interacts with fans who help him improve on certain aspects of his career. Nox is active on Tweeter, Facebook and Youtube.
Rapper Tehn Diamond is another musician who has embraced the social network platforms to good effect. He uses his website, Tweeter, Facebook and Youtube channel. He did a vigorous marketing campaign of his song Happy which saw it receiving about 7 000 views in its first week on YouTube. He is active on Facebook and Tweeter and like Nox at times allows fans to download his music for free.
Star Gist presenter and former Big Brother contestant Vimbai Mutinhiri is also another techno-celebrity Mutinhiri has both Facebook and Twitter accounts but is more active on Twitter. She is constantly in touch with her fans and friends via the social networks.