With an estimated population of almost seven million people, Zimbabwe has an internet penetration of over 39.3%. Though it is a very low ratio, several internationally-known streaming services have already made their way into the country. However, as the use of social media platforms grow, so does the fear of censorship. The government regularly demands the removal of critical content. Additionally, recent internet blackouts have made it clear that, despite the country recently having its first general elections after a 37-year period of an authoritarian administration, freedom of speech is still somewhat limited.
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While internet penetration is still low, Zimbabwe already has some streaming services of its own. Zollywood, for example, is the most known pay-per-view and on-demand service in the country. From $11.99 per month, users can browse through a catalogue of TV shows, movies, kids’ programs, documentaries, and music videos. Additionally, since this service has a range of subscriptions available, customers can opt between purchasing an on-demand only package or a more competitive package, which includes on-demand content plus tv channels.
In addition, Showmax is also available in the country. Considered a competitor to Netflix and Amazon Prime Video in South Africa, it is present in over 65 countries worldwide. However, Zimbabwean citizens benefit from exclusive content as the African catalog consists of Hollywood, British, Kenyan, and South African films and series. With such a diversified catalog, this service will attract natives and those who are living abroad, especially since it has a 14-day trial.
Unfortunately, these services can only be used by those who are in Zimbabwean territory. For those who are in other locations, it will be essential to use a VPN service. A VPN service is able to circumvent any kind of limitation and successfully unblock geographic restrictions.
When it comes to online privacy laws, it is important to know that the government is allowed to intercept any kind of suspicious communications. The Post and Telecommunications Act of 2000 also allows the government to require an ISP to provide information to authorities at their request. The ninth section of the same act demands that telecommunication operators and ISPs install surveillance technology to intercept information on the state’s behalf. Internet service providers have complied, as failure to do so can result in prison time. Despite this, the extent of this monitorization is still unknown. Additionally, users are required to submit personal data to mobile operators when registering a SIM card, thus reducing anonymous communication to a simple thought.
More recently, a draft Computer Crime and Cybercrime Bill introduced in August 2016 caused uproar regarding internet freedom. Two specific sections penalize the dissemination of communication with the intent to intimidate and spread false information. Critics to the draft argued that these would be used to penalize government criticism on social media and to target social media activists.
Internet censorship has been increasing in the past years. While the country had its first general elections in 2018, after a 37-year-long authoritarian regime, there’s still a climate of fear when it comes to speaking up against the government.
Online journalists are often the target of attacks, in the form of physical violence and online intimidation. Furthermore, some have reported being threatened by the government for posting critical content. The frequency of these attacks is worrying as it may cause self-censorship within the media.
Zimbabwean authorities are known for pressuring users and content producers to make them delete content from their social media platforms. Additionally, social media networks have been blocked before. WhatsApp was made unavailable in July 2016 after several protests against the government. The next month, mobile data prices increased by 500% overnight, leading the population to suspect that authorities were deliberately trying to prevent access to mobile internet by making it unaffordable.
More recently, the country was the victim of an internet blackout after protests against a rise in fuel prices. Social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp were unavailable for long periods during the days following.
Despite the low internet penetration, internationally-known streaming services are already present in the country. Netflix, Spotify, Apple Music, and Deezer have already invested in the Zimbabwean market in the last couple of years. And even though nationally-produced content is still somewhat scarce, Netflix has already shown some interest in creating original content for the country.
But Zimbabwe doesn’t rely on international streaming services for quality entertainment. As mentioned before, the country has some interesting options of its own. Zollywood, one of the most well-known services in the region, has a big catalog of Zimbabwean movies, while Showmax, despite being available internationally, has South African content specifically intended for the nation.
However, with slow connection speeds and internet blackouts, those who want to enjoy Zimbabwe’s exclusive content might feel a bit frustrated. Though using a VPN may help solve this problem, users connecting to a Zimbabwean server shouldn’t expect great internet velocities, regardless of the service they’re using.
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