01 Silvia Mukwidza, Bustop Tv Zimbabwe realities of online content Silvia Mukwindidza kicked off this session by speaking to the realities of online content in Zimbabwe. Silvia’s organisation is Bustop TV. It is a group of young creative/comedians who use satire to provide social commentary on the issues plaguing Zimbabwe. In addition to this, Bustop TV uses satire to raise awareness about what is happening in the country, in terms of politics, the economy, and other current affairs. Silvia spoke about how social media has provided an affordable platform on which local creatives can publish their work at relatively low cost. Before the advent of social media and ICT based communications, creatives such as Bustop TV had to distribute their work through television broadcasts or programmes recorded onto DVD discs. She however, noted that online content creators are not usually well versed in how to protect the intellectual property rights which arise from their creative works. Knowledge of these rights would partially curb piracy. As Bustop TV’s popularity has grown, the organisation 27 Misa Zimbabwe Second Internet Governance Multi Stakeholder Conference 21 September 2017 has diversified its operations and now includes a factual news show which seeks to keep the nation updated on current affairs stories. One great example of Bustop TV news reporting was when they interviewed participants at a march held in solidarity with Grace Mugabe in light of the charges levelled against her by the South African organisation Afri-Forum. When the Bustop TV reporter asked the participants what or who Afri-Forum was none of the participants were able to give an informed response. Silvia also echoed Donald’s statements about the disadvantages of relying solely on social media as a platform, especially in Zimbabwe where social media is mainly accessible to the urban population. The limited access of social media in rural areas means that the audience is restricted to Zimbabwe’s cities, towns and their surrounding areas. Silvia said that Bustop TV sometimes travels to rural areas for the purpose of interacting with rural audiences.