Harassment Among People On The Web. An Analysis Of Netizens’ Responses To Patson Dzamara’s Facebook Posts With Regards To The Disappearance Of Itai Dzamara.

Contents

Abstract ........................................................................................................................................................ iii

1.0 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 1

1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 1

1.2 Background of the study ............................................................................................................... 2

1.3 Statement of the problem ............................................................................................................ 4

1.4 Significance of the study ............................................................................................................... 4

1.5 Objectives of the study ................................................................................................................. 5

1.6 Research questions ....................................................................................................................... 5

1.7 Delimitations ................................................................................................................................. 5

1.8 Limitations..................................................................................................................................... 5

1.9 Assumptions .................................................................................................................................. 6

1.9.1 Structure of the study ............................................................................................................... 6

1.9.2 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 6

2.0 Chapter 2 LITERATURE REVIEW AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ................................................ 7

2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 7

2.2 The use of Facebook for democracy and political purposes ........................................................ 7

2.3 Facebook as tool to counter power ............................................................................................ 10

2.4 Netizen’s readings of online text, anonymity and the democratic participation ....................... 12

2.5 Conceptual framework ................................................................................................................... 16

2.6 Digital Public Sphere concept ..................................................................................................... 16

2.7 Cyber activism; online activism theory and practice .................................................................. 21

3.0 Chapter 3 RESEARCH METHODS AND METHODOLOGY ................................................................ 26

Research Methods and Methodology .................................................................................................... 26

3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 26

3.2 Research Approach ..................................................................................................................... 26

3.3 Research design .......................................................................................................................... 27

3.4 Target Population........................................................................................................................ 27

3.5 Unit of analysis ............................................................................................................................ 28

3.6 Sampling ...................................................................................................................................... 28

3.7 Purposive sampling ..................................................................................................................... 29

3.8 Methods of data gathering ......................................................................................................... 29

Harassment Among People On The Web. An Analysis Of The Netizens’ Responses To

Patson Dzamara’s Facebook Posts With Regards To The Disappearance Of Itai Dzamara.

R126056X Page vii

3.9 Virtual Ethnography .................................................................................................................... 29 3.10 Online archival research ............................................................................................................. 30

3.11 Methods of data presentation and analysis ............................................................................... 31

3.12 Semiotic analysis ......................................................................................................................... 31

3.13 Critical discourse analysis ........................................................................................................... 32

3.14 Methods of data presentation .................................................................................................... 33

3.15 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 33

4.0 Chapter 4 PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA ..................................................................... 34

4.1 Presentation and analysis of data ............................................................................................... 34

4.2 Dzamara: The selfless gallant son of Zimbabwe ......................................................................... 34

4.3 Zimbabweans as cowards ........................................................................................................... 40

4.4 Mugabe and ZANU PF as Boko Haram ........................................................................................ 46

4.5 The church as complicit in Zimbabwe’s oppression ................................................................... 53

4.6 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 59

5.0 Chapter 5 SUMMARY AND CONCLUDING REMARKS .................................................................... 60

5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 60

5.2 Summary and concluding remarks.............................................................................................. 60

5.3 Recommendations for Further Studies ....................................................................................... 61

5.4 Conclusions ................................................................................................................................. 61

Reference list .............................................................................................................................................. 62

APPENDIX ................................................................................................................................................... 69