| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER |
INTRODUCTION
From September 1993 to January 1994 I was able to work at an organization called MANGO (Microcomputer Access for Non-Governmental Organizations) in Harare, Zimbabwe as part of my second practicum focusing on computer networking in developing countries. Under the guidance of Dr. Rob Borland, assisted with the operations of the public access FidoNet 'node.' Dr. Borland is MANGO's system operator and Chairperson at the University of Zimbabwe's Computer Science Centre. My duties included doing new user installations, training and technical support for the system.
ADMINISTRATION
MANGO is located in the offices of the Southern African Research and Documentation Centre (SARDC) and consists of a computer, a high speed modem connected to a single direct line, a backup system and an old oak desk.
MANGO's 'staff' is made up of all volunteers. Dr. Borland is the center of the organization being the system operator, Mr. McCullum (SARDC) administrative director, and Ms. M. Mubako (SARDC) does the accounting. Enough funds are generated for monthly user fees to pay for the international telephone calls to MANGO's Internet gateway in South Africa plus postage and stationary for billing.
MANGO's Board of Directors is made up of representatives from a collection of NGOs including: Africa Information Afrique (a regional news agency), IMBISA (Bishops Conference based in Harare), SARDC (Southern African Research and Documentation Centre), EDICESA (Ecumenical Documentation and Information Centre for Eastern and Southern Africa). MANGO is currently in the process of being registered as a welfare organization, the Zimbabwean equivalent of a non-profit organization here in the USA. At the time of my departure, an Administrative General Meeting was being called to elect a new Board, one which was composed of the more active users of MANGO, I've yet to receive the minutes of that meeting in order to see the results.
As a member of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), MANGO is committed to providing low-cost communication alternatives to the local NGO community. It is also required to serve people working toward "peace, the prevention of warfare, elimination of militarism, protection of the environment, furtherance of human rights and the rights of peoples, achievement of social and economic justice, elimination of poverty, promotion of sustainable and equitable development, advancement of participatory democracy, and nonviolent conflict resolution."
COMPARISON TO OTHER NETWORKS
After looking into other computer networks located around the world, particularly Alternex in Brazil, I chose to work with MANGO because of it's grassroots approach to networking and it's size. Within the last several years Africa has experienced an enormous increase in electronic communications usage. MANGO's usage in particular has soared greatly and is now considered to be the most active node in Southern Africa (apart from WorkNet in South Africa).
In comparison to other networks located in the region, MANGO is very much similar apart from WorkNet in South Africa. WorkNet is using a UNIX-based system with a leased-line connection to South Africa's Internet network called UNINET. It also has a FidoNet-based protocol running on it's system which also networks around the region to use the leased-line as an Internet gateway. On the other hand, MANGO is very similar to the system used at UNZANET, based at the University of Zambia in Lusaka.
MANGO currently makes available a limited number of electronic conferences to it's users (see Appendix A for a listing). There are currently 171 registered users throughout Zimbabwe, including the Ministry of Health, University of Zimbabwe, Southern Africa Political & Economic Series Magazine, UNICEF, the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ), seven rural hospitals in Midlands Province and the news agency Africa Information Afrique.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
The following is a list of software and hardware used with MANGO.
'Host' or node software and hardware:
FrontDoor 2.02 mailer
GEcho 1.0 tosser-scanner
RemoteAccess 2.01+ interactive BBS
BNU 1.70 FOSSIL driver
QEMM 6.03 extended memory manager
NetMgr 0.95 FidoNet redirection utility
MS-DOS 5.0
212MB hard disk
8MB RAM
33Mh 486-DX computer
TeleBit TrailBlazer T2500 modem
A TeleBit WorldBlazer (significantly faster than the TrailBlazer) was received by SatelLife in September 93. In testing the modem problems occurred with the modem unsuccessfully disconnecting a caller which resulted in the telephone line being unavailable for several hours. At first it appeared this was a problem which was unique to the TeleBit WorldBlazer's internal configuration but it appears the same problem resulted with the TrailBlazer.
'Point' or User software:
BinkleyTerm 2.56 mailer
Squish 1.01 tosser-scanner
GoldEd 2.40 message editor
TASKS
As an intern at MANGO, I given the responsibility of installing and training new users, particularly Macintosh users. Although this required the bulk of my time, I also performed day-to-day maintenance on the system, this included updating system files, monitoring conference feeds and polling activity, re-addressing bounced messages, and replying to user requests.
The installation of a new point would consist of the following:
* configuring a modem's internal settings so that it was
compatible with Zimbabwe's telephone lines,
* configuring the software provided by MANGO to the individual's
settings (i.e. username, password, etc.),
* and wiring the office or home to make sure there was a
connection between the modem and a direct-line to the outside
telephone network.
After all this was completed, I would attempt to make a successful connection to the Host computer (i.e. MANGO), thus confirming the system was properly functioning. Once a connection is established, I would begin explaining the basics of electronic mail and the software MANGO uses. The following topics would be covered:
* MANGO as an electronic Post Office
* creating a message
* saving the message
* sending a message
In almost all installations I could not explain further than these four topics. Since it generally took 45 to 90 minutes to configure the hardware and software, training time was sacrificed as a result. The technical support was the only means of follow-up available, which usually never was another face-to-face meeting but rather a series electronic mail correspondences or phone conversations.
POLITICAL ISSUES
With electronic mail comes an increased access to information, this increase is not always welcomed by the governments of less-developed countries. As a result, several 'political issues' came to light during my work in Zimbabwe regarding HealthNet and electronic mail in general.
For the most part the Zimbabwe government is still very concerned about the "free flow" of information to the general population. Although "not as much as South Africa" (Rob Borland), Zimbabwe's government continues to have a very restrictive policy towards electronic mail usage. This is most obvious with it's policy on modem usage within the country.
A person wanting to use a modem in Zimbabwe has two options, purchase a PTC-manufactored modem or pay a usage fee to use a third party modem. If the user purchases a modem from the PTC, speeds up to 2400 bps are only available and it's very likely that it won't work. As for third party modems, they must be registered which includes having it sent to Harare in order to be "certified" and installed by the PTC. Once registered, monthly usage fees must be paid to compensate the PTC for the right to connect the modem to it's telephone system.
While working at the district hospitals in the Midlands Province, several times the District Medical Officer (DMO) needed to lie to the local PTC authorities by telling them he needed a modification in the PTC-owned switchboard to allow access to a direct line from an extension. The reason given was so that the health worker working with the computer would be able to call the PMD's office at any time to report vital health data. In fact, it was so the computer could call the MANGO in Harare to transmit and receive electronic mail.
The possibility of an PTC engineer discovering an unregistered modem remains a constant concern to electronic mail users in Zimbabwe. If a such a modem is discovered, the possibility that it will be taken away by the PTC exists. Although it remains unlikely, this was not the case for one organization which I connected to the network. As a result, internal modem are preferred by many for the
reason that they are less likely to be 'discovered' by the PTC. From a technical view point, internal modems are consistently not as durable and are discouraged.
SOCIAL ISSUES
The lack of general computer knowledge remains the single greatest social obstacle related to computer networking in Zimbabwe. Since so few people are exposed to computers, the most basic knowledge is hard to find. This isn't because people aren't interested in computers but that the opportunities to learn about them don't exist. For example, upon leaving UNICEF offices in Harare I was asked by the security guard how he can get involved with computers, he originally wanted learn about them, not be a security but there was no way - how can he? While my answers were to get involved with the university, night-classes maybe, I sensed these were suggestions which were not possible for him. I suspect it is largely a result of the cost and limited availability of education, specially higher education/technical degrees, in Zimbabwe. Similarly, the motivation among employees who have access to computers is very low. The people I spoke with felt this is because health workers are paid so little, there is not much desire to spend extra time learning computer applications.
TECHNICAL ISSUES
Based on a user survey distributed by me to the various MANGO users (Appendix C), the following technical problems were listed identified:
Point software:
* poor documentation
* not well integrated
* message editor is slow
* software crashes
* commands which don't work
* no spell checker
* too many files exist in the package
Node software and hardware:
* telephone line busy
* poor phone connections
* delay in 'picking up the phone'
* international mail delays
* bad modem connections
* connecting with a 'downtown' phone number
FUTURE POTENTIALS
Strengthening the administrative structure is one of the most important areas of focus. It has been proven in the past that without an administrative structure, MANGO will fail. This includes electing committed board members and developing legal organizational status. As MANGO seeks to organize itself, it should also continue to assist with building a regional networking system.
It is also my opinion that some type of 'seed-money' most be initiated in order for MANGO to become a full-fledged electronic mail provider committed to reliable service. It's economic and administrative base severely restrict it's current efforts.
A reliable Internet gateway is still needed. Although the current connection at WorkNet in South Africa is better than the last (Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa), there is still room for improvement. In the time that I've been here, WorkNet has failed to poll MANGO for over a week, four week hold-ups have been reported, and messages have been "lost" - in general, the connection is unpredictable. But, it is still a connection to the Internet and far better than the previous one and it must be noted that WorkNet is 'polling' MANGO for free. Purchasing a leased-line connection to either South Africa or USA have been discussed but the administrative, technical, and political obstacles are far too large for MANGO's current administrative abilities.
The main software package for MANGO (PC-based) has yet to be developed to a adequate level 'user-friendliness'. Because computer skills are uncommon within most of sub-Saharan Africa, this area is extremely important in strengthening the user community. Although an international project to improve the software is underway, it is far from a complete. Along with the appearance and functions of the software, documentation is in direr need of improvement. In the past, software has been the main focus of development so that there is little priority to write effective documentation. This habit must change in order for Zimbabwe's computer networking community to strengthen.
There is also a need for another phone line at MANGO. Unlike in the States, there is over a year's backlog of phone line applications therefore a new one will be unlikely anytime soon.
CONCLUSION
Education is the probably the biggest needed area of development. Most people in Zimbabwe don't know about email and its applications, the facsimile machine has only recently become common. Simple, introductory literature is required for potential users to be come interested in MANGO. News articles and stories either about MANGO or email in general would also be a means to increase MANGO's usage.
Since computer networks in Africa remain extremely fragile, human resources in the field are needed to be developed in order to increase their stability. For example, WorkNet in South Africa recently had a failure with the leased-line connection to the In
ternet. There was only one individual associated with the network who had the capability to fix the problem, he was delayed in Angola for up to a week. As a result the Internet connection which serviced MANGO and several other networks around the Southern Africa region remained down for well over a week.
As for the software, a more 'bug-free' and 'user-friendly' produce is needed to develop the MANGO user-base. Unfortunately MANGO has served in a lot of ways as a testing ground for newly developed software, this must change in order for the user confidence in the system to grow. A stronger means of 'quality control' is required in the issuing of new software.
APENDIX A - MANGO Conferences AFRICA.GLASNOST Africa Glasnost Conference from APC AFRICA.NETNEWS News from systems in Africa AML.BULLETIN African Medical Librarians Bulletin CDROM CDROM Fido Echo on CD-ROM Technology CN.CRNOTES Conflict Resolution Notes COMP.MULTIMEDIA UseNet Multi Media conference ECON.SAPS Structural Adjustment Programmes ECONEWS.AFRICA African NGONET areas ECP.NEWS Electronic and Computing for Peace EN.UNCED.INFOX UN Committee on Env. & Dev., Xchange EXPZONE5 Expand Zone 5 GEO2.INTERDOC InterDoc Online GEO2.NGO-HOSTS NGO Host Conference area (GeoNet) GLASNOST.NEWS News on Political Changes in E/Europe HEALTHNET.NEWS HealthNet news bulletins from SatelLife HEALTHNET.ZIMBABWE HealthNet Zimbabwe private conference MANGO.AIDS AIDS Daily news summary from Columbia University MANGO.MAC Macintosh news and discussion MANGO.USERS Mango Users support and discussion grp MANGO.SOCIAL Mango Users non-technical discussion grp MSN.NEWS News from Mozambique (APC) REG.AFRICA GreenNet's Africa Conference REG.SAFRICA Southern African regional news SAFRICA.DROUGHT Southern African drought situation SARDC.NEWS SARDC News, Reports and Updates SOC.CULTURE.AFRICAN USENET conference SOC.RIGHTS.HUMAN USENET Human Rights Conference TECH.FIDO APC Fido Interface conference ZIE Zimbabwe Institute of Engineers APENDIX B - MANGO User List BOSS,5:7211/1 ; ,1,MANGO,Rob_Borland ,2,AIA-Zim,Africa_Information_Afrique,Isobel_Vlahakis ,3,MPHCDC,MPH_CDC-Rep,Dan_Peterson ,4,SARDC,Southern_Africa_Research_&_Documentation_Centre,Memory_Sachikon ,5,HN_RuralMed,HN_Rural_Attachment,Cathy_Tsikirayi ,6,WFD,WFD,Michael_Hagedorn ,7,HN_Richard_Laing,INRUD,Richard_Laing ,8,IPSHRE,Inter_Press_Service_Harare,Lamine ,9,SAPES,Southern_Africa_Political_&_Economic_Series,Anne_Derges ,10,John_Rook ,11,SADC-EWU,SADC_Early_Warning_Unit,Giuliano_Maciocci ,12,Tony_Mechin ,13,CUSO,Murray_McCartney ,14,Martha_Tromp ,15,Helga_Patrikios ,16,FORD,Ford_Foundation,Peter_Fry ,17,SANDON,Nokuthula_Mhlanga ,18,Terre_des_Hommes,TDH,Ursula_Semin-Panzer ,19,GTZ-HSR,Dieter_Neuvians ,20,Alex_Quarmyne ,21,ZERO,Sam_Moyo ,22,Action_Magazine,Pending ,23,Richard_Saunders ,24,Tsetse_Control,Steven_Torr ,25,Lisa_Daniels ,26,CCJPZ,Catholic_Commission_for_Justice_&_Peace,Liz_Feltoe ,27,Timothy_Murphy ,28,Chas_Todd ,29,FOS,FOS,Paul_Vanlerberghe ,30,Stephanie_Davey ,31,Glyn_Chapman ,32,Carol_Thompson ,33,WHO-HSR,WHO-HSR_Project,Amanda_le_Grand ,34,Access,Vijay_Thadani ,35,Ian_Dow ,36,RESCON,Research_Consultancy,Yash_Tandon ,37,SADCRS,SADC_Remote_Sensing,Peter_Hoefsloot ,38,Mark_Hatfield,Mark_Hatfield ,39,UZ_Computer_Science,Yuri_Velinov ,40,UZ_CAL-Lab,UZ_CAL_Engineering,Andrew_Matondo ,41,UZ_Elec_Eng,UZ_Electrical_Engineering,Mike_Collier ,42,UZ_Physics,Xavier_Carelse ,43,NUST_CS,NUST_Compter_Science-Bulawayo_ZW,Khulu_Mangena ,44,UZ_MATHS,UZ_Maths_Dept,Busiso_Chisala ,45,UZ_Physiology,Jephat_Chifamba ,46,UZ_Biochemistry,John_Read ,47,UZ_Vet_Sci,Ian_Dow ,48,Pam_Woods ,49,UZ_Biosciences,Peter_Frost ,50,Paul_Mlozi ,51,HCCI,HCCI,Shaun_Bligh-Wall ,52,Africare,Kevin_Clements ,53,Don_Dunn ,54,St_George's_College,Quentin_Bale ,55,MOZEWU,SADC_Moz_Early_Warning_Unit,Antonio_Olivares ,56,SARDC-Moz,SARDC-Mozambique,Maria_da_Luz ,57,Mandi_Sithole ,58,Dana_Allen ,59,SAFER,SA_Foundation_Economic_Research,Archibald_Gumiro ,60,HealthNet_Med_Lib,UZ_Medical_School,Sabelo_Mapasure ,61,HealthNet_Harare,Min_of_Health,Archibald_Gumiro ,62,HealthNet_Mutare,PMD_Manicaland-Mutare_ZW,Ruth_Shakespeare ,63,HealthNet_Blair,Blair_Research_Labs,Birthwell_Mutandiro ,64,HealthNet_Com_Med,UZ_Community_Medicine,Mary_Bassett ,65,HealthNet_Byo,PMD_Mat_North-Bulawayo_ZW,Smockie_Dube ,66,HealthNet_Epi,Leif_Stabel,Leif_Stabel ,67,HealthNet_Midlands,PMD_Midlands-Gweru_ZW,Pending ,68,HealthNet_HVDH,Henri_van_den_Hombergh,Henri_van_den_Hombergh ,69,HealthNet_MashW,PMD_Mashonaland_West,Pierpaolo_deColombani ,70,Wonderland,Harare_ZW,Graham_Brighton ,71,Dumisani_Chisala ,72,DanChurchAid,Peter_Hovring ,73,IUCN-ROSA,IUCN_Reg_Office_S_Afr,Achim_Steiner ; ,74, ,75,Firouz_Aghdasi ,76,MALEWU,Malawi_SADC_Early_Warning_Unit,Peter_Murphy ,77,HIS,Harare_International_School,Steen_Andersen ,78,The_House_of_Rave,Giuliano_Maciocci_Jr ,79,Esme's_Revenge,Jaz_Keshav ,80,FEWS,Famine_Early_Warning_Sysytem,Gary_Eilerts ,81,FEWS_JD,Famine_Early_Warning_Sytem,Joe_Dooley ,82,Sue_Foreman ,83,Iraj_Yazdani ,84,Ahmed_Erfani-Ghadimi ,85,UNICEF,June_Mvududu ,86,ANC,ANC_Zimbabwe,Kingsley_Mamabolo ,87,Peter_ten_Ham ,88,Ghirmay_Teckie ,89,Yemanu_Teckie ,90,David_Cumming ,91,MHP1,MPH-Midlands,Shepard_Mashayamombe ,92,MPH2,MPH-Mashonaland_West,Stanford_Chigumira ,93,MPH3,MPH-Mashonaland_Central,Cephas_Dzuda ,94,MPH4,MPH-Mashonaland_East,David_Matanhire ,95,MPH5,MPH-City_Health,Kevin_Mwenye ,96,MPH6,Sue_Grady ,98,EDICESA,Tendai_Chikuku ,99,VOCA,Carl_Shoup ,100,Godfrey_Woelk ,101,CUSOZIM,Pending ,102,Nimrod_Lugoe ,104,Alan_Volker ,105,Oxfam,Pending ; ,106, ,107,Curtis_Burisch ,108,PFI,Prison_Fellowship_International,Pending ,109,Lev_Gonick ,110,Ian_Bampton ,111,Ashish_Chaudhary ,112,Paul_Loth-Zwart ,113,Zeb_Moss ,114,Ian_Love ,115,HN_Kwekwe,HealthNet_Kwekwe,Pending ,116,HN_Mvuma,HealthNet_Mvuma,Pending ,117,HN_Zvishavane,HealthNet_Zvishavane,Pending ,118,HN_Gokwe,HealthNet_Gokwe,Pending ,119,HN_Mberengwa,HealthNet_Mberengwa,Pending ,120,HN_Shurugwi,HealthNet_Shurugwi,Pending ,121,James_Strange ,122,TOOL,TOOL_Foundation,Marc_Boerjan ,123,Steve_Griffiths ,124,Ken_Braddock ,125,Robin_Murphy ,126,John_Snow_Fdn,John_Snow_Fdn,Peter_Halpert ,127,Elbert_White ,128,Tichaona_Nhubu ,129,PMD_Mash_Cen,PMD_Mash_Cen,Aad_van_Geldermalsen ,130,Clive_Murphy ,131,Richard_Stevens ,132,Infoterra_Moz,Jacinta_Carlos ,133,Infoterra_Zim,Faith_Kapora ,134,Melinda_Ojermark ,135,Philip_Leis ,136,WHO,Alesandro_Loretti ,137,Don_Greenberg ,138,Reg_Noble ,139,UZ_Psychiatry,Vikram_Patel ,140,ARLAC,Afr_Reg_Labour_Admin_Cen,Maria_Mudzekenyedzi ,141,Biomass_Users_Network,BUN,Maxwell_Mapako ,142,Tom_Butterly ,143,Kerry_Gallivan ,144,Eric_Coffman ,145,Rene_Loewenson ,146,Cath_Ferguson ,147,PMD_Masvingo,PMD_Masvingo,Miriam_L'Herminez ,148,UZ_IMR,UZ_Inst_Mining_Research,Dzengo_Mzengeza ,149,Ted_Yap ,150,Cynthia_Dresser ,151,Steen_Andersen ,152,Cynthia_Gray ,153,Douwe_Verkuyl ,154,APNET,Afr_Publ_Net,Paul_Brickhill ,155,Jim_Holland ,156,Rick_Dhaen, ,157,ORAP,Inviolatata_Moyo ,158,UZ_Library,Devi_Pakkiri ,159,ALCOM,Boyd_Haight ; ,160, ,161,IMBISA,Sister_Marlene ,162,HIVOS,Jan_Vossen ,163,BCG,Beira_Corridor_Group,Rose_Mandaza ,164,GDS,German_Development_Service,Hans_Bortel ,165,Richard_Easterling ,166,Mike_Hall ,167,Chris_Old,Chris_Old, ,168,FCC,Fuelwood_Crisis_Consortium,Gus_le_Breton ,169,Sevaly_Sen ,170,Roger_Stringer ,171,Neil_Wicks
APPENDIX C - User survey
Dear MANGO User,
We would appreciate it if you could complete the following survey and return it with your monthly payment. This survey is intended to help us know more about you and your use of MANGO, please be as detailed as possible in answering the questions. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Kerry Gallivan, MANGO Intern
1) What are your most common problems with using MANGO?
2) What don't you like about the MANGO communications software?
3) What do you use MANGO for (i.e. personal correspondences)?
4) What would make you use MANGO more often?
5) Who do you sent email to more, domestic or international users?
6) Other than Zimbabwe, which countries do you send messages to?
7) Do you find the electronic conferences available at MANGO informative? Why?
8) Would you like to see other topics offered as electronic conferences? Which?
9) What areas of work are you or your organization involved in?
10) Do you or your organization have resources which you would be willing to make available to other users (i.e. newsletters, library, databases)?
11) What would you change about MANGO?
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