Magamba: Building offline digital infrastructure for community access in Zimbabwe

Magamba Network, Zimbabwe’s creative, digital, and youth-centred media house, is developing offline kiosks that bring information and civic tools to communities that are underserved by existing internet infrastructure.

Magamba’s digital kiosks help communities access local resources even without an internet connection (Photo: Magamba)

Designed by the Network’s civic tech arm, Moto Labs, the kiosks work without data, allowing people to access and share locally relevant content within their immediate surroundings. The project responds to information deserts by treating connectivity as a shared, community-owned resource rather than an individual service.

The problem to solve

Many rural and marginalised communities in Zimbabwe are effectively excluded from digital life because internet access is unreliable, unaffordable, or simply unavailable. Even where mobile phones are common, data costs and patchy network coverage limit what people can access and share. Since most digital platforms do not adapt well to these realities, Moto Labs exists to bridge these information gaps by creating tools that work offline, centre communities, and respond to how people already share information.

What they did

• Organised a series of hackathons to explore local solutions to local civic and information challenges.

• Developed a portable offline kiosk using repurposed computers, a router, and a battery system that emits a local network.

• Built software that allows communities to upload and access videos, audio, text, and tools without using mobile data.

• Partnered with communities to deploy kiosks and learn how different groups curate and use content.

• Identified need for interoperable extensions such as an offline petition platform and chat network.

Key success factors

1. The infrastructure is designed to work offline, making it resilient in contexts where connectivity is limited or uneven.

2. Communities control what content appears on the kiosk, ensuring relevance and local ownership.

3. The project prioritises shared access, recognising that devices and connectivity are often communal rather than individual.

4. The software is open source, allowing others to adapt, replicate, and build on the model.

5. The approach is iterative and experimental, with learning driven by real-world deployments rather than assumptions.
   

The ask

“We’re keen on collaborating, trying this out in another context—completely different to what we’re operating in. A cost-effective way to keep the project sustainable is to source free or unused laptops and repurpose them.”

— Vera Chisvo, Digital X Program Lead, Magamba Network

Recommendations for strong digital communities

Design for offline

Build tools that function without constant internet access.

Centre community needs

Let communities decide content, priorities, and use cases.

Enable shared access

Assume devices and connectivity are collectively used.

Reuse existing hardware

Repurpose available technology to lower costs and barriers.

Support local content

Prioritise locally produced media and civic information.

Build two-way systems

Allow communities to request, contribute, and respond.

Plan for adaptability

Expect diverse contexts and iterate through real-world deployment.

Protect community hosts

Minimise risk through careful partnerships and low visibility.

Moto Labs demonstrates how digital infrastructure can be built around community needs rather than commercial incentives. By prioritising offline access, shared ownership, and local control, the project offers a practical model for more inclusive and resilient digital ecosystems. Its approach shows that strong digital communities are not defined by constant connectivity, but by relevance, trust, and the ability for people to both access and shape information together.