Flag Waving

Those who follow events in Africa may be aware of how Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe has consolidated power and curtailed many of the political and civil rights of the country's citizens who protest his autocratic rule. Freedom of the press is currently under a terrible stranglehold and journalists who use electronic media and other means to communicate with the outside world risk arrest, detention, and beatings.

Of course, Zimbabwe's official government websites give few clues to what is happening in the country. In Zimbabwe Government Online, an old-style Microsoft Front Page site, links to subsidiary ministries are full of stock photos and transcripts of speeches rather than information or forms for constituents.

There's also an interesting parody site that repurposes even the flag-waving animated logo from the official site.