The Paradox of Energy Poverty Datafication in Zimbabwe: An African Ubuntu View

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Abstract While datafication—the growing presence, use and impact of data in social processes—plays a significant role in new technologies for energy access and the alleviation of energy poverty, little has been said about how these technologies, such as digital electricity meters, affect certain Ubuntu relational values between the state, the citizenry and service providers. It is easy for engineers and energy policy planners to show the efficiency of datafication; it is harder to show how the use of these technologies can undermine valuable relationships such as identifying with others and exhibiting mutual care. The implication for policy is that energy technologies must be of benefit to society, but the deployment of these technologies should be conditioned on good relationality, involving the user in their design and implementation.

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