In Zimbabwe, groups such as ‘Radio Dialogue’, which have to date failed to secure a community broadcasting licence, have experience in the production of audiocassettes for the local taxi industry, which are mainly popular music mixed with some social messaging. These are distributed free and have become a popular and powerful medium or getting messages across to ordinary commuters. They have been able to continue as they have been focusing on less politically sensitive issues, such as keeping Bulawayo clean and health messages (HIV/AIDS). Radio Dialogue has also produced a number of radio plays. The organisation has, however, also been under scrutiny by State intelligence services, who have unsuccessfully been trying to track down the people behind the very popular Zvakwana samizdat publication and activities. As with radio, a range of products is possible in terms of producing audiocassettes on transitional justice issues. These materials could be extended to a number of constituencies, such as schools, and a range of other social forums. As with written materials, different products can be packaged for different communities. Audio-visual production presents the greatest challenge. Not only is it the most expensive option in terms of information dissemination, it has the potential of having the most profound impact. Visual engagement remains for many people the most powerful medium, allowing difficult and complex issues to be presented in a clear and unambiguous way. In East Timor, the use of Video CDs was employed by their Truth Commission and was used extensively in the community socialisation process. Teams from the Commission went to remote parts of the country and, using generatorpowered TV/VCD sets, they showed local communities a documentary of what the Commission was trying to do. This documentary included important and popular political players such as the President, the Prime Minister and senior churchmen. This contributed immeasurably to the legitimacy of the overall process, and also provided a platform of issues with which the communities could subsequently engage the Commission. Zimbabwe’s independent filmmakers have been effectively driven underground, but could be engaged to develop educational and promotional material dealing with the justice and accountability agenda. The writer has spoken with several of these, as well as some South African filmmakers, and they have shown considerable interest in engaging in these matters. General In the current situation, all communication mediums outside State control remain constrained. It would be possible to utilise elements of the remaining independent press (as some human rights organisations, such as the MMPZ do), and develop a transitional justice ‘insert’. As with any of the options raised above, this would have cost implications, which might not reflect well in terms of a cost-benefit analysis. In the inevitable context of limited resources, it will be necessary to determine what are the priority constituencies. Effective communication and material dissemination remain core priorities and challenges. Determining what are the best materials and then developing them is only one leg of the journey. Subsequently making sure they get to the right people is probably the most difficult hurdle. Even though the current circumstances restrict options in this regard, with varying degrees of risk, it will still be possible to leech a certain amount of materials into the country. Every effort must be made to explore all possible options in this regard. Over and above this, however, there is also an important opportunity for civil society groupings to develop materials on justice and accountability issues in preparation for a transition. This kind of preparation would be largely unprecedented, but would give civil society a much stronger platform with which to engage the general public, as well as political players, many of whom are likely to want to avoid such issues. 31