There was a fair amount of nervous planning prior to the second Why Democracy? workshop, mainly due to the Zimbabwean government's intolerant attitude toward democracy-related discussions. What we discovered was that our northern neighbours certainly have a lot to get off their chests.

The two-day Harare workshop was an introduction to Steps, the films and the Learning Methodology. Like Nairobi, a range of civil society organizations were invited to discuss and participate in discussions about using film to stimulate debate in their communities.

Many organizations spoke openly about the troubles they face in Zimbabwe. Problems ranging from intimidation to the lack of resources were addressed. However, there was also a definite sense of optimism about Zimbabwe's future. Their affinity toward using media as a tool for social change was clear and provided Steps with the ideal platform to assist them with the methodological tools to achieve this.

Despite our short stay in Harare, we found that there's a sense of change in air. If the participants that we spoke to are anything to go by, then it's only a matter of time before Zimbabwe's civil society plays bigger part in national affairs.