Thandiwe Chimurenga

South African activist and founder of OpenAFRICA, promoting transparency and civic engagement across the continent.

Thandiwe Chimurenga is a South African social entrepreneur and co-founder of OpenAFRICA, a pan-African platform advocating for government transparency and citizen participation. Launched in 2010, OpenAFRICA aggregates public data, exposes corruption, and facilitates dialogue between governments and citizens. Chimurenga’s work bridges technology and governance, enabling initiatives like the #OpenBudget campaign, which pressured governments to disclose fiscal policies. A former journalist, she combines storytelling with activism, as seen in her documentary series "Citizen Voices". Her collaboration with organizations like Transparency International has advanced anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana. Chimurenga also co-founded Code for Africa, leveraging data journalism to address issues like election fraud and land rights. Her TED Talk "The Data Revolution in Africa" highlights how technology can democratize accountability. By empowering citizens to demand transparency, Chimurenga has redefined civic activism in the digital age.