Mobile technology for community empowerment takes centre stage as TECNO and itel push their message of digital inclusion — and real-world action.
Mandela Day is often treated like a checkbox. One hour. One good deed. Then back to business. TECNO and itel are taking a different approach. This year, the two smartphone brands are using the moment to remind South Africans that mobile devices can do more than keep people online — they can help build communities too.
The brands are encouraging people to record their 67 minutes of giving using their phones. Whether it is planting a tree, volunteering, or dropping off food parcels, they want users to snap a photo, shoot a quick video, or livestream the moment. Then post it using the hashtags #MandelaDayWithTECNO or #MandelaDayWithitel. The idea is to create a ripple effect, powered by smartphones that are cheap enough to be everywhere.
For TECNO and itel, this is not just feel-good branding. It is part of a longer-term strategy to frame their low-cost smartphones as tools for social mobility. They are not trying to compete with Apple or Samsung. They are focused on first-time smartphone buyers in emerging markets, where owning a phone means access to education, job opportunities and public services.
“Mobile technology is more than just connectivity. It is a lifeline,” TECNO said in a statement. The company, which operates in over 70 markets, has built its reputation on pairing decent hardware with aggressive pricing. itel, a sibling brand, has taken that even further — ranking as the top global smartphone brand under $75 according to IDC data.
This Mandela Day campaign feels less like a one-off PR stunt and more like an experiment in community-driven content. It blurs the line between purpose and promotion, asking people to become creators of good — and brand-aligned content — at the same time.
But there is a valid point underneath the hashtags. Access to mobile technology for community empowerment remains uneven. Data costs are high. Rural networks are patchy. Device affordability is still a barrier. TECNO and itel are not fixing all of that, but they are pushing the idea that budget phones can still be powerful — especially in the right hands.
Mandela Day may be just one date on the calendar, but TECNO and itel want users to think beyond it. “Live the Mandela magic all year round,” the brands said. It sounds idealistic. Then again, most meaningful tech shifts start with a mindset.