Access to information vital for community development
MATOBO residents have said access to information is critical for development and are calling for a bridging of the information gap that they allege has been their bane.
This, among a plethora of other issues, emerged during Internews’ visit to the Sontala Clinic site to conduct a mid-term review exercise designed to rigorously measure and assess the impact of the Zimbabwe Media Development project interventions.
Ward 12 councillor Ernest Ncube raised the issue pertaining to paucity of information on current affairs both at district and national level. He also bemoaned the lack of local news coverage.
As rural residents or communities, there are a lot of issues or news they need heralded, be it current affairs happening within the district or news on land degradation, gender based violence. They feel sidelined in terms of information dissemination.
Ncube further decried the media blackout on information relating to how the community is benefiting from its resources.
He expressed disappointment at the opaqueness surrounding the selling of resources which smacks of exploitation of locals by people from other districts and provinces. He added that the underdevelopment in Matobo does not reflect its rich endowment.
Ncube said residents want to know about the resources that are there in Matobo and how they can benefit from those resources in terms of community development.
He expressed concern that their district is poor in terms of development, but rich in what it exports to other districts.
There is gold in Matobo as well as mopane worms and these are supposed to benefit the locals.
Sontala Clinic project chairperson Inviolata Ncube shared similar sentiments with Ncube and also emphasised that women must not be excluded and are entitled to their pound of flesh when it comes to benefiting from local resources.
Effective information dissemination is critical for the upliftment of women in the district.
The residents said they need information on their local resources and other projects that can bail us out women.
Gone are the days when men could single-handedly provide for their families. There are mines, but resident do not know how they operate and what they contribute as far as Matobo development is concerned.
Community news is of great importance to residents. In addition to keeping them informed, it is also good for community development in that it can attract potential funders for community projects.
Community news providers would do well by incorporating local languages in their publications.
They also prefer newsletters in their own language, especially in hard copy if possible. Reading news in the mother tongue would go a long way in enhancing comprehension of community issues.
Access to factual news and the need to keep the local community informed is very important.
Few people can afford mobile smart phones and mobile data. Community news help in terms of creating awareness, especially on the COVID-19 lockdown enforcement regulations and health education.