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By Marlvin Ngiza
Buhera local authority has been challenged to establish more information centers at ward level inorder to increase the flow and circulation of vital information across the constituency.
Buhera Residents Network Trust Coordinator Leonard Mabasa said the unavailability of Information Centers at ward level was depriving residents access to information resulting in them being left out in crucial developmental issues.
He added that the available information centers were not enough to cater for the whole constituency.
“Establishing Information Centers at ward level will help to keep the communities well informed about contemporary issues such as Covid-19 and climate change.These hubs also help to disseminate information in societies in a palatable manner.
“The inadequacy of information hubs is affecting residents in the way that they fail to embrace vaccination blitz,they miss development meetings presided by traditional leaders, councillors and Non Governmental Organisations(NGOs),they miss to attend Annual General Meetings for Schools and fail to elect Committees for Development.
“We therefore urge the local authority to establish more information hubs,”said Mabasa.
Meanwhile,Mabasa further indicated that if more information hubs are established,residents can fully participate in critical community activities.
Mabasa pointed out that residents were relying on traditional means of communication such as road network which is not effective in the 21st century.
“If more information hubs are established ,this might provide legitimacy in local leadership at clinics and schools,participation in agriculture programmes which will help to boost yields and increased awareness on Covid-19 which helps to improve alertness and uptake of Covid-19 vaccines.
“The residents in Buhera rely on road network to relay information that is related to culture and tradition but however considering adverse effects of cyclones that swept bridges along Nyazvidzi parallel it is a challenge to travel during rainy season,other areas like Mutero,Muchuwa,Bhegedhe,Mutepfe and Mutongoreva become difficult to connect.
“The information that spreads quickly is news on the dip-tanks.
“Also,this is the season for Council budget consultations meetings and almost 70% of residents did not participate in these meetings.A random sampling survey carried out revealed that people with disabilities,marginalized groups such as elderly have limited access to information hence the need to improve on access to information,”added Mabasa.
Currently, village health workers are conducting door to door campaigns about Covid-19 and vaccination as well as on other health issues.
“Door to door campaign on health education played a pivotal role in almost all 33 wards,relaying information on the availability of Covid-19 vaccines is done through village health workers,schools and verbal announcements,”said Mabasa.
Buhera Residents Network Trust is an apolitical organisation which covers 33 wards.Only 4 information centers are available for the entire constituency.