Poor communication infrastructure hinders access to electoral information in Tsholotsho

Gift Nyathi

As the nation gears for harmonised elections later this year, Tsholotsho youths are worried that the poor communication infrastructure will hinder access to electoral information and exarcerbate lack of participation  in the district.

Speaking to Community Podium, youths from Ward 7 under Chief Siposo said they are bound to miss out on critical information pertaining to electoral processes in the country due to a shortage of communication channels and  low levels of internet and network connectivity.

One youth Nonhlanhla Ncube said the fact that there is no single newspaper  circulating in the area speaks volumes about the residents lagging behind in accessing information.

 “Akula lelilodwa nje iphephandaba esilizuzayo ngaphandle nje  kokuthi silibone emuntwini  ovela ko Bulawayo and ngaleso skhathi liyabe livele seladlulelwa yiskhathi obalayo uyabesenza nje ngoba ezikwejisisa otherwise okuqukethwe liphepha kuyabe kungasasisizi ngalutho,” said Nonhlanhla.

 Another youth, Mbongeni  Sibanda concurred with Ncube and  added that   the area has an unstable internet connectivity which is also a cause for concern in terms of information distribution.

 “Uyathi usathembile uthi kubamba inetone asazi kwenzakalani ubone ingasabambi, udinge iEconet ibambe  ihlalahlale ubone selingasela network kuze kuthi iTelecel yiyo engani iyancengisa. IEconet ike yabamba okwesikhathi sibili ngawoda lama airtime akhona ngathengisa ifirst batch ye $100 yaphela kodwa ngawoda eye sibili kanti sengiyilahlile ngalezonsuku yahle yathula inetwork sengibekile ukuthi mhla izavuka njalo yikho lapho engizathengisa khona ngoba khathesi akulamuntu ongathenga inetwork ayikho,” he said.

 Elvis Tshabangu said residents in the area make electoral decisions based on hearsay.  

“Izinqumo sizenza silandela inzwabethi kungela lobufakazi obubambekayo kodwa asilayo ichoice ngoba vele sisemahatshahatsheni lapho information engafiki khona and lokhu kwenza ukuthi sithathe lezingqumo mhlawumbe ebesingeke sizithatha nxa silolwazi olugcweleyo. Khathesi siya ekuvoteni kodwa sivota ukugcwalisa izifiso kodwa information ngabantu esibavotelayo siyizwa kuma campaign labanye abayabebesichathekela kodwa okunye kuqakathekile ukuthi sizibone njalo sizizwele  ngoba ama third parties asengabalakho ukuphazamisa,” said Tshabangu.

Tsholotsho Youth Hub Director Zibusiso Sibanda said these channels expose young people to voter education issues which in turn will assist in curbing voter apathy amongst youths “because apathy is due to lack of information. Youths get excluded from pertinent issues because information dissertation helps youths to connect with relevant people and opportunities but iexclussion inkulu kakhulu eTsholotsho ikakhulu ma sikhangela endabeni zokhetho ngoba akula information efikayo   ngoba kungela ma platforns that accomodate umuntu omutsha and at the end of the day akula youth development on the ground ngoba abantu abazazi azikhalazo zabantu abatsha since ama platforms ekho.”

Member of Parliament for Tsholotsho North Constituency Honourable  Khumalo Sibangumuzi Sixtone said he is aware of the  network challenges faced by his constituents and mitigation plans are being made. 

” Plans are underway to boost the network system in the area and we intend to have two more boosters in Tsholotsho North one in Pumula mission and another at Mtshwayeli but we need bigger boosters that will cover 25 square km hence we also call for wellwishers who would like to assist.

A 25 square kilometre booster if stationed at Pumula mission will give coverage all the way to Phelandaba and one at Mtshwayeli will cover as far as Ngamo, Kapane and surrounding areas and these two boosters together with the ones currently stationed at Dlamini and 25 line respectively will cover the whole of Tsholotsho North,” said the MP.

Ward 7 residents  under Chief Siposo  currently  rely on a booster that is stationed at 25 and it is a 5 km  transmitter. There are areas like Mgomeni which is 7km away and Phelandaba which is 25 km away who have no access.