Staff Reporter
Residents of Zaka Ward 27 are facing significant challenges due to poor network coverage, which hinders their access to information and communication.
Speaking to TellZim News, local ward councilor Ernest Mandava appealed to the responsible authorities to erect a network tower on Fumure Mountain, which he said would provide coverage for the entire ward.
“I appeal to the responsible authorities to erect a booster in Fumure Mountain. That could cover the whole ward and other areas due to its location and height.
“If erected at its summit, it would have a very large coverage because of its height and relieve the challenge we face as a ward,” said Manadava.
He said people were relying on booster from Renco Mine which is in Masvingo District and Chivamba though in Zaka, it was shielded by some mountains in between making it hard to provide network for the whole ward.
“Currently, residents rely on boosters from Renco Mine and Chivamba, which are far away and unreliable. Two potential sites, including Fumure Mountain, were identified long ago, but no action has been taken so far,” said Mandava.
He said the poor network coverage had a significant impact on local schools and business centers, which require reliable internet connectivity to operate effectively.
The councilor noted that internet connectivity was a major challenge, forcing people to travel to higher ground to access the internet, leaving many behind in terms of access to information.
“We are lagging behind in terms of access to information and communication due to the poor network coverage. We urge the responsible authorities to prioritize the erection of a network tower on Fumure Mountain, which would greatly improve our connectivity and enable us to participate fully in the digital economy,” said Mandava.
The situation is not unique to the area and Zaka alone as several areas in rural areas face the same predicament.
In Masvingo South, people from Guwa area said they were also facing connectivity challenges saying bureaucracy and greedy by traditional leaders who wanted payment was costing the area.
“There were prospects that a tower was going to be erected at Guwa mountain back then around 2019 prior to COVID era. As part of the process apparently on the consultative stages, some elders had their reservations of traditional significance of the mountain, hence the project was abandoned,” said a source who refused to be named.
Masvingo South legislator Tanatsiwa Mukomberi said the traditional leader impasse but said it was later approved and Econet promised to erect one in 2024 but the promise was yet to see the light of the day.
“At first the traditional leaders blocked the move but it was later approved. Econet promised us that they were going to erect one booster in 2024 but they failed so I will follow up on it.
However, we also applied to NetOne and we are still processing the paperwork,” said Mukomberi