Melinda Kusemachibi/ Faith Duri
As radio still plays a vital role in today’s world via information dissemination, Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) has partnered local communities in radio programmes as a way of trying to connect them to issues to do with public finance management to find solutions for local challenges.
Speaking to TellZim News Darlington Madzonga, a Social and Economic Justice Ambassador with ZIMCODD for Glenview South, Harare said radio listening clubs are community based clubs where people meet to listen and discuss public finance management issues as part of economic consciousness for development.
“Normally a club should have 15 people and are expected to complete six episodes for them to complete the modules.
“Issues discussed include debt, tax, budget process, inequalities in society, movement building and other public finances,” said Madzonga.
He also added that his community has benefited a lot from these clubs and they have managed to engage council on issues affecting them.
“My community has benefitted tremendously from the clubs. In harvesting outcomes, the community has managed to engage council on issues ranging from refuse collection, water supply, allocation of market stalls and car parks.
“Through the clubs, Glenview district office was forced to come up with a client charter, an instrument that gives contacts and modalities of approaching council to report faults and ensure engagement.
“Residents are now literate on public finance issues, ZIMCODD is building a social and economic justice movement,” added Madzinga.
Masvingo Radio Listening Club facilitator Ephraim Mtombeni said that the programme has got potential to empower marginalized communities.
“Radio Listening Club is a participatory communication platform that has the potential to empower poor communities into action that could lead us to sustainable social change and development. It creates a neutral platform where the skits improve the capability of citizens to demand accountability and transparency at local level.
“Most importantly it educates communities on their rights and responsibilities in public finance management to strengthen transparency and accountability in PFM. The participants managed to submit their priorities to the Members of Parliaments (MP) towards the Constituency Development Fund,” said Mtombeni.
Community Resource Monitoring Agent (CORA) for Lupane district Casuel Moyo said radio listening clubs is about PFM be it on government/public or private institutions and they use radio skits when they are doing their activities or programmes.
“We are monitoring issues on accountability and transparency with focus on public finances where we engage the general public, stakeholders and government employees.
“We generally discuss government accountability mechanisms thereby trying to reduce corruption in central or local authority sectors,” said Moyo.
He also said this has benefited his community in airing views on financial management.
“This has benefited the community in airing views on financial management where they needed especially on controlling their natural resources in communities hence engaging government officials,” he said.
Vice Chairperson of ZIMCODD Eastern Region Benneta Goneso said that the programmes done by ZIMCODD are benefiting them as a community.
“These radio listen programmes done by ZIMCODD really benefit the community as they have access to information and people are being well-taught of their rights and responsibilities as citizens. Once the community is empowered with information, they will be in a position to help fight against corruption,” said Chimeura.
CORA for Gutu District Matilda Nehohwa also said radio listening clubs increase awareness and gives the community better knowledge about their rights.
“Radio listening clubs increase awareness, gives knowledge to citizens about their rights. It widens awareness scope on issues of debt, PFM, service delivery; basically it’s a good way of information dissemination and a way of equipping citizens about their rights.
“The community gets brightened on finance issues, they even get to know that they have a say in what they pay and also that they are the beneficiaries of revenue collected by government. They also get to know that debt affect everyone and it weakens service delivery for them,” said Nehohwa.
Movement building assistant for Gweru district Grace Mashingaidze said community radio listening programmes were designed to raise level of economic literacy among ZIMCODD members and communities at large.
“Community radio listening programme is an improved access to information and powerful participatory communication approach where villagers in isolated communities have access to public finance management information and it’s designed to inform them on their rights and responsibilities,” said Mashingaidze.
She stated that the community is benefiting a lot because the skits are all in Zimbabwean languages making it easier for every individual to understand.
“The skits are in different languages Shona, English, Ndebele which makes it easier for communities to understand and participate.
“There has been an increase in participation among women, youth and people with disabilities. Citizens now demand transparency and accountability from duty bearers on different platforms, they are now asking the HOWFAR question and even demanding feedback,” she added.
Community Radio listening clubs are helping rural population participate in the development of both their communities and themselves. The clubs enable members (women, men and youth) to share concerns and take collective action.
In collaborating with rural radio stations that feed and broadcast their discussions, the clubs have become agents of change in different societal aspects.
