ZIMBABWE CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO INFORMATION ……….As it improves access to information
Recognising the significance of access to information, the 74th United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 28 September as the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) in October 2019.
The IDUAI’s main focus is making information accessible for all so that a structure of sustainable policies can be developed in society. Furthermore, it ensures that the access to information is continuous at times of crisis so that a collectively informed decision can be made to find ways out of it.
Today the country commemorates the IDUAI along with the rest of the world and This year’s IDUAI is running under the theme “History and Significance”. Without going too far back into history, Zimbabwe faced the worst tropical cyclones on record to ever affect Africa in March 2019 in Chimanimani. This seems to have been a significant factor to the Ministry of Information and Publicity considering the availing of equipment for a new radio station in Chimanimani on Monday.
“The availability of community radio in this part of the country will go a long way in enhancing early warning systems against destructive natural disasters”, said Minister of Information and Publicity, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa.
According to the Ministry of Information and Publicity so far the Government has also issued 6 TV licences, 10 commercial Radio Stations, 14 community radio stations and 7 campus radio stations.
In the past 12 months the government repealed AIPPA and enacted the Freedom of Information Act in July and the Zimbabwe Media Commission Act in October last year.
These efforts to make information accessible are also parallel to the Government’s goal to make Zimbabwe a digital economy by 2030.
