Hikes, nosy neighbours afflict Zimbabweans in quest for mobile connection
The Hindu
Silozwe village in Zimbabwe faces rural connectivity challenges, impacting daily life and business opportunities for residents.
As the sun sets over Zimbabwe's Matobo Hills, boys throw stones to chase baboons away. Their goal isn't to enjoy the view of dusk but to search for a mobile network without interference from wild animals.
Silozwe, a village less than 50 kilometres (31 miles) from the southern city of Bulawayo, the southern African country's second largest, sits in a connectivity black hole.
To an outsider, the daily stream of villagers clambering up the hill might look like a pilgrimage to a rain-making ceremony, but it's a communal trek to make phone calls, send messages and check social media.
"Grown up as I am, it's hard for me to get up the hill, and sometimes I still fail to connect," said Sakhile Sibindi, 60, a grandmother who walks five kilometres to reach the spot from her home.
Rural connectivity issues are not unique to Zimbabwe.
About a third of the world's population, or 2.6 billion people, do not have internet access, according to the United Nations, which has a target to get everyone online by 2030.
"The internet is an essential tool to access information, employment opportunities and education. People without meaningful access may be left behind," the UN's International Telecommunication Union said in a 2023 report.
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