Online Reporter
Fungai Lupande
Mashonaland Central Bureau
A NEWLY-CONSTRUCTED information centre in Kanongo is reshaping how rural communities access environmental knowledge, marking a significant step towards inclusive development and climate awareness.
Built by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the Global Environment Facility (GEF-6) project, the facility is designed to serve Ward 2 and surrounding communities with vital environmental information.
Environmental education and publicity officer Mr Maxwell Mupotsa said the centre is a strategic investment aimed at empowering citizens with knowledge on environmental management and climate change.
“This facility ensures that people at the ward and district level have access to environmental education, awareness and information. It is the right of every Zimbabwean to access such information,” he said.
Mr Mupotsa added that the centre will soon be equipped with internet connectivity to allow students, farmers, and vulnerable groups, including the elderly and people with disabilities, to access real-time data on weather patterns, climate change, floods and other environmental issues.
Construction of the centre began in 2025 and was completed between late 2025 and early 2026.
Mr Mupotsa said the focus now is on additional improvements, including boreholes, internet installation and full furnishing.
The centre is also expected to serve as a hub for research and community learning, particularly for students during school holidays, as well as a platform for disseminating information on wildfires, invasive species, gully erosion and carbon credit systems.
Mr Mupotsa said stakeholders are encouraged to use the facility for awareness campaigns and to distribute educational materials.
Ward 2 Councillor Forget Mandevhani welcomed the development, saying it has modernised how the community conducts meetings.
“We used to gather under trees, and meetings would often be disrupted by rain or harsh weather. This centre has brought dignity and convenience,” he said.
He added that the facility, located centrally among 29 villages, is already benefiting schools and community groups, though there is still a need for internet connectivity and water supply to fully optimise its use.
Village head Sabhuku Kanongo, born Cuthbert Maoneke, echoed the sentiments, noting that the centre has eliminated disruptions caused by weather conditions and now provides storage for ward property such as chairs and fire-fighting equipment.
Ward Secretary Mr Tavhiringwa Mwanza said the facility has also improved record-keeping and logistics.
“We used to store important documents and inputs at home or schools, which was not secure and disrupted learning. Now we have a proper, safe place,” he said.
Community members say the centre has become a focal point for sharing critical information on climate change, human-wildlife conflict, HIV, and gender-based violence (GBV).
Mr Aaron Karomon from Guvheya Village, a member of the environmental sub-committee, said the inclusive structure of the committee, comprising youths, women and persons with disabilities, ensures broad participation.
“It is now easier for people to gather and exchange information. We are seeing more discussions around climate change, environmental protection and social issues like HIV/AIDS, GBV and child marriages,” he said.
