Residents with disabilities in Bulawayo have recently received training on combating the proliferation of fake news, misinformation, and disinformation. Community Podium, a Bulawayo-based organization, is spearheading this initiative, with the most recent training session taking place on Monday.
According to Sihlobo Bulala, leader of Community Podium programs, the training aims to empower individuals with disabilities with the skills to discern and fact-check false information. She highlighted the unique challenges faced by people with disabilities, particularly those in the deaf community, who often lack equal access to information due to communication barriers.
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Bulala emphasized the importance of equipping individuals with disabilities to identify and verify inaccurate news, thus enabling them to make informed decisions and avoid potential repercussions of acting on false information.
Tsungirirai Tsikira, Projects Manager for the Deaf, Arts, Culture, and Entertainment, expressed appreciation for the training, noting its significance in raising awareness about the impact of misinformation and disinformation on the broader community.
One of the participants, Annitha Makoni, shared her experience, stating that it was her first exposure to training on fact-checking fake news. She pledged to share her newfound knowledge with friends and family to help combat the spread of false information.
