Project News

Welcome to Basilwizi – 'People of the Great River'

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Created: Thursday, 05 May 2011 07:01

The Book Café, Thu 12 May, 5.30pm
The Mannenberg, Fri 13 May, 6pm

This May at the Book Café and Mannenberg in Harare, arts development organisation Pamberi Trust will host two fascinating events highlighting Tonga culture in Zimbabwe.

Thursday 12 May presents a panel discussion on 'Tonga Language and Music - A cultural drive for survival and development'

followed on Friday 13 May by a multimedia presentation 'Kunzwana - The Keith Goddard Collection' Project, which documents some of the work by the late great Zimbabwean composer with Tonga musicians and other communities.

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Siabuwa clean water project

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Created: Sunday, 13 March 2011 17:36

After the completion of the solar power installation at Siabuwa Secondary School and ITC end of  last year, the Rotary clubs in Linz and Bulawayo came up with the idea to complement their donation with a Water Treatment Plant to provide for clean water for the school. This is indeed good news for the pupils, teachers and the whole community of Siabuwa. The Siabuwa clean water project is a simple water purification system comprised of a storage tank, a slow sand filter and pipes.

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Season's greetings

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Created: Thursday, 23 December 2010 19:53

On behalf of Basilwizi Trust and the Tonga Online Project we would like to wish all our friends, stakeholders and partners a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year 2011!

Ube amwaaka mupiya mubotu.
Mweende Kabotu!
Twalumba loko, Leza Amulongezye and see you in 2011!

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Kunzwana & Tonga.Online projects to live on

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Created: Friday, 26 February 2010 18:55

A mission report by Peter Kuthan / Austria Zimbabwe Friendship Association, AZFA

Having just concluded a journey to Harare, Bulawayo, Binga and Johannesburg, which was encompassing numerous talks with partners and stakeholders and a project visit including a review and planning workshop, I am glad to report that a major break trough has been achieved: jointly we have found a way forward to salvage both, Kunzwana and Tonga.Online projects.

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Season' s Greetings

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Created: Saturday, 19 December 2009 17:02

We take this opportunity to wish you a joyful and peaceful festive season and a happy New Year 2010 of renewed hope and progress. At the same time we would like to thank you for your valuable contributions and support you have provided for Tonga.Online and our cultural exchange program across the waters and the continents.
We are very grateful to the many friends, stakeholders and partners who have been collaborating with Tonga.Online in support of this program and for the BaTonga people of the Zambezi Valley.
Ube amwaaka mupiya mubotu.
Mweende Kabotu!
Twalumba loko, Leza Amulongezye and see you in 2010!

Richard Simango, Acting Project Director, Binga
Penny Yon, Kunzwana Trust, Harare
Peter Kuthan, Austria Zimbabwe Friendship Association, Linz

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Season's Greetings from Tonga.Online

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Created: Saturday, 20 December 2008 16:57

We take this opportunity to wish you all a peaceful festive season and a happy New Year 2009 of renewed hope.
At the same time we would like to thank you all for your valuable contributions and support you have provided for Tonga.Online.
We are grateful to the many friends, stakeholders and partners that
have been collaborating with Tonga.Online in support of this program and for the
BaTonga people of the Zambezi Valley.

Ube amwaaka mupiya mubotu.
Mweende Kabotu!
Twalumba loko, Leza Amulongezye and see you in 2009!

Pottar Muzamba, Project Director, Binga
Penny Yon & Keith Goddard, Kunzwana Trust, Harare
Hannes Atzinger, HORIZONT3000, Harare Office
Peter Kuthan, Austria Zimbabwe Friendship Association, Linz

Binga: Sensitisation workshop held for new Councillors and NGOs

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Created: Tuesday, 30 September 2008 18:34

Following the election of new councillors, the RDDC at its meeting of the 22nd August 2008 resolved that the councillors be enlightened on their developmental roles and on the activities of NGOs/CBOs/Trusts operating in Binga District. A workshop was therefore conducted from the 15-17 September 2008 as a follow up to the resolution and it was attended by councillors, heads of government departments and NGO managers. Basilizwi Trust organised the workshop and it was facilitated by United Nations Office of the Commission for Humanitarian Agencies (UNOCHA).

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Tonga.Online lobbying for permission to establish Binga wireless communication network

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Created: Sunday, 02 March 2008 15:19

Science and Technology Subcommittee and Rural District Development Committee (RDDC) meeting update.

The Science and Technology Subcommittee meeting to map out a lobbying strategy to acquire a permit for the Binga WLAN project to operate in the ISM band was convened on the 22nd of February 2008. The S&T was followed by the Rural District Development Committee meeting on the 25th of February, 2008 to bless the recommendation of the S&T subcommittee. This is a normal course action or protocol to be observed especially when a subcommittee has no delegated powers to make resolutions for implementation on critical development issues.

 

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ISM Band Draft position Paper for Binga

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Created: Tuesday, 11 December 2007 08:59

Using 2.4 GHz ISM Band for Development in Rural Zimbabwe, a case for the Binga District.

 request for comments

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Four Computer Technician trainees have joined Tonga.Online

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Created: Sunday, 25 November 2007 13:06
I have the pleasure to welcome the new Computer Technician trainees who
have joined Tonga.Online with effect from 1st of November 2007. For a
start, four trainees (2 males and 2 females) have been recruited to do
the IT course. This move is being done under the auspices of capacity
building of the locals and this programme is specifically designed
to bridge the IT skills gap that currently exist in the district.

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Feasibility Study Feedback meeting

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Created: Thursday, 01 November 2007 14:38
The first feedback workshop on the feasibility study on Internet connectivity and human and organization e-readiness was held on the 21st of September 2007 in Binga, Zimbabwe. The purpose of the workshop was to share and deliberate on the outcome of the feasibility study which was conducted by Tonga.Online Project from January to June 2007. After some discussions, the participants advised Tonga.Online on how it should proceed with the ICT development in the district followed.

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Computers have landed in Binga

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Created: Sunday, 08 April 2007 12:53

Finally the all computers have landed in Binga today 06 April 2007 and
they are temporary stored in the tonga.online office until the upgrading
commences. Currently, Binga High School is busy repainting the internal
walls of the ITC in preparation for the upgrade.

Once more I would thank everyone for the work accomplished.

Have a pleasant Easter holiday.

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Update on the feasibility study for ICT infrastructure development

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Created: Friday, 09 March 2007 18:59

The data collection for the long awaited feasibility study on ICT infrastructure development, Internet connectivity and on human and organisations e-readiness commenced on the 6th of March 2007. The process of data collection started with the Science and Technology Subcommittee meeting on the 20th of February 2007, where the seven enumerators were selected for the exercise.

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Craft Uplifts Binga Women's Lives

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Created: Saturday, 03 March 2007 22:10
The Herald (Harare)
NEWS
March 3, 2007
Posted to the web March 3, 2007

By Kamurai Mudzingwa
Harare

Tonga women in Binga have turned a natural resource -- ilala palm -- with the help of Binga Craft Centre, into a treasured commodity through weaving beautiful products.

The craft centre, whose mission is to economically empower women producing Tonga crafts through sustainable use of natural resources, has done a lot to promote women's craft in Binga District.

The Tonga people, who have always lived close to the Zambezi River, have, like the weaverbird, perfected the art of weaving to such an extent that they have managed to captivate the world with their craftsmanship.

According to Betty Mwinde, the quality controller at the centre, the woven products are in such high demand that some of them are exported as far as the United States of America.

But it is the organised manner in which the Tonga women conduct their business with the craft centre that deserves special mention.


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Merry Christmas

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Created: Wednesday, 20 December 2006 00:00

We take this opportunity to wish you all a happy holiday season, a merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous 2007.

We say thank you to the many friends, individuals and partners that collaborated with Tonga.Online in support of this program and for the BaTonga people of the Zambezi Valley.

Mweende Kabotu! Twalumba loko and see you in 2007!

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Website Redesign

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Created: Saturday, 06 January 2007 17:36

As of today, 6th January 2007, the new website-design, based on a content management system (CMS), named Joomla! is online.

You are welcome to suggest improvements or comment on the design in the new discussion forum.

The old website has been moved to /archive.

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Funds for Tonga.Online 2-year programme

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Created: Saturday, 03 June 2006 00:00
Tonga.Online : A New Future : IT infrastructure development

Kunzwana Trust and The Tonga.Online project are delighted to confirm the substantial support received from the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), with effect from April 2006.

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Brief update from Kunzwana Trust / Harare

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Created: Saturday, 18 February 2006 00:00
As we move (so fast already!) into 2006, we are excited to be working hard and seeing the project grow, and more people having access to this important technology. Here in the capital, Keith and Penny wear many 'hats', but plan and work together to keep the administrative and monitoring system flowing, raising funds, accounting and reporting to donors.

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Zyachitika - it has happened - Tonga.Online office is back on line!

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Created: Tuesday, 30 August 2005 00:00
Dear All, Greetings to you all and your families. Tonga.online team is happy to inform you that it managed to meet the deadline for office relocation and cleared well with the former landlords. We are grateful for the good period of work we had at Mr and Mrs Zerf's stand 115 and we are lucky to be in the hands of another understanding Landlord who has facilitated our beginning at new premises, stand 602, Secondary High Density area. It is along the first street with PTC houses facing Binga High School from the north. ZYACHITIKA - IT HAS HAPPENED.

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Call for support for Tonga.Online!

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Created: Tuesday, 15 March 2005 00:00
The co-financing agreement with Austrian Ministry for Foreign Affairs for Tonga.Online has expired end of last year and a new funding agreement or other donors are not in reach yet. Despite some ongoing assistance from Horizont 3000 and private contributions the project is in urgent need of support to continue its basic operations. Please assist the project with your donation.

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Tonga.Online Impact Assessment available

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Created: Monday, 20 December 2004 00:00
Thanks to the Austrian NGO Horizont3000, esp. Bridget Matambo and Lynda Mujakachi for the Impact Assessment carried out in November. There was a weakness in financial management highlighted which is well noted and agreed. In 2005, now that the refurbishment and setup is completed and the new ITCs settling down, focus will be directed on operations, management and accounting systems, in our drive towards sustainability and self reliance for the ITCs.

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Welcome to the new Tonga.Online team

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Created: Monday, 20 December 2004 00:00
We are glad to introduce you to the new Tonga.Online project team who will provide support to the three Computer Centres in Binga area. Due to the relocation of Penny Yon to Harare and the extension of the project to Siachilaba and Siansundu there was an urgent need to replace the coordinator and to enforce the team.

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Penny Yon departs Binga and relocates to Harare

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Created: Sunday, 14 November 2004 00:00

With effect from January 2005, Penny Yon, who has been coordinating the project since its inception, will be based in Harare with regular visits to Binga to monitor progress of the project. A local team is being built to run the project on the ground in Binga, which is seen as a further step towards self-reliance for the project and the people of Binga.


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Impact Assessment by Horizont3000

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Created: Sunday, 14 November 2004 00:00

Project partner Horizont3000 (an Austrian NGO in the field of Development Cooperation) will be conducting an Impact Assessment study of the Binga ITC, which is currently scheduled for end September/early October 2004. The study will include interviews within the community to determine the impact of the project. This should provide the base for further strategies and facilitate an extension of project funding.

Good Prospects for Tonga.Online Phase 2

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Created: Wednesday, 03 April 2002 00:00

The official opening of Binga Information Technology Centre on 15th February 2002 marked the successful completion of phase 1 and start into phase 2 of Tonga.Online project. The achievement was highlighted by all stakeholders and authorities present and by World Links for Development Programme who recognised Binga I.T.C. as 43rd WorLD Centre in Zimbabwe.

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Focus on Zimbabwe

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Created: Friday, 08 March 2002 00:00

On the eve of the Presidential elections on 9th/10th March the focus of our attention is on Zimbabwe. We stay in solidarity with our friends and the people on the ground: may the vote and will of the people be respected and decide the direction how to overcome the current crisis: We still hope that the winner will take on his responsibility to lead the country wisely and that the looser will accept defeat without causing havoc and bloodshed. In fact the crisis the country is facing is so deep and polarisation went so far that the commitment and strongest efforts of all patriotic Zimbabweans are required to change the tide and reconcile the nation.

We are closely watching the course of events and trying the best to reflect it on discussion here (see Forum).

Zambezi River Authority in favour of Tonga.Online Internet project

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Created: Friday, 30 March 2001 00:00
The Zambezi River Authority, a parastatal set up by Zambia and Zimbabwe for the development of water resources in the Zambezi valley, is very much in favour of TONGA.ONLINE Internet project as was stated in a recent fax/letter:

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Resumé / looking back at achievements of 2001

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Created: Friday, 21 December 2001 00:00

LUGWALO LWAMAKANI LWABUTONGA LWACIINDI CAKUJUZYANA A MWAKA MUPYA WAZYULU; ZYOBILWE ATUBILI: CAABILO CEKUMI MUSANU ATUBILI MUBE AJILISIMUSI MUBOTU AMWAKA MUBOTU WAZYULU ZYOBILWE ATUBILI !!

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Welcome to TONGA.ONLINE: www.mulonga.net!

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Created: Sunday, 25 March 2001 00:00
WWW.MULONGA.NET IS LAUNCHED.
Today, Sunday 25th March, 2001, the website www.mulonga.net has been launched. It will be hosted free of charge by SILVER SERVER in Vienna / Austria. This event marks a step forward for the TONGA.ONLINE project, which aims at promoting a Tonga Voice on the Internet. At the same time, a mobile Internet Centre, THE BIG BLUE VAN of World Links for Development WorLD, is about to start its tour in the Tonga area in Binga / Zimbabwe with further stops in Manjolo, Siansundu and Siachilaba. This will provide - at least temporarily - an Internet access for the Tonga community with the goal to lobby support for a permanent Centre. Check it out and take a chance to communicate with(in) the TONGA community!
Peter Kuthan