4.5 Issues of concern — impediments to accessing media 4.5.1 Structural issues A media. NUMBER of structural issues were noted as impeding citizens’ ability to access the different forms of These span a broad range, including cost, network and reception coverage, political considerations, and regimentation of access to information, which are most prevalent in rural communities. Although people gave various reasons for not going online, the major reason was a lack of resources. For example, 33% said they did not have the money to do so, while 23% cited a lack of the right equipment. from similarweb.com suggests that it is mostly those within the working age groups that access online news content from an analysis of the top five news websites in Zimbabwe — this is generally the ages between 25 and 44. This is depicted below. However, parallel data obtained Figure 22: Age distribution of citizens accessing the top five news websites Figure 21: Age distribution of citizens accessing the top five news websites 4.5.2 Access to public information Source: similarweb.com Access to information and parastatals, rural district freedom of expression are councils, and local government also impeded, especially when offices (provincial and district dealing with public entities development coordinators). 4.5.2 Access to public information like government ministries, These entities are not forthcoming in releasing information for public consumption, but adopt a selective access approach. Access to information and freedom of expression are also impeded, especially when deal with public entities like government ministries, parastatals, rural district councils, and lo government offices (provincial and district development coordinators). These entities are forthcoming in releasing information for public consumption but adopt a selective acc approach. 31