Here’s something from BOOK Southern Africa:

At the recent launch of Lloyd Sachikonye’s When a State Turns Against its Citizens at Lobby Books, the author spoke with passion about the changes he hopes to see in his home country, Zimbabwe.

Here is the full text of his address:

I am enormously grateful to be here today to share in the launch of this book, When a State Turns Against its Citizens. I am really happy to meet many friends, guests, compatriots who have come to grace this occasion. My profound thanks go to the organizers of this event, SALO and Lobby Books, and to the publishers who have made the publication process possible within two months from the initial submission of the manuscript…The turn-around of the process and the publicity have been superb and professional, thank you.

This is a publication about Political Violence in my country, Zimbabwe. A country of enormous contradictions: on the one hand, it has one of the highest rates of literacy on this Continent, and one of the largest proportions of educated and skilled professionals. A country that showed great promise three decades ago, that was described variously as ‘a jewel’ and ‘breadbasket’.

But as the narrative of this book chronicles, it is now a country deeply mired in political violence and moral crisis. The roots of Political Violence go back not only to 2000 as some analysts assume, but to the 1950s and 1960s, half a century ago. The roots are to be found in:

* The ruthless suppression of moderate African nationalism by the colonial state; they used beatings, dogs and guns for example.

* Violence by nationalists between their parties in the early 1960s, the original ZAPU and ZANU in 1963-64; they employed stones, sticks and petrol bombs, for instance.

* Violence against civilians by colonial regime forces but also by liberation forces during the 1970s, and Use of violence to settle differences within liberation armies themselves.

After Independence in 1980, the post-colonial state inherited the apparatus and techniques of violence against those who criticized it. As years went by, that arsenal was used against rival parties such as ZAPU till 1987, against ZUM in 1990 and the MDC since 2000.

This culture and practice of violence were celebrated by leaders of Zanu PF who openly boasted of having ‘degrees in violence’. As the country witnessed, these were not empty boasts.

The book observes that the consequences of the culture of violence reached a peak in 2008 when the citizens’ bid for political change was blocked like in Kenya, and now Cote d’Ivoire. The incumbent party and the state used their apparatuses to frustrate a free and fair run-off election.

Subsequent chapters of the book show that the consequences of Political Violence include widespread trauma, scars, fear, stress and apathy. The full magnitude of these psychological and physical conditions is not known. It is partly because Zimbabwe is a society under trauma that it has experienced an exodus of up to 3 million, or a quarter of its population.

This situation of Political Violence needs to change because the consequences are terrible. Other countries that experienced large-scale Political Violence have demonstrated great political will to stop it. Take this country, South Africa. In the 1994 election, about 1 000 people were killed in Political Violence, many were maimed. In the last several elections, like in 2009, no single person died in Political Violence.

Why should Zimbabwe be exceptional? Why should its elections be marred always be marred by Political Violence? Why should impunity be tolerated? These are some of the questions raised in this book.

The book concludes with a few recommendations. Zimbabwe has great human resources but also resilient moral resources, and potential for civic values and democratic change. Let them be harnessed against Political Violence and the authoritarianism which sponsors it. Let them be harnessed for a credible process of transitional justice, and reform of security sector institutions. Let our knowledge of the history of Political Violence and various negative effects propel us to do something about it.

Book details

* When a State Turns Against its Citizens: Institutionalized Violence and Political Culture by Lloyd Sachikonye
EAN: 9781431401116

Hats off to Zane E. Lucas for his adaptation of the musical, Rent. I went to the matinee last Saturday and have to say that I was blown away by both the talent on the stage, as well as Zane’s direction. I’ve heard rumours that audiences tended to thin out after interval but not on the afternoon I went. This surprised me because the majority of the audience were old age pensioners (OAPs) who I thought would be shocked out of their seats. Instead they held their ground and took great and particular delight in Angel’s performance, Zimbabwe’s best ever high kicking drag queen. The singing was strong all round, and I’m pleased to see that Josh has got some competition as leading male actor in the form of Zoran Zec. More please Zoran. And more please also from Erin J. Housam who wowed me with her piece, Over The Moon. She Must win an award for one of the best cameos I’ve seen on stage in Zimbabwe.

One small bug bear … some of the band looked decidedly bored by the whole affair. I saw a guitarist sucking on what looked like a bottle of Energade but it didn’t do anything to perk him Up. The band, when they’re visible and on stage, are a part of the performance, so best keep them in the dark if they can’t match the energy of the actors.

Work in and for Zimbabwe. Help grow our nation. Check out the vacancies below. If you’d like to receive this sort of information, as well as civic and human rights updates, by email each week drop us a note saying “subscribe” to info [at] kubatana [dot] net

Please note that the job vacancies we carry are related to the NGO and civil society sectors only.

Project Administrator MCHIP/Zimbabwe
Deadline: 26 April 2011

The Maternal Child Health Integrated Program (MCHIP), a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funded technical assistance project that is managed in Zimbabwe by John Snow, Inc. (JSI). MCHIP is currently recruiting for a Project Administrator.

-    The Administrator will ensure that the MCHIP Zimbabwe program has sound financial contractual and administrative systems and that its activities are conducted in compliance with the terms of the MCHIP agreement and USAID regulations.

-    S/he will oversee financial management, procurement, office services, information technology and human resources functions and staff, and will serve as the liaison to USAID/Zimbabwe on these matters.

-    S/he will work closely with the Country Director and JSI headquarters office to ensure that all activities are implemented in a timely and effective manner, costs are reasonable and appropriate, office services are responsive to the needs of program staff, and all financial reports are submitted on time and according to established procedures.

Qualifications

-    Graduate degree in Public Administration, Business Administration (MBA), Finance or equivalent combination of training and expertise and experience

-    At least 5 years’ financial and administrative management experience, preferably with USAID or other development agency programs

-    Knowledge of US government procurement regulations, as well as Government of Zimbabwe legal and financial requirements

-    Strong leadership, analytical and organizational skills and a commitment to providing high quality services to internal and external clients

-    Experience setting up and managing mid-size office operations, preferably in Zimbabwe

-    Prior USAID program management experience is a plus

-    English fluency

-    Expert skills in Excel, QuickBooks or similar accounting software as well as Word.

For the full job description email: dorothy [at] mchipzim [dot] org

Competitive salary and benefits.  Interested applicants please submit application letter, complete CV and references no later than close of business on 26th April, 20011 to: Country Director, MCHIP Office, No. 4 Fairman Close (Off Quorn Avenue), Mount Pleasant, Harare or Email: dorothy [at] mchipzim [dot] org

Only short listed candidates will be notified.

Two (2) MCHIP Community Maternal and Newborn Health (MHN) Programme Assistants: Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program
Deadline: 26 April 2011

MCHIP/Zimbabwe seeks to employ two (2) Community Program Assistants to work and support maternal and newborn interventions at 2 districts in Manicaland. The Community Programme Assistants will work in close collaboration with district level health workers, VHWs, the MCHIP technical team and communities to improve the lives of newborn infants and their mothers. These are Mutare and Chimanimani district positions with occasional travel to Harare and other districts.

Qualification and experience

-    Community Nurse, Social Worker or Health Promotion Officer with at least 5 years experience in community health programmes may apply;

-    Skills should include training, developing and supporting community mobilization strategies for maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH);

-    Computer literacy and report writing.

Roles and responsibilities

-    Support Health Care Workers and Village Health Workers (VHWs) to implement MNCH community level interventions and strengthen the household to hospital continuum of care

-    Participate in community MNCH related assessments

-    Support training of health providers including VHWs

-    Support behaviour change communication interventions related to improving healthy MNCH behaviours in communities and households

-    Identifying strategic partners and engaging them to support MNCH activities

-    With the VHWs and community teams identify priorities and develop appropriate plans to meet the identified MNCH needs

-    Ensure regular documentation, monitoring and supervision as is necessary

-    Perform other community related MNCH activities as requested by the Newborn Technical Officer, Technical Director, CD

Competitive salary and benefits. Interested applicants please submit application letter, complete CV and 3 references no later than close of business on 26th April, 20011 to: Country Director, MCHIP Office, No. 4 Fairman Close (Off Quorn Avenue), Mount Pleasant, Harare or Email: dorothy [at] mchipzim [dot] org

Only short listed candidates will be notified.

Management Accountant – Harare: Concern Worldwide
Deadline: 26 April 2011

Concern Worldwide, an Irish non-governmental organisation, is looking for an individual to fill the position of Management Accountant.

Profile specific to this post:

-    Degree in Accountancy with part CA, ACCA or CIMA;

-    Have worked as senior accountant or management accountant either in a leading firm or NGO sector for a minimum of 1 year;

-    Highly skilled in preparation of management accounts and budgets;

-    Knowledge of analytical review of financial documents and data;

-    Extremely skilled in the use of spreadsheets and generate reports;

-    Knowledge of working on accounting software;

-    Computer literacy is a must;

-    Knowledge of training non-financial managers;

-    Able to work to deadlines and take initiative in solving problems.

Concern encourages female candidates and people living with HIV to apply. A competitive salary is offered as per the experience required and the duties to be carried out in a new and challenging working environment.

Interested candidates should send their CVs as well as the following (Only candidates who meet the person profile above may be shortlisted):

-    Details of two professional referees of persons to whom they reported

-    A covering letter outlining reasons for applying and suitability of the candidate

-    Details of their current/most recent salary

-    Date of availability

Applications should be sent to: The HR Manager, Concern Worldwide. Email: Lucille.tapfumaneyi [at] concern [dot] net

Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

Accountant: Cordaid
Deadline: 27 April 2011

Improving Maternal and Neonatal health is one of the key objectives of the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare (MOHCW). In line with this, the World Bank has decided to support the establishment of a results based financing program (RBF) which seeks to accelerate the availability, accessibility and utilization of quality health services at district and health centre level. The RBF program will provide subsidies, directly linked to services delivered at primary health care level, i.e. rural health clinics, and to a minor extent at district hospitals. The MoHCW and the World Bank have appointed an international NGO to manage this Results Based Financing (RBF) program in rural districts in Zimbabwe. In the start-up phase the project starts in two frontrunner Districts.

For the INGO’s Head office in Harare the INGO will acquire the service of an accountant

Position & responsibility:

The accountant reports to the Manager Finance and RBF payments. S/he is responsible for the smooth running of operations and financial transactions of the office and sub offices in accordance with appropriate fiduciary standards, which meets the requirements of the Government of Zimbabwe, the World Bank and Cordaid.

General objective of the posting:

The incumbent will collect, verify, process and file financial data and supporting documents; prepare financial transactions for endorsement by the Manager Finance and RBF payments; prepare financial reports and facilitate financial audits

Specific objectives of the position:

Main tasks:

-    Monitor all invoices and vouchers and enter all authorized transactions/payments in bookkeeping system (Pastel Sage) and do daily back up of the bookings

-    To prepare payment vouchers in conformity with WB/CORDAID required procedures and make sure that all transaction documents are filed chronologically as per recordings order

-    To make copies of all payment orders issued and payment transfer letters and file in Pastel Sage folder and daily update the cash book; to systematize the program incomes and the expenses of local purchasing units (Cordaid sub-offices) according to the budget and Cordaid administrative codes plan

-    To issue small payments from a petty cash and to perform a daily check on the physical petty cash balances and daily reconciliation of cash accounts and monthly of bank accounts

-    To maintain a minimum cash balance as agreed with the Manager Finance and PBF Payments.

Qualifications:

BBA Degree in Accounting from a reputable Zimbabwean training institute

Profile:

-    At least 5 years of professional experience in an International NGO setting

-    Independent and dynamic and capable of organising his/her own work, trustworthy, confidential and pleasant as required at all times and good team player with good communication skills

-    Strong Experience with relevant accounting software packages (Pastel Sage to be specific) and Excellent Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Especially Excel)

-    A Zimbabwe Nationality with a good command of English and the local language

Workplaces: The Accountant will reside in Harare, with frequent traveling to provinces and districts enrolled in the program.

Contract Period: The contract will initially run for six months from 1 June till 30 November with three months probation and an option for continuation depending on performance

How to apply: Applications including a cover letter and extensive CV in English, including the contact details of at least three professional references, should be sent by e-mail only to kiziah.estone [at] cordaid [dot] net

Mention the vacancy number in Subject line, ACCT001

An e-assessment test can be part of the application procedure. Female Candidates are encouraged to apply. Only short listed candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be held between the 2nd and 6th May 2011. The INGO is an equal opportunity employer and offer attractive remuneration package.

National Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and HIV Linkages Programme Co-ordinator: UNFPA
Deadline: 28 April 2011 (12 noon)

Vacancy number: VA-2011-04-07

Duty station: Harare, Zimbabwe

Duration: 1 year with possibility of renewal

Under the overall supervision of the Principal Director Preventive Services in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare (MOHCW), the national SHR and HIV Linkages Co-ordinator shall liase with AIDS and TB Programme and Reproductive Health Units of the MOHCW and collaborate with NFPA, other UN agencies, multi and bilateral international development agencies and civil society organisations in facilitating Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV programme linkages.

Major duties and responsibilities:

-    Co-ordinate the overall implementation of SRH and HIV linkages including monitoring and reporting on progress in programme implementation;

-    Work with the MOCHW departments, implementing partners, quasi-government and private sector organisations (PVOs) and NGOs to overcome bottlenecks in SRH and HIV programme linkages;

-    Support the integration of SRH and HIV linkages in national health and development policies, plans system and service delivery;

-    Identify and document experiences and lessons learnt and facilitate sharing among implementing partners within and outside Zimbabwe;

-    Develop proposals to mobilize resources from major funding organization and development partners to support SRHR and HIV linkages;

-    Ensure proper management and co-ordination of programme including procurement of goods and services, monitoring and evaluation and the preparation and submission of required reports based on the procedures set forth in the signed Funding Agreement between EC and UNFPA;

-    Support and guide work of consultants and contractors within the programme to ensure good quality work and outputs in accordance with the funding agreement EC and UNFPA, including on-site monitoring and evaluation processes and accurate reporting;

-    Prepare regular analytical reports for MOHCW to be shared with UNFPA and other partners;

-    Serve as secretary to the National SRH and HIV Linkages Technical Committee chaired by the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare;

-    Undertake any other duties assigned by the Principal Director.

Only candidates satisfying all of the following should apply:

-    University degree in public health, nursing or other social sciences degree in a related field;

-    Master’s degree in Public Health or equivalent is an added advantage

-    At least 7 years’ experience in development, design and implementation of HIV and AIDS and Sexual & Reproductive Health and (SRH) programmes

-    Experience in collaborating with international donors is an asset

-    Fluency in English, Shona or Ndebele

-    Good writing, analytical, communication and staff management skills.

Please send your CV and cover letter to: The UNFPA Representative, Ref: SRH and HIV Linkages Programme Co-ordinator, Block 7, 1st Floor, Arundel Office Park, Mt. Pleasant, PO Box 4775, Harare or by e-mail to mailzwe [at] unfpa [dot] org

NB: This is a project post funded by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

Financial Manager: Tree of Life
Deadline: 29 April 2011

Background

Tree of Life Trust

The Tree of Life is a group-based approach to the healing and empowerment of survivors of organized violence and torture. It is facilitated by survivors themselves who have been trained and supervised in the methodology. It uses the metaphor of the tree to provide a framework for understanding the trauma experience, and, through a series of inter-related processes, leads the survivor into an appreciation of his or her strengths and the support of the community in surviving.

The Tree of Life has shown itself to be a proven, non-professional, cost-effective and culturally appropriate method of providing psychological assistance to the victims. One of the most important aspects of healing is to break these patterns of isolation and to rebuild a sense of belonging. Thus, in the Tree of Life, participants go through a process of reclaiming; reclaiming personal power, reclaiming their sense of body, reclaiming connections with nature, and reclaiming connection to the community.

Organisation – Tree Of Life

There are currently 7 fulltime members of staff, Coordinator, Administrator, and 5 Facilitators, with plans being implemented to increase this number to 10. Part time support is provided by Research and Advocacy Unit, in particular for financial management and for research and advocacy. Work is very much team based and in the field. Tree of Life is working with 2 urban communities (Epworth and Whitecliff) and more generally in Harare, and with 3 rural communities (Mutoko, Murewa and Chishawasha) and more generally with Mashonaland East. Plans are being implemented to extend this work into Manicaland and elsewhere. Tree of Life is connected through RAU to civil society generally, and is networked to its own Partners, to the Peace Builders Network (PBNZ) and to an emerging network of agencies engaged in healing work. Tree of Life is currently supported by three international funding agencies. Tree of Life works at the interface between emergency, fear and polarization on the one side, and renewed social activity and community development on the other. There are 4 categories of inter-related activities – Healing workshops for Victims Training for and supervision of workshops for partner organizations Community follow-up and support Research & Advocacy

Finance Manager

The Finance Manager is responsible for:

-    All aspects of financial management, in compliance with standards and procedures, and providing information to enable effective management

-    Oversight of programme finances, including compliance with standards of donor organisations, and providing oversight or direct support to partner organisations in their financial management

-    Ensuring all legal processes are followed

-    Overseeing appropriate HR processes

-    Developing and implementing financial plans

-    Sharing in the organising and co-ordination of fundraising events and presentations to potential donors

-    Attending relevant fundraising and financial management events and meetings

-    Managing the administrative, staffing and resource needs of the position

-    Reporting to the Coordinator and Board of Trustees

-    Generally sharing in the management and aims of the Tree of Life

Requirements:

A professional, mature and articulate person with at least 5 years experience in an NGO or similar environment where managing multiple donor funds and partnership development formed part of the core job. Ability to think and act strategically and to generate credible and considered plans and information. Intermediate or advanced computer literacy skills, especially in the Microsoft Office Suite. A team player personality with the presence and poise to interact at boardroom, senior government, banker and donor agency level. Commitment to meet challenging targets on time and consistently. Outstanding communication and presentation skills.

A competitive salary will be offered and terms of employment and remuneration will be notified to selected candidates.

To Apply: Submit an application by email with Financial Manager in the subject line, your full CV and covering letter, with 2 contactable references to Coordinator at wildcahi [at] zol [dot] co [dot] zw

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Refugee Counselor / Mental Health Worker
Deadline: 30 April 2011

A counselor/mental health worker is required to work with non-Zimbabwean refugees who have experienced trauma. The counselor will be working directly with the UNHCR and will be supported in their work by Counselling Services Unit (CSU).

The role will involve providing individual and group counseling/therapy for refugees for a range of issues including serious mental health issues. This will include assessment and high level report writing. They will also be liaising with UNHCR and providing support and development for staff members.

The counselor must have a strong commitment to human rights, particularly refugee rights, knowledge of refugee issues, and a commitment to ethical and professional practice. S/he must have formal qualification in counseling/psychotherapy/psychology/ clinical social work/psychiatric nursing, OR evidence of an extensive training and experience base in one or more of these areas. S/he will be experienced in providing counseling ideally in the area of trauma and or/refugee work. NGO experience and knowledge of a relevant refugee language would also be an asset.

The position will be based in Harare; however the counselor must be willing to travel and spend approximately 4 nights per month outside of Harare. There must also be will to work in a challenging environment with limited resources.

To apply please send your application to csu [at] medco [dot] co [dot] zw or contact Christopher on +263 4 772 883, 772 843, 773496.

Programme Officer – Women’s Empowerment: CAMFED
Deadline: 2 May 2011

Start Date: 9 May 2011 to 9 September 2011

Location: 6 Lanark Road, Belgravia, Zimbabwe

Job Purpose

To plan and implement a programme that enables young women to become leaders in their communities by addressing the needs of those young women on leaving school and unlocking their potential to become activists.

Accountable To: Head of Operations

Specific accountabilities

-    Organise leadership training and mentoring for young women school leavers

-    Facilitate the development of the Seed Money Scheme and Community Health Programmes as core strategies to promote young women’s economic independence and enable them to become activists in their communities

-    Oversee the development of CAMA, including building the capacity of CAMA committees

-    Develop partnerships with relevant line Ministries including Women’s Affairs

-    Facilitate young women’s participation in district and national forums

-    Facilitate exchange and learning with CAMA networks locally and in other countries

-    Monitor programme delivery and ensure quality and timely reports

-    Any other duties as assigned by the Line Manager

Essentials:

-    5 ‘O’ levels

-    Relevant degree in Social Sciences

-    Experience in empowering and working with rural young women and communities

-    Motivated, innovative and dynamic

-    Good interpersonal and public relations

-    Excellent communication and knowledge transfer skills

-    Excellent report writing skills

Application details: Please forward your curriculum vitae and a covering letter to:

The Executive Assistant

CAMFED

6 Lanark Road

Belgravia

Harare

This may have brought hope to some men out there but it can end up in disappointment. As for me I would rather stay with what the Good Lord gave me. If you are man who is not satisfied with what you have and you fancy a big one or an extra large, well you can give it a try, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.

According to this article in Sunday Times of April 19, 2011 entitled  “Some penis products may work” I found it to be fascinating though it’s a bit scary to experiment with yourself.

Some non-surgical methods for increasing the length of the male sex organ do in fact work, while others are likely to result only in soreness and disappointment, a review of medical literature has shown.

Surgical procedures, however, can be dangerous and have an “unacceptably high rate of complications,” according to the study, published this week in the Journal of the British Association of Urological Surgeons.

“An increasing number of patients seek urological advice for the so-called ‘short penis’,” the researchers reported.

This is true despite the fact that “penile length is normal in most of these men, who tend to overestimate normal phallic dimension.”

A male member — measured on the dorsal, or upper, side — can be considered normal in length if it is at least four centimetres (1.6 inches) when limp, and 7.5 centimetres (three inches) when rigid, noted several of the studies evaluated.

Some allowances, they added, must be made for a man’s height and his body-mass index (BMI), which measures deviation from optimal levels of body fat.

To determine the efficacy and safety of both surgical and non-surgical techniques for so-called “male enhancement,” Marco Orderda and Paolo Gontero of the University of Turin in Italy canvassed scientific literature.

They found 10 relevant studies. Half reported on surgical techniques, performed on 121 men.

Among the non-invasive methods, tested on 109 subjects, so-called penile extenders that stretch the phallus through traction were shown to be most effective.

One study reported an average increase of 1.8 centimetres (0.7 inches), while another measured an extra 2.3 centimetres (0.9 inches) in a flaccid state, and 1.7 centimetres (0.67 inches) when erect.

But the regimen for achieving these gains was arduous: six hours of daily traction over four months in the first case, and four hours every day over six months in the second.

Another device, known as a “penis pump,” uses a manual or motorised pump to create a vacuum inside a hard cylinder sheath, stretching the phallus.

Six months of treatment, however, “was not found to be effective for penile elongation, although is provided some sort of psychological satisfaction for some men,” the researchers said.

So-called peno-scrotal rings — expandable or rigid bands that fit around the base of the scrotum and penis – “might help to augment penile size and maintain erections in men suffering from anxiety”, they reported, but only two cases were evaluated.

Advertisements claiming that another popular technique – so-called “penile lengthening exercises” – can add centimetres or inches to one’s manhood are unfounded, say Oderda and Gontero.

Even the methods that did show some increase in length did not result in a gain in thickness, they noted.

But nor was their shrinkage.

“It is interesting that no girth decrease was reported with traction therapy, as one would have instinctively thought,” the researchers said.

Source

Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, they say.

But the skin lightening or skin bleaching or skin-whitening craze that has hit most women in Harare, makes one think that saying should have been, “Beauty is when you are of lighter complexion.” The last time I visited the saloon, I just watched this craze in amazement. The hairdressers and some of the clients too, could easily be spotted with two varying complexions on their bodies. Their faces and necks are lighter – actually it’s more of an orange colour than not, as you go down to their feet you are greeted with a different darker colour which usually resembles their natural complexion. Skin lightening is common in many countries where many women view whiter skin as a symbol of beauty, health and high social status.

With these creams and lotions being sold in town on the roadside by street vendors on cardboard boxes and going for a dollar each, they are of easy access to the ladies (and some men too) who want them. The major brands on these roadside stalls are Movate and Diproson. I recently, pretended to be a customer. The vendor seemed to have got her marketing strategies right. She looked like a user of these creams, and had a friendly smile. I asked for the most effective lightening cream and she gave me Movate and told me if I wanted to bleach the whole body she also had tablets for sale! I pretended to look for my wallet, and after of few minutes of a fake search, I told her I couldn’t find it. I just didn’t want to part with my dollar for that. Too bad I couldn’t even treat myself with the usual ice cream I used to get from Dairiboard vendors on street corners.

Scientific research shows that the use of such creams and lotions frequently and at high doses increases the risk of skin cancer. This is because these products contain toxic mercury, hydroquinone and other potentially toxic substances that cause redness, itching, inflammation and other skin problems. As African governments and non-governmental organisations are busy campaigning for cancer awareness, as it’s a silent killer that has taken the lives of many, people are risking their lives by using these creams. It’s such a depressing scenario when you look at it closely.

I know of models from our African continent with dark complexions that have managed to take their professional career to an international level and are amongst the best models in the world. So as Zimbabwe turns 31, “Being black is not only powerful, but beautiful too” … Zimbabwean women embrace your natural complexions and love them because you are powerful and beautiful.