Kubatana.net ~ an online community of Zimbabwean activists

Archive for December, 2011

Don’t make rumour become law in Zimbabwe

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Wednesday, December 7th, 2011 by Bev Clark

As fear and repression mount in Zimbabwe because of Zanu PF’s pre-election jitters, what we don’t need is individuals and organisations forwarding unverified information.

Kubatana received this email from various sources about five times:

TALKING ON A CELLPHONE WHILE DRIVING
This is a update to warn all motorists that you will no longer be fined or given community service, if you are caught talking on your cell phone whilst driving.  Replacing the fine and community service is now JAIL.  You will be arrested and taken to Court, you will then be sentenced to between 2-3 weeks in jail, that is now the sentence, you will now have a conviction and a Police Record.  Please avoid using your cellphone when driving, as there is not monetary fine it is straight to Court.

To ascertain whether this information had any validity we contacted the Legal Resources Foundation who replied:

I was just talking to the LDC (Law Development Commission) Chairperson who categorically stated that as of Friday there was no such change in the law. It could be the Police deciding that they will not fine people but take them to court as a way of deterring cell phone use while driving BUT this is not to mean the law has changed.

Hitting the forward key is much easier than taking the time to verify information but its critical.

The Zanu PF annual party

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Wednesday, December 7th, 2011 by Marko Phiri

It is a trait peculiar to politicians that evidence of abject poverty does not prick consciences in pursuit of their own happiness. The opulence flaunted by monarchs pales into insignificance when one recalls that monarchs are born blue bloods while politicians claim their wealth to election into public office ostensibly by claimed popular vote. Thus one has to think deep and taste the mood of very ordinary folks each time Zanu PF gets down to boogie in their annual shindigs. It is that time when the party that has claimed perpetual bankruptcy – both moral and financial – has its staunch loyalists lining up to make stupendous donations towards the hosting of these conferences. I have heard folks ask the moral philosophy questions such as why it has been found apt to give so generously to the party when constituencies claimed by the donor wallow in abject poverty, where that kind of wealth comes from, yet it also known how since independence, the line between party and the state has been blurred as Zanu PF used state resources as if they were their own.  And while other Zimbabweans curse, it has been baffling that other equally ordinary folks have taken these shindigs with such gusto reminiscent of the 1980 independence euphoria.

Saw some young men and women last weekend milling outside the Zanu PF offices in Bulawayo and a friend quipped: “do these people really believe in what they are doing?” But then it was a question that has been answered before: “as long sisidla” – “as long as we are we eating” – (getting something from Zanu PF). It has become one huge farce that young people thrown into the ranks of loafing by bad governance and “voodoo” economic policies can still proudly hold their heads up and claim their place within the party machinery, when at the same time they are not at it because they believe in anything it stands for but rather like vultures wanting to pounce and reap where they did not sow.

Every amoral young person who wants to be an instant money-bag and own a small mining claim knows they simply have to extol the virtues of Savior (some name huh?) Kasukuwere and they got it made. Forget hard work, forget scruples, coz these are virtues that do not apply here! What then are these young lions being bequeathed as a legacy they will one day have to pass on to other young lions? Should we start worrying then that Zimbabwe will have an unending cycle of bad people coming and going, seeing that any hopes of an MDC-T political dispensation remain but a mirage on the horizon?

NGO jobs in Zimbabwe

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Wednesday, December 7th, 2011 by Bev Clark

Make a difference in Zimbabwe in 2012! 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.

Doctor: Murambinda Hospital

Murambinda Hospital, Buhera District, Manicaland Province has a vacancy for a GMO. Busy district hospital covering all specialties with very active OI/ARV programme. Exciting position for suitably qualified (Degree in Medicine and Surgery and up-to-date registration with Medical and Dental Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe) Doctor.

Subsidised accommodation and competitive package available.

Apply to:
Medical Superintendent
P.O. Box 20
Murambinda
Tel: (021) 2274/2573
Murambinda [at] bsatt [dot] com


Human Resources Development Officer: ZINWA
Deadline: 9 December 2011

Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) is inviting applications from suitably qualified, mature, honest and substantially experienced persons for appointment to the above challenging position which has arisen in the organization. The applicant will be based at Head Office, Harare and reporting to Human Resources Manager.

Key responsibilities
-Responsible for the development and delivery of ALL training and development requirements of the Authority
-Development of a training and development strategy which is aligned to the corporate strategy of the Authority
-Responsible for instituting a learning culture and transforming the Authority into a learning organization
-Execute the entire training process and evaluate the effectiveness of such training and development programs
-Develop a human resources training and development policy of the Authority
-Develop and manage training programs for individuals and teams in an effective manner in order to achieve their aspirations and organization needs
-Develop and implement a thorough new employee orientation program to help them settle quickly in the organization
-Be the point for all the training and development matters of the Authority

Qualifications and attributes
-Degree in Human Resources Management with a recognized University
-IPMZ Diploma in Training will be an added advantage
-A minimum of two years experience in the field of training
-Must be computer literate, honest and capable to work under minimum supervision
-Excellent communicator and a reputable team player

Interested candidates must send their applications, CVs and certified copies of certificates to:

The Human Resources Manager
ZINWA Head Office
P. O. Box CY617
Causeway
Harare

Or email: recruitment [at] zinwa [dot] co [dot] zw


African Men for Sexual Health and Rights: Head of Communications and Development
Deadline: 10 December 2011

The African Men for Sexual Health and Rights (AMSHeR) is a coalition of 15 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex [LGBTI] and Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) led organisations in 13 African countries. Founded in 2009, AMSHeR works to increase the protection of the sexual and health rights of gay men and other MSM, strengthen the capacity of member organisations, contribute to the development of effective HIV programming and facilitate research on gay men and other MSM.

AMSHeR seeks to appoint a Head of Communications and Development, based in Johannesburg.

S/he will be responsible for the development and production of communications materials for all AMSHeR initiatives. In this capacity, s/he will work closely with members of the Law and Human rights Unit, the Health Unit and the Francophone programme to edit, proofread and publish AMSHeR publications, including reports, booklets, info sheet, press releases, newsletters, brochures, media advisories and Briefing papers.

Responsibilities
-Edits and prepares manuscripts;
-Copy editing (employing skills that assure consistency and accuracy within a manuscript regarding grammar, punctuation, syntax, and acceptable institution style);
-Substantive editing, requiring critical sense and intuitive evaluation of factual accuracy and consistency of information – chronology of events, overall consistency of subject matter; verification of facts, rearrangement or deletion of material, analysis of data, and evaluation of documentation as to accuracy and thoroughness;
-Coordinate AMSHeR’s “The Voices” Project, a project that aims at increasing knowledge on same-sex sexuality through the development and dissemination of digital material and facilitation of research and writing on same-sex sexuality in Africa.

Requirements
-Bachelor or Master’s degree in communications, social sciences or any related field of study; Commitment to social justice and AMSHeR values;
-Knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques of oral and written communications and interpersonal relations skills;
-Professional level skills in proposal and publications development, correspondence management with writing and editing experience preferable for a non-profit organisation;
-Skills in writing and editing news/feature articles and in a variety of styles for a variety of audiences;
-Ability to translate complex technical language and ideas into language easily comprehensible to non-specialists;
-Editing and proofreading skills;
-Interpersonal skills to facilitate work with a wide range of individuals and people from culturally diverse groups;
-Ability to use a variety of personal computer software applications, including desktop publishing;
-Knowledge of English and French.

Starting date: 1 January 2012.

To apply, submit a CV, motivation letter and writing sample to jobs [at] amsher [dot] net
Only short listed candidates will be contacted.
No enquiry will be accepted.
For more about the African Men for Sexual Health and Rights, refer to www.amsher.net

Source: NGO Pulse Portal


Six (6) drivers: Contre la Faim Zimbabwe Mission
Deadline: 13 December 2011 (Close of Business)

Location: Masvingo

As a registered charity, founded in 1979, Action Contre la Faim operates in 41 countries. The international network Action Contre la Faim is represented in Paris, London, Madrid, New York and Montreal. ACF’s fields of expertise are: nutrition, Livelihoods/Agriculture, health, water and sanitation.

In Zimbabwe, ACF is seeking Drivers for the African Caribbean and Pacific-European Union (ACP-EU) funded WASH Programme to be implemented over a three year period in the districts of Gutu and Mberengwa.

Main objectives
-Transport people and equipment under good security conditions
-Ensure maintenance of the vehicles
-Prepare departures to the field

Levels of studies, skills and experience
-5 ‘O’ levels including English
-A Clean Class 4 driver’s license
-At least 1 year driving experience in an NGO and previous driving experience with ACF is an added advantage
-Defensive driving certificate an added advantage
-Mechanical skills
-Punctuality
-Good command of English and local languages
-Good presentation and representation

Applicants should clearly indicate the post applied for on the envelope or subject line (for email). Cover letter with up-to-date detailed CVs should be forwarded to: The Human Resources Coordinator Action Contre La Faim (ACF) At: jobapplications [at] zw.missions-acf [dot] org

NB: Applications bigger than 1MB will not be processed.


Communications Officer: UNICEF
Deadline: 14 December 2011

NOB Level
Based in Harare, Zimbabwe (Fixed Term Post)
Vacancy Notice No. Zim/2011:48

Position being re-advertised. Previous applicants will be considered, no need to reapply.

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you. For 60 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. The world’s largest provider of vacancies for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls and the

Purpose of the Job

The successful candidate will report to the Chief of Communications, undertakes the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluating of an advocacy and communication strategy to get children’s and women’s issues into the public domain, strengthen donor and political will in support of UNICEF’s mission and objectives in Zimbabwe, and enhance the organization’s credibility and brand.  The Communications Officer also extends support to the co-ordination and dissemination of communications message through the local and international media and is responsible for the website of the Zimbabwe country office.

Major Tasks to be accomplished:

-Works on the production of communication products, including the country office website. Drafts background information, fact sheets, communication and other promotional advocacy materials for briefing visits, media, Goodwill Ambassadors and other special interest groups.
-Supports the development, drafting and maintenance of information and relationships with journalists and media outlets Writes articles, speeches, press releases, other public information materials and reports, as well as contributes to development of communication messages and materials for the traditional and web based media outlets.
-Distribution and dissemination of advocacy materials from NY, Geneva, the Regional Office and the country office to identified partners and other target audiences. Helps to identify the need for additional materials/activities, such as radio and television programmes, publications, photographs, websites, etc., to advocate and promote organizational goals within the country. Facilitates engagement with nationally known personalities and helps to organize special events and activities to support country programme goals. Generates public support for special events.
-Supports social mobilization and media through organizing community participation of key players and through organising field visits and media training events; photo coverage and TV Footage, using both the traditional and web based media as appropriate.

Qualifications and Competencies:

-University degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations; or equivalent professional work experience in the communication area, combined with an advanced university degree in a related discipline
-At least five years progressively responsible professional work experience in communication, print and broadcast media or interactive digital media, of which two years should be in developing countries.
-Demonstrable expertise in data analysis and proficiency in computer application packages.
-Ability to work in a multicultural environment.

If you have experience of working in a similar capacity, meet the above profile and want to make an active and lasting contribution to build a better world for children, send your application quoting vacancy notice number to the following address:

HR Specialist
(Vacancy Notice No.48: Zim-2011)
UNICEF, 6 Fairbridge Avenue,
P. O. Box 1250, Belgravia, Harare
Or email: hararevacancies [at] gmail [dot] com

Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

Assistant Country Director Systems: Concern Worldwide
Deadline: 15 December 2011

Location: Zimbabwe
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract
Salary: Euro36.663 to Euro41,627 with benefits

Qualification Requirements

Qualification Level: Masters Degree
Languages: English – Fluent spoken & written

Functional Discipline: Finance

The Assistant Country Director Systems will be responsible for delivering effective financial, human resource, logistics, IT and administrative management services for the Zimbabwe Country Program. This position will provide strong leadership to technical team’s in-country and play an integral role in developing the professional and management skills of national staff in collaboration with the Finance, Human Resource, IT & Logistics managers and other senior management in-country. The ACD Systems also fulfils the role of organizational security focal person and represents Concern in relevant forum.

The ACD Systems is part of Country Senior Management Team (SMT) and will work closely with all members of SMT on the development and delivery of CWW program strategy in Zimbabwe.

To apply, please click here


Disaster Risk Reduction Manager: Plan
Deadline: 16 December 2011

Based in Harare

Plan is an international humanitarian, child centred development organisation whose operations in Zimbabwe commenced in 1986. Plan Zimbabwe is implementing development programs that promote the realization and fulfillment of children’s rights and alleviation of child poverty in ten districts in the country covering Bulawayo, Chipinge, Chiredzi, Harare (Epworth), Kwekwe, Mutasa, Mutare, Mutoko, Mwenezi and Tsholotsho. Through these programs, Plan reaches out to over 300 000 people in Zimbabwe annually, particularly children.

Plan offers equal opportunity employment to suitably qualified applicants for vacant positions within the organisation. The Zimbabwe program is seeking services of a suitably qualified candidate to fill the following position on a 2 year renewable fixed term contract basis: Disaster Risk Reduction Manager – Harare.

Job summary
To provide overall leadership and management of disaster risk identification, mitigation, reduction, monitoring and assessment, including planning and co-ordination of disaster risk reduction programming responses and recovery interventions at the country and program unit levels in line with established policies and practices. Responsible for the development of quality concepts papers and proposals including the development of strategies and guidelines for scaling-up of disaster management programs in-country.

Entry qualifications and experience
-A degree in disaster management or related field
-At least 4 years’ experience in relief or disaster response including management responsibility in implementing or co-ordinating disaster preparedness and response at a national level
-High knowledge of theory and best practice and related technical information in disasters or emergencies and its application in development programming
-Ability to train staff in issues related to disaster management programming, Sphere, HAP, humanitarian principles and standards
-Excellent communication skills
-Experience in planning and budgeting
-Proficient in Microsoft office packages

Interested candidates who meet the above requirements are required to submit a covering letter, a comprehensive CV and details of 2 referees, one of whom should be a current supervisor to: zwe.recruitment [at] plan-international [dot] org referencing the position being sought.

Reference and background checks will be performed for successful candidates including clearances on child related offences in conformity with Plan’s Child Protection Policy.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.


Administrator: CESVI
Deadline: 31 December 2011

Code: 78/2011 ADM ZIM

Duration: 6 months (renewable)

Required Competencies: Degree in Economics, Business Studies, Accounting

-Min 2 year experience in developing country
-Knowledge of UE administrative and procurement procedures
-Experience in supervision and planning of field logistics
-Experience in supervising multi-cultural staff
-Strong leadership, supervisory and people skills as well as experience with NGO procedures, approaches, and operations

Fluency in written and spoken English.

Desirable competencies:

-Experience in Administrative and accounting procedures
-Strong computer skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, accounting software

Work Context:

In the health area, Cesvi operates in the districts of Bindura, Mazowe and Centenary mainly with training activities. In the children sector Cesvi sustains the work done by the local Streets Ahead associations and the Mashamabanzou Care Trust in the capital Harare and of the Saint Albert Hospital in the Centenary district which works for the prevention of Hiv/Aids as well as other sexually transmitted diseases.

In the House of Smiles, in Harare, Cesvi organises educational and recreational activities for orphans and street children. As concerns the management of natural resources, Cesvi promotes the Zimbabwe participation in the Great Limpopo Park, the protected area bordering on Mozambique and South Africa. Beithbridge and Chiredzi are areas of multi-sector activities.

Job Description

-The collaboration will start in January 2012.
-The main duty station will be Harare.

Main tasks:
-S/He will plan, supervise and deliver all project and programme related administrative functions: accounting, budgeting, procurement, financial reporting and monitoring
-S/He will ensure that the management of the program will comply with administrative procedures of Donors, local Law and Cesvi and will develop procedures and guidelines to this end, as well as will provide on-the-job training and supervise administrative staff
-S/He will ensure an adequate reporting to the Country Representative/Desk Officer, as regard to the management/control of financial flows of the various projects, constantly monitoring expenses and cash flow (final balance and budget analysis)
-S/He will plan, supervise and control project and programme logistic functions
-S/He will assist Country Representative/Project Manager in the preparation of contracts with suppliers, partners and service providers and will monitor contract administrative performance.

To apply: Please click here

MMPZ Director Andy Moyse questioned by police

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Tuesday, December 6th, 2011 by Amanda Atwood

Read the latest statement from the Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe (MMPZ) about the continued police harassment of their staff:

MMPZ Director Andrew Moyse taken for questioning by CID Law and Order Harare

MMPZ Project Coordinator Andrew Moyse was this morning (at about 1130hrs) picked up from the organisation’s offices by a team of five police officers from Harare’s Law and Order Section led by Detective Assistant Inspector Phiri. The officers were armed with a search warrant and proceeded to search MMPZ offices for “material which comprises of compact disks containing Gukurahundi information”. In terms of the search warrant, the police purport that they have reasonable grounds to believe that MMPZ officers may have acted in breach of section 31 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, that is, “publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the state”.

Pursuant to the search warrant, the police then took possession of 127 DVDs produced by MMPZ essentially calling upon the media to contribute to peaceful elections through fair, accurate and balanced coverage of election campaigns by Zimbabwean political parties. Whilst the police officers indicated that Andrew was not formally under arrest, MMPZ is concerned that the police may detain him to investigate a matter whose circumstances and gravity do not at all warrant pre-trial detention. MMPZ urges the police to grant Andrew Moyse all his pre-trial rights and not to harm his physical and psychological person for the entire period he is in their custody.

In the meantime, MMPZ advocacy officers Fadzai December and Molly Chimhanda, and MMPZ’s Public Information Rights Committee chairman for Gwanda Mr Gilbert Mabusa remain in police custody at Gwanda police station. They are being charged under POSA for failing to give notice of a meeting and also under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for “participating in gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of the peace or bigotry”.

MMPZ vigorously denies the allegations in both cases.

Full

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Tuesday, December 6th, 2011 by Bev Clark

Haven’t seen so many Reserved signs on restaurant tables in awhile. The Bistro on Kingsmead in Borrowdale is obviously doing something right. Get down there for a kofi, or more.

Create yourself

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Tuesday, December 6th, 2011 by Bev Clark