I interviewed tech-entrepreneur Tatenda Furusa yesterday. Having just returned from the United States and established his own venture, Mealie Media, here in Zimbabwe, I asked him what advice he’d give Zimbabweans who are looking to come back and do the same:

First research and homework. Do your online research, read news articles as much as you can, check Kubatana or whatever journals of whichever sector you’re in. Call people back home, who are there and ask them what’s going on for raw feedback and the truth. Ask them what they would do if they had fifty thousand dollars. Thirdly, take time off and take a trip here. Don’t come here for two weeks, or during December and January because it’s just a bubble. Come through in August and September, in the last quarter of Zimbabwe’s financial year when it’s a little difficult to find money. Come back for a month, visit people, speak to people, and learn about what’s going on. By that point you’ll know if the pros outweigh the cons. It’s a place where you’ll definitely need a pool of funds, anything starting from I think, $5000 upwards. Capital that allows you to do your work freely and quickly is very important. Make sure or try your best to get a joint venture partnership on your trip here, if you can work with someone who’s been here for ten plus years or who’s been here and never left. Or if you’re going to start the business on your own give yourself a year to eighteen months.

Zimbabwe’s education system has been regarded as one of the best in Africa but recently it has been falling behind the times. The global trends in the use of ICTs in education have left gaps in our education system and calls for the review of the education curriculum is currently underway.

Speaking at a no holds barred function hosted by DefZee at the US Embassy Public Affairs Section members of the public had an opportunity to direct questions to the Minister of Education Arts, Sport and Culture, Senator David Coltart. During the session the Minister revealed that Zimbabwe’s education curriculum was last comprehensively reviewed as far back as in 1986. Therefore government has embarked on a curriculum review process to try and transform the system and embrace the use of ICTs in schools. Just like the constitution process the education review process was started through consultations with teachers, parents, children and partners in the education sector in Zimbabwe. The process will be finished by the end of the year. Some of the key areas where there are gaps in the education system include the teaching of civic education, tolerance and the use of non-violence in resolving conflicts.

Commenting on how government is going to help children who are not academically gifted the Minster referred back the findings of the Nziramasanga Commission of 1999. In the report findings it is stated that the 100% academic orientation was not beneficial to the nation and part of the key recommendations was to balance our education curriculum between academic and vocational orientation. Unfortunately these recommendations have not been implemented up to now, so government is trying to promote entrepreneurship through the introduction of vocational education in the new curriculum.

The Minister said he will be presenting a five year plan to Cabinet and he hopes by the year 2015 the Ministry will have implemented a comprehensive change of curriculum for both primary and secondary schools.

Responding to a question on the introduction of the early childhood development progamme in schools the Minister said the theoretical policy behind pre-school education is to cater for children who come from poor backgrounds. Thus government had to come up with an early childhood education progamme. Still on that same matter the Ministry of Education is lobbying for more resources and the introduction of rural allowances in order to place more qualified staff in rural schools. The Minister also suggested that schools should not be used as places for partisan politics and as a minister he is going ensure a safe working environment for all teachers in Zimbabwe.

In an effort to promote arts and combating piracy in Zimbabwe the Minister said the National Arts Council should come up with an electronic inventory for all artists in Zimbabwe and develop marketing strategies for the artists in order to compact piracy. Artists should also be trained in how to market themselves. The Ministry has made tremendous efforts in trying to promote local culture through the teaching of mother tongue languages and recently the Tonga language has been introduced in primary schools and is now being examined at Grade Seven level as well as to secondary level.

The pleasure of your company is requested at

‘Land, Sea and Sky’

an exhibition of land and seascape paintings and sculpture
with works by
Arthur Azevedo, Justin Gope, Jean Hahn,  James Jali
Rashid Jogee, Helen Kedgley, Munyaradzi Mugorosa, Tafirenyika Marekera
Darly Nero, Robert Paul, Kate Raath, Cosmas Shiridzinomwa
Freddy Tauro, Stephen Huntsman Williams
Richard Witikani, Dian Wright, Ljiljana Vlacic

and

‘Totem People’

A solo exhibition of paintings and graphics
by
Shepherd Mahufe
on
Wednesday, 7th March, 2012 at 5.30.p.m.

gallery delta
110 Livingstone Avenue/Ninth Street,
Greenwood Park, Harare.
Telephone:  792135

Writing and reading decrease our sense of isolation. They deepen and widen and expand our sense of life; they feed the soul. When writers make us shake our heads with the exactness of their prose and their truths, and even make us laugh about ourselves or life, our buoyancy is restored. We are given a shot at dancing with, or at least clapping along with, the absurdity of life, instead of being squashed by it over and over again. It’s like singing on a boat during a terrible storm at sea. You can’t stop the raging storm, but singing can change the hearts and spirits of the people who are together on that ship. – Anne Lamott

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.

Receptionist: Africare
Deadline: 29 February 2012

Responsible To: Administration Officer
Duty Station: Harare Main Office

Contract period: 4 months

Specific Duties
-Answer and make calls for staff.
-Receive visitors.
-Record incoming and outgoing mail.
-Assist with the organization of workshops and meetings.
-Circulate files and documents within the office.
-Maintain office stock and inventory.
-Act as a liaison Officer between field staff and heads of department.
-Provide support to project staff.
-Assist in procurement of office and project materials.
-Taking minutes of general and departmental meetings.
-Assist with compiling of project weekly and monthly reports, including typing.
-File project documents.
-Perform any other duties assigned.

Interested but suitably qualified candidates are encouraged to submit their CVs and letters of motivation to lmlotshwa [at] africare [dot] co [dot] zw copying gdipura [at] africare [dot] co [dot] zw

Only short listed candidates will be responded to.

Publicity Officer: Local NGO
Deadline:  1 March 2012

A PERFORMING ARTS VENUE is seeking an individual for the position of Publicity Officer to be based in Harare.

Basic Function of Position

To be responsible for and coordinate the following:

-Design and production of daily press and internet advertising
-Design and production of weekly print and email advertising
-Design and production of in-house posters and flyers
-Maintenance of mailing list and website

Requirements
-A high level of experience in computer graphic design/advertising
-Conversant with standard design software; CorelDraw, Photoshop etc
-Needs to be creative, fast, accurate, able to work under pressure and as a team, and proactive with attention to detail

To Apply
Interested applicants for this position should submit the following to: themanager.feb2012@gmail.com

-Letter of Application
-A current CV/resume, with contactable referees
-Portfolio/samples of design work

Remuneration: commensurate with skills and experience.

The organisation provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation.

Finance Officer: Zimbabwe National Association for Mental Health (ZIMNAMH)
Deadline: 2 March 2012

Job purpose
To provide overall financial and accounting functions of the organisation.

Qualifications
-Preferably a Degree, Diploma in Accounting/Business Studies
-At least 2 years experience in financial accounting and administration
-Experience with a non-profit organisation is an advantage
-Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply

Specific skills
-Sound knowledge of accounting software, PASTEL
-An aptitude for numbers and strong attention to detail
-Fast learner and highly organised
-Ability to work to deadlines
-Excellent communication skills, initiative and enthusiasm and proven integrity
-Sound knowledge of administration
-Confidence to interact and deal at a high profile and to handle presentations when required

Key Performance Areas
-Financial management
-Financial Accounting
-Asset Management

Specific duties and responsibilities
-Prepare plans, budgets and financial forecasts for the organization.
-Prepare financial statements in areas of income, expenses and cash flow.
-Monitor and control capital purchases by keeping record of condition.
-Develop management and financial reporting systems.
-Monitor purchasing procedures and carry out periodic checks on stocks, and petty cash.
-Produce income and expenditure statements.
-Ensure that all financial records are properly filed, labelled and safely stored.
-Maintain computerized accounting system for the management of programme expenditures.
-Maintain accounting records and books of accounts.
-Maintain separate accounting systems for the different project contracts.
-Produce final accounts and audit schedules.
-Ensure that bank reconciliations as well as debtors and creditors statements are done monthly.
-Ensure that all payments to supplies and / or projects in accordance with relevant project contracts regulations and approved budgets are timeously disbursed.
-Maintain an asset register with Depreciation Cost Factors.
-Support administrative activities in relation to organisational resources management.
-Carry out other duties and functions as may be assigned by the Executive Director.

Application letters, CVs and certified copies of certificates should be submitted to:

The Director
Zimbabwe National Association for Mental Health
Education Development Services Building
ZIMSEC Complex
Upper East Road
Mount Pleasant
Harare

Or

ZIMNAMH
P. Bag A196
Avondale
Harare

Or email: zimnamh [at] mweb [dot] co [dot] zw and zimnamh.info [at] gmail [dot] com

Tel 04-308523 / 308719 / 308304

Head of Mission: United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR)
Deadline: 4 March 2012

The Head of Mission (HoM) is to lead and manage all programming, human resources, business development and Mission operations in Zimbabwe for UMCOR.

Essential Functions

The Head of Mission, (HoM), based in Harare, will be responsible for over-all country office strategy, supervision, programming, program development, and overseeing all aspects of UMCOR’s presence. Central to the position will be the establishment, development and maintaining relationships with key agencies, including donors, international and local NGOs, UN offices, government offices, local partners, United Methodist Church Zimbabwe and other faith-based and United Methodist Church stakeholders. The HoM will be responsible to ensure that all aspects of UMCOR’s programs in Zimbabwe are implemented in compliance with grant agreements, budgets and according to schedule. The HoM will develop and manage programs in tandem with staff. As part of program development, the HoM is expected to examine the funding situation in the country and solicit funding for programs. In addition, the position will be responsible for office and management procedures, assessing the security situation, and recruiting/supervising expatriate and national staff.

To further your application please click here

1 Team Leader, 30 Survey Assistants, 5 Drivers and 1 Data Entry Clerk: Centre for Sexual Health and HIV AIDS Research Zimbabwe (CeSHHAR-Zimbabwe)
Deadline: 9 March 2012

CeSHHAR-Zimbabwe is conducting the baseline bio-behavioural survey for the evaluation of Zimbabwe’s Accelerated Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV Programme starting April 2012. The survey will be conducted in the following provinces: Harare, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central, Manicaland, and Matabeleland South, for at least 3 months (April to July 2012). CeSHHAR-Zimbabwe is seeking applicants for 1 Team Leader, 30 Survey Assistants, 5 Drivers and 1 Data Entry Clerk. The staff will spend 10-11 days at a time in the field.

Team Leader

The team leader will coordinate the recruitment, consent and enrolment of eligible mother-infant pairs from selected rural communities. S/he will be in charge of a survey team and ensure high quality collection of bio-behavioural data, while strictly adhering to Good Clinical Practice guidelines. The team leader will work under the supervision of the survey coordinator.

Responsibilities
-Responsible for ensuring good communication with surveyed communities. S/he will work with local leadership to ensure that they are well informed of the survey. The team leader will be the face of the survey in these communities.
-Work with the survey assistants to recruit survey participants at selected households.
-Ensure that survey assistants accurately cover pre-established clinic catchment areas.
-Monitor the quality of the data being collected.
-Ensure that consent is informed and voluntary, and enrolment is conducted according to Good Clinical Practice guidelines.
-Liaise with the office administrator and survey coordinator to ensure that all logistics are in place.
-Work with the driver to ensure that the team can travel to the pre-established areas.

Required Experience and Skills
-Previous team management experience.
-Previous experience with population-based surveys in rural Zimbabwe.
-Excellent oral and written communication skills including the ability to communicate effectively to all community members, ranging from traditional leaders to parents and young people.
-Commitment to working as part of a multidisciplinary research team.
-Ability to meet strict deadlines.
-Excellent organisational skills.
-Highly motivated.
-Fluency in Shona, Ndebele and English.

Desirable Qualifications
-Degree in public health, social sciences, health education or a related field.
-Computer literacy with practical experience with word processing programmes and spreadsheet forms.
-A current certificate in Good Clinical Practice and Ethics. Certificates can be obtained at www.amanet.org

Thirty (30) Survey Assistants

We are seeking 30 survey assistants (Shona speakers, and Shona and Ndebele speakers) to be part of five survey teams. They will assist in the recruitment, consenting and enrolment of mother-infant pairs from pre-selected communities, will administer questionnaires to study participants and will collect dried blood spot samples from mothers and infants. They will ensure that all aspects of their work are in line with Good Clinical Practice guidelines. Survey assistants will be under the direct supervision of the survey team leaders.

Duties
-Proceeding on foot through rural and urban areas, survey assistants will recruit participants in their households.
-Administer questionnaires using personal digital assistants (PDAs) (training will be provided).
-Collect dried blood spot samples from mothers and infants according to current standard of practice (training will be provided).
-Maintain high quality standards of the data being collected.
-Ensure that only mothers who provide informed voluntary consent are enrolled in the study.

Required Qualifications
-Three A level passes.
-Previous experience with surveys in rural communities in Zimbabwe.
-Fluency in Shona, or Fluency in Shona and Ndebele.
-Commitment to working as part of a multidisciplinary research team.
-Excellent oral communication skills
-Excellent organisational skills.
-Good time keeping

Desirable skills
-A current certificate in Good Clinical Practice and Ethics. Certificates can be obtained at www.amanet.org
-Previous experience collecting dried blood spot samples for research studies
-Fluency in English

Female candidates are encouraged to apply

Five (5) Drivers

We are seeking five (5) drivers to work with the project teams. The Posts will be based in Harare but will involve a lot of travelling to rural and urban communities in Harare, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West, Matebeleland South and Manicaland provinces. The successful candidate will have previous experience working as a driver for a project that required rural driving experience. Drivers should ensure that their vehicles are in proper working condition and should report any faults to the office administrator or project coordinator when in the field. Drivers will be responsible for the safe passage/travel of the project team.

Duties
Reporting to the Team Leader and project coordinator the following will be the driver’s core duties:
1. Driving the project teams to the various communities. This will include travelling from Harare to the field on a regular basis.
2. Driving the project team around the communities during survey.
-Taking note of any faults that may develop on the vehicle and bringing them to the attention of the Team leader and project coordinator as soon as possible.
-Ensuring that the vehicle has the necessary accessory tools as should be equipped, e.g. jack, wheel spanner and spare wheel.
-Maintaining the project vehicles including oil and water checks, tyre checks, service checks, and any other duties that may be assigned by the office administrator from time to time to ensure a smooth project flow.
-Maintenance of vehicle logbook.

Qualifications
A clean class four driver’s license; a mature person, who is well organized; ability to work independently but within a team framework; fluent in English and Shona and/or Ndebele.

Desirable skills
-Experience working in a research environment is an added advantage.
-Good time keeping.
-A current certificate in Good Clinical Practice and Ethics as required by the Medical Research Council of Zimbabwe.

Data Entry Clerk

We are seeking 1 Data Entry Clerk to work for the PMTCT project. The post will be based in Harare. The successful candidate will have previous experience as a data entry clerk for a research project. The Data Entry Clerk will ensure that the data from the field is accurate and report any discrepancies to the data manager and/or project coordinator.

Duties
-Checking in and out survey teams
-Inventory of data collection forms and supplies after every round
-Data entry
-Filing

Requirements

Essential qualifications
-Prior experience with research based data entry
-Rapid and accurate data entry skills
-Excellent oral communication skills
-Excellent organisational skills
-Good time keeping
-Fluency and English

Desirable qualification
-Current certificates in Good Clinical Practice and Ethics

Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

Please submit applications in the form of a cover letter, CV and certificates to:
The PMTCT Survey Coordinator
21 Rowland Square
Milton Park
Harare

Or email: ceshharzim [at] gmail [dot] com

Field Officer, Mutasa District: Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union/GIZ
Deadline: 9 March 2012

The Agricultural Input Supply Project, implemented by German International Cooperation (GIZ) in Manicaland and Masvingo provinces, is looking for a Field Officer to complement their advisory team. The job is carried out in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union (ZFU) Manicaland. Crosscutting issues such as gender and HIV/AIDS have to be addressed.

Duty station is Mutasa district

Key tasks are
-To form clubs and commodity associations within an existing membership of small farmers in four wards of Mutasa District
-To support farmer self organization
-To link farmers to stakeholders of the agricultural sector

Minimum requirements are
-A first degree in Agriculture or in a related field from a recognized institution
-Minimum of 2 years experience in the agricultural sector, particularly the development and organization of farmer groups
-Should be able to work with stakeholders in the agricultural sector
-Broad thematic knowledge about agricultural development in communal areas, farming systems, conservation agriculture, market linkages and crosscutting issues
-Must have an excellent knowledge of MS office applications (Excel, Word, Power Point and Outlook)
-Must have a clean Class 3 and Class 4 driver’s license and able to ride a motorcycle
-Excellent presentation skills

The application should outline
-Summary of previous organizations worked with and in which position
-Experiences in group formation respectively in leadership development and lessons learnt
-Specific training experiences
-Reference persons
-Earliest staring date

Period: Up to 8 months as from 1st April 2012

GIZ offers attractive conditions of employment. Interested candidates should send their applications and detailed CVs including copies of qualifications to:

Helmut Anschutz
GIZ Advisor ZFU Manicaland
Agricultural Input Supply Project (AISP)
9 Hosgood Avenue
Mutare

Project Director, Zimbabwe: Freedom House
Deadline: 14 March 2012

Freedom House supports the spread of freedom and democracy throughout the world through research, effective advocacy, and programs directly supporting frontline activists. We are a leader in identifying threats to freedom through our highly regarded analytic reports, including Freedom in the World. With 13 field offices and two U.S. offices, we are supporting the right of every individual to be free.

Position Summary
The Project Director will lead Freedom House programs to advance democracy and human rights in countries in Southern Africa. He/she will assist in program development and implementation, providing technical assistance and training, financial management, staff supervision, oversight of office management, building and maintaining partnerships with civil society and human rights organizations in the region; public relations, and fundraising. This position is based in Harare, Zimbabwe and reports to the Regional Director.

Minimum qualifications
-Bachelor’s degree in media, communication, human rights, public administration, international development, or related field; Master’s degree strongly preferred
-Minimum 6 – 8 years of experience with democracy and human rights programs
-Strong ability to communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing Experience in other challenging environments and flexibility to apply lessons learned from other contexts
-Experience in managing and implementing multi-component, donor-funded programs Demonstrated understanding of USAID and other donor approaches to civil society development
-Demonstrated ability to mobilize communities and encourage the inclusion of marginalized groups
-Proven success in managing a diverse range of external partnerships
-Experience providing technical assistance to local organizations in Africa
-Ability to build and strengthen civil society organizations
-Excellent interpersonal skills, and ability to persuade people with divergent views
-Excellent judgment in problem solving and decision-making on a consistent basis
-Strong track record in project and staff management
-Some duties and responsibilities
-Implement and oversee all components of the program
-Monitor and evaluate processes, and write program reports to ensure completion of program objectives
-Assume responsibility for the financial and administrative management of the program, staff supervision and general office operations
-Manage partner organizations and consultants
-Represent Freedom House before counterparts in country and abroad, and the donor community

How to apply
We invite qualified and interested candidates to send a resume, and cover letter with salary history (only candidates who send salary requirements will be considered for the position) as well as desired salary to: recruiting [at] freedomhouse [dot] org or fax at (202) 822-3893, Attention: HR Dept., referencing PD Zimbabwe (2011-085). Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted.

Country Director: Restless Development
Deadline: 9am GMT on 2 April 2012

Based in Harare, with travel
Gross: $37, 277 (plus housing allowance)

Are you looking for a leadership position that will take you places? If you share our passion for youth-led development; if you can inspire, lead and develop others; if you have the experience and energy to make a real and lasting difference, then we’d really like to hear to you.

Restless Development is repeatedly cited as a model of best practice in youth-led development. In Zimbabwe we are enabling young people to contribute to the development of their country through innovative youth-led programmes with impressive results.

This is an exciting role for someone with proven senior management experience to drive forward our energy in Zimbabwe. Acting as an ambassador for our work you will represent Restless Development at the highest national levels. You will ensure consistent high standards in the delivery of all programmes, operations and finances and have a strong track record of developing strategic alliances. You will have the outstanding communication abilities necessary to work collaboratively with your management team, staff and international team to lead Restless Development’s direction and growth.

For more details and a full application pack, download from:

www.restlessdevelopment.org

Or contact jobs [at] restlessdevelopment [dot] org

For an informal discussion you can call Catherine Stevens on +44 (0) 207 1774

A Herald editorial in the run-up to the 1990 Zimbabwean elections is pretty telling when the 2012 buzz is that 88-year old President Mugabe (who is 5 years younger than Nelson Mandela) will again fight it out in the coming polls. In the Herald of 14 March 1990, the editorial titled “Punishing Campaign for a man of action,” wrote that: “at 66 and assured of victory in the…general and presidential election one would have expected President Mugabe to slow down a little and spare a thought for his personal health.” Calling him a “sober workaholic whose track record is as impressive as that of the party itself,” the editorial continued: “only the dim-witted would expect anyone to effectively challenge Cde Mugabe.”

And that my friend was in 1990. Go figure.