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.

Head of Finance: ActionAid
Deadline: 16 July 2012 (5pm)

Salary: £23,439 per annum
Location: Harare, Zimbabwe

ActionAid is an international anti-poverty agency working in over 40 countries, taking sides with poor people to end poverty and injustice together.

We seek to employ a self-starter with a high regard for integrity as Head of Finance.  The Head of Finance is a member of the Senior Management Team of ActionAid International (AAI) Zimbabwe reporting to the Country Director, and is technically supported by International Director of Finance based in Johannesburg and the Finance Coordinator based in Nairobi. This post involves a full range of financial oversight and general management functions.

The purpose of the position is to ensure the financial, management and legal integrity of AAI Zimbabwe within the legal framework of policies and procedures established internationally and to ensure that the requirements of local and international law are adhered to and complied with.  The position is also responsible for providing strategic direction to AAI Zimbabwe; to help ensure all of AAI Zimbabwe’s overall strategic objectives are met; and ensure the continual improvement of monitoring, control and expenditure of partner NGOs of funds given by AAI Zimbabwe.

The successful candidate will have, a Bachelors of Commerce in Accounting/ Business Administration or equivalent, an MBA in Finance will be an added advantage; membership of a professional accountancy body; work experience with an NGO would be of added advantage; a minimum of eight (8) years relevant experience in a reputable organization with a minimum of three (3) years post qualification in a senior management position;

In addition, the position requires very strong experience in financial management and accounting practices at a senior management level; proven experience in implementing financial and administrative control systems; excellent team building and leadership skills, interpersonal and communication skills, high degree of maturity and sense of good judgment are also essential; proven experience in running donor funded projects; sound practical knowledge of spreadsheets, knowledge of one Information Technology accounting systems is a must and knowledge of SUN system is an advantage; practical understanding of development programming challenges and appreciation of the financial support requirement; willing to and has skills to develop capacity of Action Aid International Zimbabwe staff in sound financial management practices.

To apply, please submit your curriculum vitae with a motivation letter to jobs.Zimbabwe [at] actionaid [dot] org

Please Note: While we value all applications, we can only respond to short listed candidates. Whilst all applicants will be assessed strictly on their individual merits, qualified women are especially encouraged to apply.

A group of people reading newspapers for free at newspaper vendor stacks has become the order of the day in Zimbabwe. However, with the display of notices like this one, the free reading habit is most likely going to come to an end.

In an interview which was published in the Sunday Mail dated 01- 07 July 2012 the Minister of Finance, Tendai Biti was quoted saying that violence lead to the splitting of the Anglican Church. I would agree with the Minister if he were trying to say a well-known bishop used violence to remove Anglicans from their premises. The renegade Bishop who is now dabbling in politics is on a looting and invasion spree and violence has been his most powerful tool throughout the campaign. The Honorable should have asked for the correct position from the church, probably he could have given a better comment. Anglicans are peace loving and God fearing people and I am sure by trying to associate the Anglican Church with violence really does give a wrong impression of the real events. Since the Minister is part of the Inclusive Government, people expect him to give the correct picture of the Anglican saga.

“Don’t chase my devils away, because my angels may flee too.”
- Rainer Maria Rilke

Our Tree of Life Partners circle held special significance for us this month:
We stood together in a silent circle
remembering all those people across the planet
who had endured this terrifying experience

There were over 50 of us and more eighty percent are survivors of torture

We are a diverse collection of Zimbabweans who represent rural and urban communities
the women who are the farmers, look after the children, sell the vegetables on the side of the road
community leaders and elders and officials
street-smart young city kids
youth groups
church representatives

These victims of violence are the facilitators and organizers
who now own and use these workshops in their communities

and they are held together with one intention
to bring healing and peace

We passed the stone round the circle with a question -
‘What have you seen over this last year that has inspired you?’

‘We have now had workshops with our headmen and chiefs – we no longer have to worry about security’

‘We have been commemorating UN day in Support of Torture Victims lighting candles and having prayers in churches across Harare so many people have come’

I spoke of Sehlewle, sitting next to me:

When we met 8 years ago in South Africa
she had fled Zimbabwe after being terribly tortured and beaten
the bones in her leg irredeemably broken

A frightened young woman in terrible pain
living in a foreign city cut off from her community
She came to one of our first Tree of Life workshops.
and finally got to tell  her story in a circle she felt she could trust.

Now she is back home, and still facilitating with us
Last week, with Mike, she ran a Tree of Life workshop for the first time in her home town Bulawayo
They sat in circle with the old warriors of the nation
the former freedom fighters
and helped them tell the stories they had been holding onto for over 20 years.
They said it was just wonderful
and they have been asked to come back and run more!

I sit in a circle surround by people who have not just learned to survive
they have become creators of peace in their communities.

It has been 9 long years since the first Tree of Life Circles
and we have struggled through all sorts of adversity
but now it has found its time…
something is changing and we are no longer intimidated

when we confront the fear in ourselves
and join hands across the divides of separation that have held us in isolation
we become masters of our own destiny
we begin to see ‘peace’ emerging

the work begins at home