After enduring the pain of the Zimbabwe 2008 election violence residents of my constituency are yet to see the “change” we were promised by our Honorable Member of Parliament (MP). With an overwhelming victory in 2008 people thought real change had come. Like any other urban areas in Zimbabwe where poor service delivery is now the order of the day, Chitungwiza South constituency’s woes have been worsened by the recent Typhoid outbreak. Still reeling under the effects of the 2008 Cholera outbreak residents in my constituency thought our Honorable MP was going to do a noble thing by using funds he received from government under Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to sink more boreholes. Living in a town where rusty and slimy drops of water trickling from the tap are received with loud cheers and ululation doesn’t require a rocket scientist to figure out that a crisis is looming.

Water rationing is increasing by each day.

Children now spend most of their time helping parents to queue for water at the few boreholes donated by UNICEF. I wonder if our Honorable Member of Parliament is still living in Chitungwiza for him to understand these problems? I guess he also can’t feel the effects of bumps on most of the pot and ditch-hole riddled roads in this constituency because he was allocated a four-wheel drive truck by the government.  As a school headmaster and a former mayor for the town these problems should not be new to him.  Where and when he consulted residents on how to use CDF funds boggles the mind because the only time our Hon MP was seen addressing a public meeting was during a tour of the town by high-ranking officials from his party.

With nothing to write home about as a success story, it’s a pity that legislators like these would seek another term in office. Prepare to choose another career, or go on pension because the time for cheap politicking is over and your time is up Hon MP.

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.

Assistant National Food Security Officer: Zimbabwe Red Cross Society
Deadline: 9 August 2012

Reports to the National Food Security and Livelihoods Officer

Duties and Responsibilities

-Contribute to the development of Food Security programmes supporting vulnerable population, with particular focus on agriculture-based interventions, sustainable farming systems and market linkages

-Administer monitoring of different stages and provide technical assistance to field level staff where needed

-Participate in compliance and monitoring visits to projects

-Maintaining close liaison with area project implementation staff on project planning, implementation and monitoring

-Identify needs and opportunities for strengthening

-Programme progress report writing and compilation

-Assessing training needs of beneficiaries and households

-Organize and training of  beneficiaries on sustainable livelihoods strategies

-Co-ordinates with other agencies on food security issues at national level

-Co-ordinates and liaise with programme and provincial managers on other programming issues e.g. initiatives on the integration of programmes within the Zimbabwe Red Cross

-Represent the ZRCS at various stakeholder meetings at national level

Qualifications and experience

-Degree/Diploma in agriculture or equivalent

-At least two years experience in a similar or related position

-Good communication skills and ability to relate to people from different backgrounds is a distinct advantage

-Good reporting skills

-Class 4 drivers licence

Only short-listed candidates will be acknowledged.  Interested candidates to submit their written application, including a detailed curriculum vitae and certified copies of academic and merit certificates.

Applications in envelopes marked the position applied for and addressed to:

The Secretary General
Zimbabwe Red Cross Society
P.O. Box 1406
10 St. Annes Road
Avondale
HARARE

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.

Driver: African Development Bank (AfDB)
Deadline: 11 August 2012

Grade: GS3
Department: Zimbabwe Country Office (ZWFO)
Supervisor: Resident Representative

The Bank invites applications from suitably qualified candidates to fill the vacant position of Driver, to be based in Harare, Zimbabwe. This is a local position, which does not attract international terms and conditions. Only Zimbabwe nationals or applicants who already have the right to live and work in the country will be considered for this position.  The Bank does not support applications for work permits and relocation.

Duties and responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Resident Representative and the Administrative Assistant, the incumbent will be responsible for the following:
-Transport the Resident Representative, Field staff, visiting missions and official delegation of the Office on official duties, within Zimbabwe as and when required
-Ensure routine maintenance for the vehicles of the Office
-Perform office messenger duties
-Represent the Bank in a professional manner, appearance and conduct at all times
-Perform any other duties reasonably requested by the Resident Representative and management

Selection Criteria (including desirable skills, knowledge and experience)
-Advanced level certificate of education (A’ Level)
-Clean driver’s license
-A minimum of three (3) years of relevant experience as a driver in an international/multinational organization, or public or private sector organization
-Experience and skills in minor vehicle repairs, and routine maintenance for the vehicles
-Must have working knowledge of the rules and regulations involved in the safe and efficient operation of automotive equipment
-Very good command of written and spoken English
-Competence in the use of standard Microsoft software e.g. Microsoft Word and use of Internet

Terms of Employment
Three years on a fixed term contract with possibilities of renewal based on performance for all positions unless otherwise specified.

Only applicants who fully meet the Bank’s requirements and are being considered for interview will be contacted. Applicants will only be considered if they submit a fully completed Personal History Form (PHF), available from the Bank’s website and attach a comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV) indicating date of birth and nationality. The President, AfDB, reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level. The African Development Bank is an equal opportunities employer and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply: www.afdb.org/jobs

“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well” Pierre de Coubertin, Father of the Modern Olympic Games, speaking at the London 1908 Closing Ceremony.

Check out the funky and funny London Underdog web site dedicated to Olympic athletes who don’t stand much of a chance of winning.

From a contributor on Andrew Sullivan’s blog.

I can tell you why at least one man I know raped – me. He was my boyfriend and I was laying in bed sick as a dog with the flu and he climbed up on top of me and had his way with me. Although it was decades ago I remember that night like it was ten minutes ago. I now call it rape, but back then I just thought he was being a jerk. And he was. But it was also rape. So why did he rape? Because he didn’t care about me, obviously, as a human being. That much is clear to me now. He had an itch and he wanted to scratch it and he had no compassion. There is nothing fucking mysterious about it.

How about this, from the Guardian: Belarus’s president sacks two generals after Swedish plane drops hundreds of teddy bears bearing human rights slogans. More