Our country has a history of violence – our children have experienced the horror and fear of rape and beatings in their schools, communities and homes.

Tree of Life workshops have been spreading throughout Zimbabwe over the last 9 years. They are Healing and Empowerment workshops facilitated by survivors of torture, violence and rape. The Story Telling Circles are based round the tree metaphor and allow for the integration of past, present and future experiences, and makes a deep connection to spiritual beliefs and traditions.

And our forest is growing, the roots stretching wider and wider throughout our country.

For the last 5 months, this growing number of facilitators have been gathering in ‘Gender Circles’ and meeting the difficult space between socially and culturally accepted norms and matching them against our Tree of Life Agreements: Equality, respect, truth, love, tolerance, humility.

These have been difficult conversations, particularly in a present external culture of abuse of power. But like all difficult conversations, they have been rich with compassion and learning.

The women have begun to move beyond the silencing of their voices and the ownership of their bodies. They have spoken of the value of mothering and community and loyalty and love, the limitations of jealousy and victimhood, and have learnt to walk with dignity and respect.

The men have listened to stories of rape – and have had the space to share their own. They have looked at the inequalities of ownership, and the effects it has had on their lives – in schools, churches, political organisations and the places they work. They have shared the limitations and difficulties of family  responsibilities inflicted upon them – often from an early age.

We met last Friday (18th March) There were over 50 of us, facilitators from Tree of Life communities and organisations representing the hundreds of circles who stand behind them, and we spoke of the One Billion Rising on the 14th February.

And we decided we are READY
We are ready to join the dance
We will be joining all the global rising on V Day against the abuse of women.

We are in the process of planning
Watch this space!

We will be posting on Facebook, Her Zimbabwe and One Billion Rising Zimbabwe

So is it every straight public person’s responsibility to make life better for ordinary gay people then? What crap.

Jodie Foster says she values privacy, yet it is every gay public figure’s duty to be out, to make life better for ordinary gay people.
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For someone who cheated his way to seven Tour de France medals this is a well-deserved award for Lance Armstrong. According to Foreign Police website the disgraced former world cycling champion was elected by France’s investigative website Rue89.com as the sports bastard of the year weeks before he came on TV with Oprah to confess his sins. Now we know what Lance was on besides the bike to win the races.

Even here in Zimbabwe we have our own Sport Bastard of the Year especially the Asia-gate cheats and the recent officials from the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) involved in the Ballon d’Or-gate for casting fake votes for the FIFA World Footballer of the Year award.

“Only if a coach is to sit on a national selection panel then that person should have international experience, in terms of paragraph 2.2 of the directive”

This directive has infuriated a lot people especially those in the sporting fraternity particularly those who have ambitions to coach or sit on selection panels of national sports. This directive came from the Sports and Recreation Commission and has sucked in the Minister of Sports of Sports and Culture, Senator David Coltart.

The reason why the directive has been seen to be racist in nature is the fact that there are some sporting activities which here in Zimbabwe have been regarded to be for the minority and for the elite. This was due to the fact that it was very rare (and it is still) to see at swimming pool at a government school in Chitungwiza. I remember when I was in primary in my hometown Chitungwiza, there was only one school with a cricket pitch. Every Friday all primary schools in Chitungwiza would gather at St Aidan for a cricket knock out tournament.

Given such a scenario of scarce resources how would do you then expect to groom players who can play these kinds of sports at international level so that one day they can sit on the national selector’s panel? Should we keep on blaming the whites for making the sports elite especially after almost 33 years of independence?

The alleged row at Zimbabwe Cricket seems to have been sparked by the Minister’s directive and some black players who have been sitting on the Cricket Zimbabwe’s national selection panel feel the directive is targeted at them. By throwing in racist allegations these selectors are trying to play to the gallery so that they receive some political sympathy while covering up for the poor results. Regardless of color nobody wants to support losers and that’s the reason why the nation has supported Kirsty Coventry and the Black family without mentioning racism.

My suggestion to the SRC directive is for the government to invest in sports so that no sporting activity will be regarded to be for the minority or elite. Sports have become a source of livelihood and many dreams and aspirations have been to put halt because of lack of resources.

Finance and Administration Officer: Absolute Return for Kids (ARK)
Deadline: 21 January 2013

Job Purpose
The role’s main objective is to ensure proper financial management of ARK Zimbabwe’s affairs and in particular to ensure that funded programmes effectively procure products and services so that projects are able to deliver the agreed outcomes to the time and budget agreed. The Administration and Finance Officer will therefore contribute to the overall good function of ARK and delivery of its agreed goals.

Reporting Relationships: Reporting to the Country Director

Liaison Relationships
-Internal: All staff, including London based colleagues
-External: MOHCW, UNICEF other Development Partners

Principal Accountabilities
-Administration of office expenses
-Management and control of petty cash
-Preparation of payment documentation and ensuring payments made to schedule
-Provision of fully coded financial transaction data to financial accountant
-Monitoring internal and external expenditures, providing regular updates to the Country Director, and alerting Country Director to possible budget overspend in timely manner
-Supporting the costing of programme activities and the drafting of office and programme budgets
-Ensuring good administration and procurement procedures and compliance with Financial and Administrative policies and procedures
-Ensuring human resource needs for the organization are being met
-Managing overall infrastructure for the office, including office supplies and basic equipment
-Procuring products and services for ARK and ARK supported programs on time and according to defined specifications
-Maintaining an inventory of assets and supplies

Requirements
-Strong numeracy skills
-Ability to present data in easily accessible way
-Excellent organizational, planning and logistical skills with a proactive attitude and attention to detail
-Strong inter-personal skills, enhancing team work culture
-Ability to identify and confidence to report risks and problems in appropriate way
-Excellent computer skills (Excel, Word Powerpoint) and significant experience with email administration and internet usage
-Ability to work efficiently under time pressure
-Ability to handle confidential information appropriately
-Skilled at prioritizing and completing multiple tasks
-Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as in a team environment
-Able to work additional hours or to vary hours when required
- Able to travel away from office when required

Qualification And Experience
-Degree level education, ideally with some Finance and Business Administration (may be studying for an accountancy/finance qualification)
-Minimum 3 years experience in bookkeeping or auditing in a reputable organization
-Experience in office management
-Clean class 4 drivers licence
-Working experience with NGO is an asset
-Traceable reference

Behavioral Competencies
-Relationship management: Builds and maintains mutually beneficial relationships with others inside or outside the organization who can provide information, assistance and support.  Remains calm under pressure.  Can manage multiple demands.
-Planning and organizing: Conducts planning for achievement of own, unit or organizational goals and organizes activities to achieve the goals
-Negotiation: Negotiates effectively and ensures mutually beneficial outcomes for both parties
-Integrity:  Maintains highest standards of honesty and integrity
-Teamwork: Works collaboratively with others to achieve organisational goals and objectives
-Communication: Listens to others and communicates both orally and in writing in an effective manner that fosters open communication
-Analytical skills: Interprets, links and analyses information in order to understand information
-Problem solving: Solves problems effectively

Applications
To apply for these position submit

1. A cover letter describing why you are interested in working for ARK and summarizing your suitability for the position
2. An updated curriculum vitae (not more than 2 A4 pages please)

Email to: zimrecruit [at] arkonline [dot] org cc: Easter.Shoniwa [at] arkonline [dot] org

On the subject line: Include first and last name, Job Title and date of submission

Or deliver to 7 St Quintin Avenue, Eastlea, Harare.

Only short listed candidates will be contacted for the recruitment processes.

Administration Assistant: Zimbabwe National Quality Assurance Programme (ZINQAP) Trust
Deadline: 21 January 2013 (4:30pm)

The Zimbabwe National Quality Assurance Programme (ZINQAP) Trust, is inviting applications from qualified candidates with the relevant experience to fill the position of Administrative Assistant.

Qualifications
-HND in Accounting/Administration
-Degree qualification will be an added advantage
-Competence in use of Pastel accounting package
-Minimum of 2years’ experience in the Accounts department  in the NGO sector
-Good Communication skills
-Fluent spoken English, Shona and/or Ndebele

Job Description
-Processing of payments to suppliers/creditors
-Receipting and Banking
-Maintaining petty cash
-Raising invoices to debtors on a quarterly basis
-Perform other duties as assigned by the Finance and Administration Manager

Submit application letter together with detailed CV and copies of certificates to:

The Director, ZINQAP Offices, Parirenyatwa Hospital Grounds, Harare

Or email: hr [at] zinqap [dot] org [dot] zw

Only short listed candidates will be contacted.