Applications are now open for persons and organisations wishing to observe the constitutional referendum, the conduct of polling and vote counting. According to an official Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) statement the following can apply:

• Individuals representing foreign countries/ international organisations and foreign eminent persons who have applied to be accepted as observers
• Individuals representing local organisations and eminent persons from within Zimbabwe who have applied to be accepted as observers
• Individuals representing bodies that exercise functions similar to those of the Commission and that have been invited by the commission to observe an election
• Individuals representing foreign countries/ international organisations and foreign eminent persons who have  been invited by the Minister responsible for foreign affairs to observe an election
• Individuals representing local organisations and eminent persons from within Zimbabwe who have been invited by the Minister responsible for Justice and Legal Affairs to observe an election

An application for accreditation as an observer must be made to the Chief Elections Officer by

• The individual or eminent person who wishes to be accredited
• The organisation that wishes its representatives to be accredited
• The Minister responsible for Justice and Legal Affairs or the Minister responsible for Foreign Affairs, in respect of individuals whom the Minister concerned has invited to observe the referendum

NB: An application for accreditation made by an organisation or by the Minister must state the names of the individuals whom the organisation or Minister wishes to have accredited.

For more information we advise that you contact the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission directly on office Telephone numbers: +263-4-759130,  +263-4-774095, +263-4-781903. E-mail on inquiry [at] zec [dot] gov [dot] zw or pr [at] zec [dot] gov [dot] zw

Interesting that, Temba Mliswa, the man who is on record solving differences with people whose politics he does not agree with through violence, and was arrested recently for bashing a female Zanu PF “colleague” has asked the courts to transfer the trial to Harare.

Mliswa claims that there are “political undercurrents” in the province where the trial is being heard that would compromise a fair trial.

This is according to ZBC news and you wonder if this is reported tongue-in-cheek!

Is that not curious coming from people who have always trumpeted the impartiality of Zimbabwean courts, especially when members from the other political divide are on the dock facing frivolous charges.

You have to feel no sorry for this guy and his theology that he can get away with anything as long as he invokes the name “Zanu PF!”

Recall when he trained hard punches on the heads of white commercial farmers whose land he expropriated? Where were the courts then? Clown.

Let him have it and perhaps it shall serve as an example to others from the same stock who think they can punch their way out of anything in the name of the “revolutionary party.”

Yeah, we are watching which way the table will turn.

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

Two (2) vacancies: Royal Trust
Deadline: 8 March 2013

1. Finance Assistant

Duties
-To keep and maintain books of accounts for the International project
-Process all expenditure and income for the fund
-To do the respective reconciliations for the fund
-Reports to the Finance and Admin Officer

Qualifications & Experience
-A levels in the relevant accounting subjects
-At least 2 years working experience in accounting for Donor funds

2. Programming Officer

Duties
-To do programming for the project
-To communicate with the Programmer of the Donor project with regard to training activities
-To work closely with the director for policy guidance on all matters for this project

Qualifications & Experience
-A recognized diploma in the field of training
-Knowledge and experience in adult training
-Training experience in Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) will be an added advantage

Interested candidates should submit their applications and CVs to:
info@royaltrust.co.zw and copied to rmukamba@royaltrust.co.zw

Monitoring & Evaluation Officer: Mashambanzou Care Trust
Deadline: 8 March 2013

Part-Time Position

Job Purpose: Monitoring and Evaluation of all Mashambanzou Care Trust Projects

Person Specification
-A holder of an M&E Diploma
-A First Degree and a Qualification in Project Management is an added advantage
-Mature, 30 years and above
-The person must have 2years experience in Monitoring & Evaluation of Donor Funded Projects
-Strong Report Writing and Analytical Skills
-A decisive Team Player and Results Oriented
-Drivers License is a prerequisite.

Job Specification
-Monitoring and Evaluation of all MCT Projects
-Develop and Maintain effective M&E Tools and Systems; to collect, review and analyze program related data and indicators for each Project
-Produce M&E Reports for each Project
-Assist with the writing of Project Proposals
-Conducting filed visits for Assessment of Outreach/Community Based Projects

To apply
Interested candidates must send applications and CVs to the HR and Admin Officer, 40 Sandown Rd, Waterfalls, Harare or email: max [at] mashambanzou [dot] co [dot] zw

Various vacancies: The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union)
Deadline: 10 March 2013

The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) is recruiting for an upcoming CDC HIV/AIDS program focusing on clinical training and mentoring for treatment and prevention services in Zimbabwe. This program seeks to provide technical assistance to strengthen the government of Zimbabwe’s ability to provide high quality training and mentorship in HIV and ART/OI prevention, care and treatment.

Available positions under this program include program Director, Finance Manager, Clinical Training Officer and Monitoring and Evaluation Officer. Applicants should have a minimum of a first degree and not less than 5 years experience in program management in their respective fields.

Please send your CV plus motivation letter to: theunionzim [at] gmail [dot] com

Spar Borrowdale sells bottled water showing no differentiation in their chillers between SAZ registered mineral water, and “any old joe” borehole water. I asked one of the packers what the difference was between 80c water and 30c water and she said that the 30c water was from boreholes. Hmmm. It would be great if this was made clearer. And it would be even better if the City health authorities got rigorous on standards required for the sale of water.

Only 11 brands of bottled water registered … more from NewsDay.

Pictured above: uZanele at IWD 2012

Sistaz of the Open Mic celebrate International Women’s Day
Saturday 9 March 2013, Book Cafe, Harare

On Saturday 9 March, the lively SISTAZ OPEN MIC programme at the Book Cafe celebrates International Women’s Day from 3pm, with a vivid line-up of women artists ready to step out and express themselves freely in celebration of women everywhere.

The line-up includes mbira princess Hope Masike, recently returned from a quick trip to Europe; popular singer-songwriters Rute Mbangwa and Clare Nyakujara, guitarist Rudo Chasi, Zimbabwe-rocker Kessia Magosha recently returned from a Rock music programme in Johannesburg; the afrocentric M’Afriq featuring lead singer and front-lady Pauline Gundidza, and a special performance of ‘3 Generations’: afrojazz-istas Dudu Manhenga, the strongly up&coming ‘uZanele’ and Clare Nyakujara.  The spoken word will be carried by poets Roxy ‘Xapa’ Mathazia, Batsirai Chigama, Charity Hutete, and RuTendo DeNise, with Wadzanai Chiuriri as MC.

The Sistaz Open Mic ‘after-party’ continues from 5.30pm with the lady of love songs Plaxedes Wenyika and her backing band, until 7pm, featuring songs from her albums ‘Tisa Paradzane’, ‘Kamumhanzi’, ‘Sentiments’ ‘Full Circle’ and her very latest single ‘Kuva Newe’ (Being with you), hot from the studio and expected on the airwaves next week.

The Women’s Day commemoration by Pamberi Trust is supported in part by the Embassy of Canada for the second year running, giving vital support to initiatives for freedom of expression by women artists and gender advancement in general.

Other events to mark the week at Book Cafe include a free screening presented by Women Filmmakers of Zimbabwe on Wednesday 6 March of the film ‘CUT’ – a confrontation with the brutal practice of female genital mutilation; a delightful evening performance on Thursday 7 March by three of Zimbabwe’s popular women artists entitled ‘3Generations: Dudu, Uzanele and Clare’, and a networking session for women artists and organisations before the Sistaz Open Mic.

International Women’s Day around the world
The 2013 Theme for celebrations around the world is ‘The Gender Agenda: Gaining Momentum.  Each year International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8 around the world, by individuals and organisations, governments, charities, educational institutions, women’s groups, corporations and the media.  Thousands of events occur not just on this day but throughout March to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women each year, and to draw attention to global and local gender issues.

Over time and distance, the equal rights of women have progressed.  In Zimbabwe, there is much to be celebrated, and the Sistaz Open Mic on Saturday 9 March will honour some of the women in the Arts in Zimbabwe, who have

Sistaz Open Mic falls under the gender project FLAME (Female Literary Arts & Music Enterprise) of Harare-based arts development organisation Pamberi Trust, which has worked with hundreds of women artists over the years and commemorated the 16 Days of activism every year since 2007, with women artists speaking out loud and proud in protest against violence in our society.

The Book Cafe celebrations this March follow on from a powerful programme in November-December 2012 with 16 events staged around the global campaign ’16 Days of Activism against Violence against Women’, which featured film, discussion, workshops and music and poetry performances, graced by US hiphop artist Akua Naru and over 80 women artists of Zimbabwe.

As always, Sistaz Open Mic promises to be a lively and highly entertaining affair, with a strong sense of purpose – it’s a time for women of Harare to come out to meet, learn more, and celebrate themselves against a backdrop of great music and poetry from sisters in the Arts.

Other aspects of the gender programme are supported by Hivos, the European Union and other partners.

- Press Release from the Book Cafe

It’s dark because you are trying too hard. Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly. Yes, feel lightly even though you’re feeling deeply. Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them. I was so preposterously serious in those days. . . . Lightly, lightly—it’s the best advice ever given me. So throw away your baggage and go forward. There are quicksands all about you, sucking at your feet, trying to suck you down into fear and self-pity and despair. That’s why you must walk so lightly. Lightly, my darling.
~ Aldous Huxley