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Finance and Administration Officer: Zimbabwe Civic Education Trust (ZIMCET)
Deadline: 29 April 2013 (close of business)

Applications are invited from suitable, qualified and experienced individuals to fill in the above mentioned position that has arisen within Zimbabwe Civic Education Trust (ZIMCET). ZIMCET is a registered NGO that was set up in 2000 to advance an informed, peaceful and confident Zimbabwean society, aware of its rights, duties, responsibilities and obligations, through full participation in socio-economic, political and cultural development.

Duties/Responsibilities
-To prepare cash flow statements and programme income and expenditure accounts timely
-To prepare income and expenditure budgets in conjunction with other programme members
-To supervise all accounting, bookkeeping, banking and reconciliation related thereto
-To maintain asset registers
-To prepare financial reports for the Board and the donors
-To prepare for and coordinate the external audit
-To prepare accounting procedures manuals and other administration manuals and implement the systems and procedure with adequate and effective check and control design
-To ensure cost effective procurement, prudent treasury and value for money expenditure
-To manage all matters related to proper financial management of ZIMCET’s affairs and meet the requirements of donor-funding organizations for reimbursement
-Supervision of staff in the Finance and Administration Department.

The Finance Officer will report to the Director of ZIMCET.

Qualifications and Personal Attributes

Prospective candidates must have the following:
-A minimum of a first degree in Accounting or any related qualification from a reputable institution
-A higher qualification will be an added advantage
-Membership of an accounting body will be an added advantage
-At least three years experience in a similar position within the NGO sector
-Ability to work under pressure
-A team player
-Excellent communication skills

Apply
Applications must be accompanied by a detailed CV and certified copies of certificates and must be addressed to The Director and sent to zimcet [at] mweb [dot] co [dot] zw

Remuneration and related benefits will be shared only with short listed applicants.

Only short listed applicants will be contacted for interviews.

The US Embassy Public Affairs Section held a discussion on the problem of waste and the challenges of disposing of it, particularly in urban areas. The discussion, lead by Environment Africa, explored various ways of preventing littering and cleaning up the environment, using the expression “the carrot or the stick” to described how people can either be encouraged to not litter through incentives or through punishment.

An incentive could be offered as is done in Botswana, where people are paid to clean the streets around their area. Or a punishment could be enforced, as is enacted in the Environmental Management Act – Any person found littering should be fined no more than a level 3 fine (about $20). Another suggestion was creating a situation like in Rwanda, where once a month everyone is required to spend a few hours on a designated day, cleaning the area around where they live. While it has encouraged a cleaner environment, it has also helped bring people together after the atrocities of the Genocide 19 years ago through collective acts of community service.

However, all suggestions have their disadvantages, as incentives would be expensive, the fine of no more than $20 could have little impact on people and finding one day where everyone can drop everything and spend a few hours doing community service would be difficult. An ideal situation would be a combination of different approaches, as is suggested by Environment Africa. They bring awareness to the importance of a clean environment and the dangers of pollution, leading campaigns and outreaches to educate communities on the issues.

Environment Africa also has a focus on “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”, looking towards innovative ways in which waste can be put to use. Several examples were shown; from recycled paper, which was turned into playing cards, and art made out of old cans. There was a strong emphasis on the need for innovation, looking towards young people to find new and creative ways to deal with the increasing build up of waste in both rural and urban areas.

However, the main message was this is our environment, which is everyone’s responsibility. To protect Zimbabwe and all the beauty, we all need to take responsibility and make an effort.

Photo: Environment Africa

‘Aliens’ to vote” was a catchy headline in a daily paper today. I think these so-called Aliens would rejoice if the headline would read “Aliens exempted from paying tax in Zimbabwe.” After 33 years of independence as a nation should we continue to classify other people under the banner of aliens? Who are these aliens? Are they black or white? Having parents of foreign origin or being born in a foreign land automatically puts one in the bracket of  “aliens”. These are people who have been labeled to have no totem at one point and who lived in the squashed urban settlements of Zimbabwe. An operations was launched a couple of years ago to cleanse the urban settlements from  “aliens”, but almost 8 years on “aliens” have developed a mentality of resisting in order to exist and to be recognized.

Also if you speak a foreign language with no fixed abode moving from one mine or farm to another looking for menial jobs your ID reflecting “A” you are not spared from the branding either. This alien brand went as far as making those with British roots join the renouncing queue at Registrar General’s Offices. After the economic meltdown of 2008 the even to the so-called original Zimbabweans ran for cover in foreign countries and they became bitter after being treated to the Alien brand which forced them back home. Imagine if you cannot stand to be called alien for four years how about someone who had to endure it for 33 years.

With the referendum over and expectations of new constitution it seems like “aliens” have all of a sudden become a special group which every politician is giving special mention so that their right to vote which was stolen some time back can be restored.  For the past 33 years “aliens” have been contributing to Zimbabwe’s economic growth under harsh working conditions in mines, farms, industries, now most these aliens’ children have become educated professionals and are now part of the systems running this great nation. Some of these “aliens” have gone to represent the nation in sports and some have become successful business people and all we have been hearing were praises for Zimbabwe and not “aliens”. These are our brothers and sisters who have been used for so many years to toyi toyi in the street campaigning for various political parties only to be denied that right to vote in an election because they are “aliens”. Even to get travel documents is still a hassle for them because they have to go through a rigorous process of renouncing some foreign citizenship. Election time is the only time when “aliens” get recognition and this time if they are allowed to vote those hopes are high that they will be recognized as Zimbabweans, not space invaders like what some people think.

Coming home from the range on Sunday, about 1600, along Arden Rd through Gunhill I cross Borrowdale road, and get pulled over by the police. Officer takes my license and walks around the pickup. Eventually gets back to say, “let me tell you what your offences are.” All well and good, but since I have been driving it since 1997, and nothing is altered since it was constructed at Willowvale, I have to wonder, “What now?”

Something about no Gross Vehicle Mass displayed. “Since when?”

“2010.”

Well, they slipped that in without telling me. So, fine to be paid. But I have no money, I am coming home from a Sunday out, and I spent the $1 I took with me on a Mail and Guardian. There is nothing in my wallet.

“Park over there behind the police car, we are going to Borrowdale Police Station.” All well and good, I move the truck, and sit there reading the Mail and Guardian. (This new Zimbabwe edition is damn good I think!) Eventually there is a queue of vehicles behind me, and we are about to set off, I believe. But no, a different policeman goes from car to car, and eventually, after all producing money (I watch in the rear view mirror), they all drive off. Just me left.

“Is it you have no money, or you just don’t want to pay a fine?” (Well, that’s a stupid question, who does want to pay a fine?) “No, I have no money”, and I show how empty my wallet is. I have also watched while sitting, at a minimum of three vehicles drive past, without being stopped, who also have no Gross Vehicle Mass displayed. I guess the law passed by them unnoticed too.

You can see the officer mentally grumbling. “Well, this time I will let you off with a caution, don’t do it again” (By ‘it’ I assume he means get stopped without any money, because he has no idea what the ‘offence’ is). He gives me back my license.

Tuesday, I am coming home from Newlands (on a bike) and have to negotiate to get across Borrowdale Road as the lights are not working. Chaos! But not to worry, the police are there. And yet, not there. The police are in the same place, Swan Drive, just west and in sight of the intersection, puling cars over. There are no police at the intersection attempting to direct traffic, or anything remotely useful. There are six of them, 25 meters away, pulling cars over.

It could not be more blatantly obvious, more ‘in your face’, up front, glaring. The ZRP are not around to provide a service (like law and order) to Zimbabwean citizens. The ZRP are there to take money from people.

Hey! Need a job? Want to work in the NGO/development sector in Zimbabwe? Check out the job vacancies below and apply today. If you want to receive regular civic and human rights information, together with NGO job vacancies and other opportunities like scholarships by getting our regular email newsletter, please email join [at] kubatana [dot] net

Twelve (12) vacancies: Africare
Deadline: 26 April 2013

Opportunities have arisen within our Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Programme. A new rural-based project requires the services of Sanitation, Monitoring and Evaluation and WASH Officers. Project districts are Gokwe North and South, Mhondoro-Ngezi and Bikita. Suitably qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.

1) Sanitation Officers (x 2)

Person Specification
Required to fill in this position is a mature person, with all-round knowledge in WASH programming; especially demand-creation of sanitation services in rural settings, a satisfactory track record in working under the auspices of the District Water and Sanitation sub-Committees as well as leading WASH teams.

Summary of Expected Duties
Reporting to the WASH Coordinator, the incumbent will be expected to support the DWSSCs to:
-Create demand for sanitation services among communities in the districts of operation, which include promoting the construction of up-gradable Blair Ventilated Improved Pit Latrines, construction of institutional Blair Ventilated Improved Pit Latrines and hand-washing infrastructure
-Utilise participatory approaches to promote Zero Open Defecation (ODF) among the participating communities
-Promote public-private partnerships in improving community sanitation standards
-Provide leadership and supervision to the district based WASH officers
-Present project reports at various for ums as requested by DWSSC and management
-Contribute towards monitoring and evaluating project elements
-Compile quality periodic project reports.

Qualifications
-A minimum of a first degree in a WASH-related discipline such as Environmental Sciences, Health Promotion or Water and Sanitation, with at least an upper second degree class
-A minimum of 5 years experience in WASH-related programming either in the public service, NGOs or within a local authority, of which 3 years MUST be at Coordinator or Team Leader. Experience in sanitation demand-creation will be an added advantage
-A clean Class 4 driver’s licence with not less than 3 years driving experience is a MUST.

2) Monitoring and Evaluation Officers (x 2)

Person Specification
The candidate must demonstrate a high degree of competence in the development of M & E plans and tools, situational analyses, operational research, data analysis, database creation, amongst other areas of expertise.

Summary of Expected Duties

Reporting, in a matrix structure, to both the Team Leader and the Coordinator, the incumbent will be expected to support the project and DWSSCs to:
-Prepare/revise monitoring guidelines, tools and reporting formats, conducting monitoring training to the WASH team and ensure quality control
-Track project indicators regularly and provide timely feedback to the WASH team. • Create project databases and inventories
-Set-up system for joint organisational and donor monitoring (i.e. joint field trips, databases and reports)
-Facilitate and document case studies, success stories, Most Significant Change Stories and articles for publication in peer reviewed journal articles
-Participate in programme-wide M&E activities with external stakeholders

Qualifications
-A minimum of a first degree in the social sciences/humanities/economic sciences/statistics plus 3 years progressive experience in programme design, monitoring and evaluation and statistical analysis, e.g. using EpiInfo or SPSS
-A clean Class 4 driver’s licence with a minimum of 3 years driving experience would be a clear advantage.

3) WASH Officers (x 8)

Person Specification
Reporting to the District Team Leader, the WASH Officer is expected to carry out the day-to-day activities of the project working with the communities and steer it towards meeting the set objectives.

Summary of Expected Duties

Working with DWSSCs, the incumbent will be expected to:
-Provide support towards the drilling and rehabilitation of new water points, including GIS mapping
-Facilitate the rehabilitation of identified water schemes in partnership with the service providers
-Promote the development of new institutional and community sanitation infrastructure
-Promote public-private partnerships in the promotion of WASH, including facilitating internal savings and Loans for WASH
-Utilise community-centred approaches to water, sanitation and hygiene, culminating in the formation and training of school-based and community health clubs
-Facilitate the strengthening of water governance and operation and maintenance structures, such as the water point user committees and village pump mechanics.

Qualifications
-A minimum of a first degree in health sciences such as environmental studies or health promotion, with a postgraduate certificate or diploma in Water and Sanitation an added advantage
-A clean class with more than 3 years driving experience is a requirement.

Apply
Applications with detailed curriculum vitae and names of 3 contactable referees should be addressed to: The Administration Officer, 4A Hugh Fraser Drive, Greendale, Harare, or email lmlotshwa [at] africare [dot] org copying tkamusewu [at] africare [dot] org

Due to the expected overwhelming response, only short-listed candidates will be responded to.

Simukai Tinhu has published an article on why Zimbabwean voters are deserting Morgan Tsvangirai. Some good points are raised including the fact that its about time that the MDC, as a party, put forward a new candidate to lead them into the future. Tendai Biti please step forward. More

The demise of authoritarianism in Zimbabwe will surely come. But there is little reason to think that the day is near, and even less to think that the opposition MDC is the party that will torpedo the current dictatorship. Today the party is more dysfunctional and commands less authority and support than ever before, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise when it loses, even in a free and fair election.