I wanted to give you something —

no stone, clay, bracelet,
no edible leaf could pass through.
Even a molecule’s fragrance by then too large.
Giving had been taken, as you soon would be.
Still, I offered the puffs of air shaped to meaning.
They remained air.
I offered memory on memory,
but what is memory that dies with the fallible inks?
I offered apology, sorrow, longing. I offered anger.
How fine is the mesh of death. You can almost see through it.
I stood on one side of the present, you stood on the other.

Jane Hirshfield:  Come, Thief

Caretaker: Christian Aid
Deadline: 16:00 hours, Sunday 21 April 2013

Based: Zimbabwe, Harare

Poverty is an outrage against humanity.  It robs people of dignity, freedom and hope, of power over their own lives. Christian Aid has a vision – an end to poverty – and we believe that vision can become a reality.  We are striving to bring lasting change to the lives of the poorest communities.  We work wherever there is great need, helping people to find their own solutions to the problems they face, irrespective of their religion, race or creed.  If you’re passionate about positive change across the world, then this job might be for you.

The Job
As Caretaker, you will provide a safe work environment for staff, visitors and Christian Aid property (including vehicles and equipment) by guarding and managing entry and exit of all people, packages and vehicles to the office of Christian Aid.  You will ensure that any potential entry points are locked and alarmed appropriately and that any threats to security are raised with management for action and recorded appropriately. This job also exists to maintain a clean, hygienic and safe work environment by keeping offices and garden tidy and presentable.

Essential skills and experience
Elementary level of education is required with a general aptitude for basic manual work. You should have ability to apply logical thinking and common sense to routine tasks and find solutions to day to day issues.  You should have ability to take initiative.  Cleaning and gardening experience is desirable.

Benefits
We value the contribution each person makes to the success of our organisation.  That’s why you can expect a wide range of rewards and benefits, including generous leave days and flexibility that will ensure you enjoy a good work/life balance.

Apply
To apply for this position, you need to submit a Curriculum Vitae (CV) to:
zimbabwerecruit [at] christian-aid [dot] org

or by post to:
P.O. Box CY 1629, Causeway, Harare quoting reference number for the post.

Job reference: ZIM/CT-413/NR

Interview date: Week commencing 22 April 2013

Christian Aid values diversity and aspires to reflect this in its workforce.  We welcome applications from people from all sections of the community, irrespective of race, colour, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief.

Inside the world of dance and choreography in Zimbabwe … the work of Brian Geza.

Photo by Fungai Tichavangana

Kubatana recently went Inside/Out with Brian Geza, dancer, choreographer and boozer soccer player!

What does your background experience in choreography and dance consist of?
My transformation from being a dancer to a choreographer includes moving from being a Tumbuka dancer to choreography.

Describe yourself in five words?
Sociable, fun loving and friendly.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Never take shortcuts in life.

What are the most important elements that somebody can get out of choreography and dance?  
Thought provoking moments that can invoke debate.

Brian, what is your major source of inspiration?
My late father and mother.

What is your most treasured possession?  
My family.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
When my freedom of expression is blocked.

Do you have any strange hobbies?
Yes, I play boozers soccer.

What do you dislike most about your appearance?
My potbelly.

What is your greatest fear?
Fear of the unknown.

What were you like at school?
Besides being talkative I was an average student.

What are you doing next?
Keep on keeping on with my work.

Zimbabwe has been a source of fascination for many from scholars to pseudo-intellectuals to lay analysts who turn kombis into their offices as they pontificate about what went wrong, what should be done and only succeed in making fools of themselves. Some writers have gone as far as “analyzing” presidential candidates of the coming polls, gazing into their own crystal balls (there I said it, balls) profiling them and attempting to provide insights into the strengths and weaknesses of these men for whom politics is a career. Bollocks, I say. Here is my own take on some candidates. Those who don’t appear here have been deliberately left out!

Robert Mugabe: Bob ain’t your uncle
Morgan Tsvangirai: Idiot
Welshma Ncube: Cretin
Simba Makoni: Clown
Job Sikhala: Anarchist
Paul Siwela: Walter Mitty

Share some love; donate a pack of pads

With Love Foundation are conducting an ongoing Sanitary Pad Drive

With Love Foundation has acknowledged that it is a widespread but unacknowledged problem that girls in Zimbabwe are missing school and staying at home because of menstruation. They are also substituting pads or tampons for unhygienic and unsafe materials such as old pieces of cloth or newspaper.

We are appealing to our community to donate a packet of pads.

To donate or to find out more please contact Chenaimoyo on 0736-971414 or chenaimoyo [at] withlove [dot] co [dot] zw

Please also consider volunteering as a collection point.