Usually when the word ‘developed’ is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is money, since surely you cannot develop without money, and therefore the logical assumption is that development results in money and therefore can be measured in it.

However, this is not always true, as in the case of Kerala.

Kerala is a small province in Southern India and is very poor with people living on between $298 and $350 a year. This is about one seventeenth of the income in the United States, and yet, demographically, Kerala is almost at the same level as the USA. A study was done to compare the 2 and it was discovered that:

- Kerala male life expectancy is about 70 years while the USA is about 72
- Kerala’s birth rate is about 18 per 1000 (and dropping) while the USA is about 16 per 1000
- And, possibly most shocking (or logical) is Kerala has 100% literacy!

This indicates that on one seventeenth of the money Kerala can achieve almost the same development as the USA (if development is not measured in money). Which brings to question why such a small place can do so much on such little money.

The answer can be found in education. Kerala had a huge drive in the late 1980s on education, which resulted in their 100% literacy. What was particularly focused on was female literacy. The idea was that if a woman is educated, she is far more likely to share her education with her children than a man. Therefore more people can benefit from one woman being educated rather than one man being educated. Although this did not improve the unemployment rate (which is still very high), it did create emancipation, which then trickled into other areas. With female emancipation, the birth rate dropped, aiding the problem of overpopulation and also reducing pressure on family incomes.

Kerala seems to be a huge success in terms of human development. Whether this is just a boom after a big push or a genuine, sustainable change in the people’s lives cannot be determined yet as it is still too recent. However, it can be said that not all development is reliant on money, and maybe other provinces in India and even other countries can learn from Kerala and its successes.

A question was asked during an election reporting workshop concerning how journalists and civic organisations can report or walk the fine line between bringing knowledge to the people and not attract the wrath of the authorities who have criminalised voter education.

It highlighted the problem many have with the conditions that prevail as the country prepares for elections whereby while political parties are encouraging supporters to vote on one hand, and on the other institutions expected to play a role in ensuring that the same voters make informed decisions being fettered by the threat of imprisonment.

Anyone seeking to make inroads into remote rural areas for example to “educate” voters does that at their own peril, and it has to be queried how then a people known to have no access to radio, TV and newspapers are supposed to participate in processes they have no clue about.

It could well be a replay of the referendum where voters merely followed instructions from their political parties and vote for issues they have no clue about.

And because this is a high stakes poll, we can expect all voters to be denied by the usual suspects all the information they need to make informed decisions.

This buttresses the charge that rural folks are “instructed” or “persuaded” with brute force who to vote for, and we have already read about Jabulani Sibanda “frightening” villagers in Lupane, which is just the beginning of worse things to come.

Common sense would tell you that the period in the run-up to elections provides insight into the credibility of any poll, and Sibanda’s reported actions in rural Matebeleland only serve to cast more doubt into the country’s – or Zanu PF’s seeing that he is a Zanu PF functionary – commitment to creating conditions “ideal for a free and fair election.”

And because these rural constituencies have rather unflatteringly been labeled as “unsophisticated” they are seen as very malleable in the hands of political hoodlums, and it is here where an informed voter can take charge of their political circumstances and indeed political future.

Thus we hear exhortations from some quarters that the rural folks must remain docile and allow themselves to be herded to rallies but make their choices known inside the voting booth!

A famous Tony Namate cartoon back in the 1990s actually has a peasant woman mischievously winking as she puts her “X” on a candidate contesting against Zanu PF, and while such commentary did indeed help magnify the extent of what has become a post-independence millstone around our necks, Zanu PF has still been able to claim the vote, raising questions whether if at all rural folk “vote freely.”

But it’s a debate that will take forever as some have already opined that Zanu PF has never allowed defeat to stand in the way to claim victory!

It thus has become a well-worn cliché that access to information is the bedrock of all electoral processes and democracy, yet we find ourselves doing the same things over, and over but still expecting to get different results.

It is essentially because of this that some of the most vocal people you meet in the street criticizing the status quo go to the pub instead when other citizens join long queues under the blazing African sun to cast their vote!

Another issue to look out for again this year would be the spread of newspapers, which areas they reach as they seek to report about the pre-election climate.

Yet one thing that has precedence is the “outlawing” of certain titles from certain areas where reading a particular paper has in the not-so-distant past been a punishable offence with vigilantes using cudgels on fellow villagers for merely reading a newspaper of their choice.

To an outsider it sounds crazy, but this is what we can expect in the coming months, that is if it is not happening already.

Day 1, Saturday 11 May
Checked in at 9:30 and had to wait for two hours for the bus to come. We left after midnight and the highlight of the trip was when one of the guys in our group had a clash with the co-host. He was angry because of the delay and a bit drunk and they exchanged words. With him being a student activist and a former SRC president at MSU we were treated to words, which later became a hit on our trip. He would say: ‘foolish fool’, ‘deodorized bullshit’ and a whole lot of other words that are now synonymous with him!

Day 2, Sunday 12 May
We arrived just before noon and had a formal meeting to facilitate introductions. Met Louis and Brian, the trainers. It was a free day so we went out shopping. Six volunteers were asked to stay at a different location from the rest of the team because the lodge was full. I volunteered with the lady sitting next to me because no one was any showing interest in doing so. We were some lucky bastards as we got to stay in a hotel – not that fancy but far much better than the lodge! In the evening we were told a call came through from the lodge saying the training was starting at 7am instead of 9am!

Day 3, Monday 13 May
First day of the training, woke up early for 7am but little did we know it was a prank! Failed to find the culprit. We were given really great phones for our work towards the end of the day after we had grasped a lot of what Mobile Community Zimbabwe (MCZ) was. So MCZ is a community of citizen journalists who report on the stories not covered widely or at all in the mainstream media.

Day 4, Tuesday 14 May
The lessons and group exercises just made me miss my school days.  Did our first video assignment around the lodge. Interesting stories came up and we had a great laugh. We had a big discussion on media law and ethics. Most of the participants were wondering whether we were supposed to get accreditation like journalists. The local trainers explained to us that if we get accreditation then we lose the whole idea of citizen journalism. Also they reminded us they do not expect to get from us the hard-core news stories we read in the press everyday.

Day 5, Wednesday 15 May
Had a class assignment to work in groups of two. We went to ZAMCOM the largest school of journalism in Zambia. Made video stories there too. Did more outdoor playing around with the garden set up at the college and interacting with the students! After class, we all went out for drinks.

Day 6, Thursday 16 May
We were divided into three groups and we visited three different community radio stations. I joined the group that went to Radio Christian Voice; a Christian based community radio station.

Day 7, Friday 17 May
We went to the market where Zimbabweans sell various goods. Used Storymaker to do interviews. It was a lot like a market place in Zimbabwe because everyone around that area could speak Shona or Ndebele, though most were born in Zambia. Went for a mini bus tour around Lusaka on our way back to the lodge. We were given the afternoon off so we took a long walk to a local market place. In the evening we watched the videos we had made in the morning. Said our goodbyes.

Day 8, Saturday 18 May
On this day Intercape really insulted us! We got up early preparing for the journey, checking in time was 9:30am. When we got there we were told the bus was going to leave at 1pm. We left after 2pm but fortunately we managed to get by the border before they closed. Arrived in Harare just before midnight.

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

Administration Assistant: HelpAge Zimbabwe
Deadline: 27 May 2013

Location: Bubi
Reporting To: Finance Manager

Duration of Contract: 1 year with possibility of renewal

Duties
-Handle all office correspondence
-Maintain sub office payment system i.e. cause to be kept documents in support of all payments at sub office
-To keep, manage petty cash at sub-office and be prepared for surprise cash counts
-To file all sub office correspondence in a way that is simple to prepare justification and reports to donors
-Assist in the preparation of monthly financial reports to the donor
-Maintain a sub office asset register and be responsible for asset administration at sub office
-Maintain a register of program inventories i.e. receiving and issuing out of program accessories
-Arrange office and program meetings and taking minutes
-Perform other related administrative, accounting and finance duties as may be assigned

Education/Professional Qualifications
-Degree/Diploma in Accountancy
-Studying towards a professional Qualification (Part C) e.g. IAC, CIS, etc
-Knowledge of principles, practices and methods of accounting and budget preparation and analysis

Ability to
-Interact effectively with the public and other employees
-Plan and direct the maintenance of the sub office financial records
-Effectively communicate both verbally and in writing.

Experience
Typical experience would include two years progressive experience in accounting

To apply
Send applications via email only to: info [at] helpage [dot] co [dot] zw

Country Funding Coordinator/Institutional Funding Officer: OXFAM
Deadline: 31 May 2013

Location: Harare
Contract: 12 months

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.

**NB we are re-advertising this position, those who previously applied need not to apply.

OXFAM Vision
Zimbabwean women, men and children are exercising their rights and accessing dignified sustainable livelihood opportunities within the context of a just, accountable and democratic political, legal and socio-economic environment.

Country Purpose
To significantly reduce poverty, inequality and suffering amongst the poor and marginalised people in Zimbabwe, Oxfam will work with partner organisations on:
-Strengthening local capacities
-Enabling communities and local CSOs
-Meeting humanitarian needs

In addition to developing and supporting the strategic and operational capacity its partner organisations, Oxfam will build alliances and knowledge networks, undertake research analysis to inform decision-making and influence local and global policy makers to facilitate and leverage change.

Team Purpose
-To raise funds for Oxfam’s program in Zimbabwe and effectively manage the funds
-To develop and maintain good quality and consistent relationships with donors
-To lead on contract management: To effectively support program teams to develop and plan concept papers and proposals in accordance with country strategy and donor requirements.

Job Purpose
This is a combination of 2 part time jobs both with different tasks and responsibilities
-To establish, implement and maintain the Oxfam country funding strategy including resourcing for development, humanitarian and policy/advocacy work in order to increase Oxfam income from institutional donors. This includes spotting funding opportunities, targeted donor relationship building and engaging in joint fundraising initiatives across Oxfam affiliates in Zimbabwe.
-To support directly the fundraising plans and efforts of Oxfam Novib through joint and individual funding initiatives.

To apply
To find out more about this role and to apply online, visit www.oxfam.org.uk/jobs and quote ref: INT6234

30 April 2013

Harare International Airport

I was given a jolt at the check-in around 1500hrs when some dude said “nah mate we cannot let you through you gotta have a visa.” A flurry of emails between the WPFD organisers, and I’m back by the Internet cafe and the guy comes to me and says, “We have found a way to get around the visa thing. Since you are travelling through Germany you won’t be leaving the airport so, abracadabra, you can travel!”I be like, “Dude, that’s what I was telling you all the time!”

I am sitting at the Harare International departure lounge watching some TV and I’m like what the fuck, shouldn’t we be watching DSTV! But then I soon realize it would be deemed treasonous showing such content at a “strategic national treasure!” Somewhere in the distance I can hear “last night a dj saved my life” blasting from the radio and I be like wow, that gotta be some coincidence. I move to another end where I order a pint of lager and I sit in front of a screen showing BBC news.

Arrived in Zambia shortly after 1900hrs but departure was delayed due to some technical fault in the checking system, the pilot explained. Finally left at 2040 PM for Dubai. Bloody long, 5,793km to be exact … check out the entire diary here

Caretaker: Progressio
Deadline: 24 May 2013

(The interested candidates must be between 30-40 years of age, married, be a person of sober habits, honest, trustworthy and a practicing Christian)

Duties and Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Program Assistant, the incumbent will be responsible for the following:
-To undertake handyperson’s duties as outlined below:
-Manning the grounds and surrounding office environment.
-Ensuring the maintenance of a clean office through vacuuming, sweeping, and mopping of floors, emptying all trash bins, cleaning and sanitizing bathrooms and toilets, dusting and cleaning furniture, and ensuring the maintenance of a clean kitchen i.e., ensuring all kitchen utensils are always clean.
-Serving refreshments to staff and visitors.
-Ensuring Organization’s vehicles are clean at all times
-Maintain janitorial equipment in a clean, safe and operable condition
-Maintaining the security of the premises and its contents in accordance with the organization’s current requirements
-Perform any other duties as requested by the immediate supervisor.

Selection Criteria (Knowledge, skills and abilities)
-Good communication and interpersonal skills.
-Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
-Ability to prioritize multiple tasks.
-Ability to work effectively within a team.
-Ability to work independently as needed to support the group effort.

Qualifications
-At least 3 O levels, a very good command of written and spoken English.
-At least one year experience as a gardener, janitor or office assistant.
-Valid Zimbabwean Class 4 Drivers License an added advantage

Please send CVs to tsitsi [at] progressio [dot] org [dot] zw