I felt my stomach drop before my mind had even consciously registered the sound: Sirens. On my way to work this morning, the car I was in had to pull over to let the Presidential motorcade pass. As we waited, we watched the outriders bully cars into various positions. I felt angry with the power they were exerting; and helpless in the face of my own fear: Don’t let them come here.

The motorcade whizzed past, the police drove their motorcycles drove off, and I finally exhaled.

Overall, it was less than five minutes – but it cast a shadow over my whole morning.

If I were president, I’d want my five minute morning encounters with motorists and pedestrians to make the hundreds of people I pass each day feel better -  not worse. Okay, so maybe I wouldn’t dish out candy and flowers every day. But surely the daily show of force and aggression does more harm than good?

Voter registration is a contentious issue in Zimbabwe, with the Registrar General having been responsible for registration, whilst the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission oversees other aspects of elections.

Amidst news stories about an MDC meeting with ZEC, MDC-T and Zanu PF both being critical of voter registration, and the removal of “ghost voters” by ZEC, Kubatana subscribers share their feedback on and criticisms of the voter registration process:

I think the whole process of voter registration need overhaul. ZEC must have voter registration mandate which must be continuous, election observer accreditation & there is need for a clean biometric voters roll. The proof of residence issue must be phased out & the civic groups must be incorporated into ZEC. Mobile voter registration must be given adequate time ensuring that everyone eighteen years & above who want to register to vote have registered. Lastly the cost of the voters roll must be reviewed. - OB

Thanks, but how is voter registration going on, I read there are also insisting on a long birth certificate for voter registration which some of us have already lost sight of, we have IDs , passports but to ask for a birth certificate is ridiculous. The independent media should expose these nefarious activities by the Zanu PF ZEC. - IC

Hey! Need a job? Want to work in the NGO/development sector in Zimbabwe? Check out this ActionAid Consultancy 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

Consultant – Livestock Project baseline
Deadline: 1 May  2013 (5pm)

Location: Harare/Mbire

To Start : 6 May
Contract: 1-2weeks

Purpose of the Position: To carryout baseline for proposed livestock development project in Mbire district

Key Strategic Performance Areas:

• Quantitative and qualitative benchmarks for the    indicators outlined in the log frame.
• Provide business plans for sale pens, abattoir and the tannery.
• Review current practices that contribute to livestock production and marketing looking at the policy/legal framework governing this sector.

A detailed Terms of Reference will be made available to shortlisted candidates.

Minimum Requirements:

Qualifications:
Minimum MSC in the following areas Social science, Agriculture, Veterinary science, with experience in livestock and social science research.

Other Essential Requirements

• Substantial experience in livestock issues, policy analysis and development programming in Southern Africa
• Experience working in rural areas in areas of livelihoods
• Proven experience in livestock business, development, policy analysis and value addition initiatives
• Experience in conducting reviews employing participatory methodologies
• At least 5 years relevant experience in livestock development issues
• Research companies and organizations that might be interested should have the required personnel with requisite skills

Applications:

To apply submit your updated CVs, work plan and detailed budget and at least three referees to The Human Resources and Organizational Development Manager, Action Aid International, 16 York Avenue, Newlands, Harare or jobs.zimbabwe [at] actionaid [dot] org

Closing date: 1st May  2013 at 1700 hours.

NB: Whilst all applicants will be assessed strictly on their individual merits, qualified women are especially encouraged to apply.

Please note: Although we value all applications, we can only respond to short listed candidates.

ActionAid is an international anti-poverty agency working in over 40 countries, taking sides with poor people to end poverty and injustice together.

Independence Day Competition: Make your mark!

Kubatana is offering a prize of $100 for the most creative submission commenting on Independence Day. Submissions can include poetry, prose, a very short film, original art, a design for a sticker that we might take further, a photograph . . . you get the idea. We encourage you to think outside of the box! Don’t be shy, let it all out. A delivery of 33 cupcakes with Zimbabwean flags stuck in them might win our hearts but not The Money – hmmm, you choose!

How?
You can email your submission to: info [at] kubatana [dot] net
If your submission is an unusual shape or size and is impossible to submit over the Interweb, then get in touch on the same email address and we’ll work something out.

Deadline: 26 April, 3pm Kubatana time
Please include your name, and phone number

Econet SMS spam has driven me crazy for a while. Like, do I really need multiple messages from them advertising their products? No. And I also don’t really need messages via them advertising others’ products. I know that I’m not the only one that finds this irritating.

But I just got a text message from Econet reading:

Advertise your products, services or events to registered Econet subscribers through bulk SMS in your chosen areas. Up to 2cents per SMS 0778-915177-9.

A few things came up for me:

1. Who is a registered subscriber? Surely Econet can’t mean anyone who has a registered Econet line (thanks to the Interception of Communications Act, anyone with an Econet line has to register it).
2. If this is some sort of “registered to receive advertisements” subscriber, where is Econet’s opt-in message, where they tell their subscribers about the service and invite them to opt-in?
3. Unsolicited text messages from advertisers to Econet subscribers cost up to two cents – but text messages between friends, colleagues, and relatives who actually know each other, and actually want to hear from one another cost up to 9 cents per SMS. Where’s the customer service in that?

Particularly given the attention customer service got on a recent 263chat, the fact that Econet came up there (and we know they were listening . . .), and their recent data use overcharging blunder, is this really the service Econet should be introducing now?

Personally, I don’t think it’s one they should ever introduce. Unsolicited messages are annoying. When we get them via email, we delete them as spam. Why should our mobile phones be treated any differently – And why should companies be given discounts to send out spam?

I’m Tweeting this to Econet now and inviting them to respond. Others’ comments / responses also very welcome.

Gender Forum Discussion Wednesday: Are Women & Girls Second Class Citizens?

• “Mbare man gets four strokes of a cane for raping and impregnating a deaf and dumb girl of 14″
• “Four Mvuma men get community service for gang raping a 12-year-old.”

A Reflection on Sentencing of Child Rapists – with Girls’ Legacy, Padare, Justice for Children Trust, Childline and legal and child services experts.

Step Forward To Sign A Petition to the Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs!

Where: Book Café, 139 Samora Machel Avenue, Cnr 6th Street, Harare
When: Wednesday 27 March
Time: 5:30 – 7pm