Poetry by Freedom T.V. Nyamubaya, featured on Poetry International.

A Mysterious Marriage

Once upon a time
A boy and girl were
Forced to leave their home
By armed robbers.
The boy was Independence
The girl was Freedom.
While fighting back, they got married.

After the big war they went back home.
Everybody prepared for the wedding.
Drinks and food abounded,
Even the disabled felt able.
The whole village gathered waiting,
Freedom and Independence
Were more popular than Jesus.

Independence came
But Freedom was not there.
An old woman saw Freedom’s shadow passing
Through the crowd, leaving by the gate.
All the same, they celebrated Independence.

Independence is now a senior bachelor.
Some people still talk about him,
Others take no notice.
A lot still say it was a fake marriage.
You can’t be a husband without a wife.
Fruitless and barren, Independence staggers to old age.
Leaving her shadow behind,
Freedom has never returned.

Mysterious Marriages Continued

After the mysterious disappearance
Freedom still not found
We can’t say she is dead
No evidence of her whereabouts
Police tired of investigating
Probably they need a bribe
For something to start happening.

Now we hear of the newly weds
I’m not sure who married who
Whether Morgan married Robert
Or Robert married Morgan
Maybe they married each other

Somebody is optimistic
These days anything can be legalised
If only you fight for it

A couple of years ago there was a similar marriage
Zipra and Zanla got married
And became Mr and Mrs ZIPA
ZIMBABWE PEOPLE’S ARMY
The two were madly in love
But their parents hated each other
The next thing we heard was an out-of-court
settlement
The reason being simple: They spent most
Of the time trying to outwit each other

As the elephants continue fighting
The grass and twigs suffer heavy casualties

In Mt Darwin, Mashonaland Central, it was a question of choice
Do you want long sleeves or short
This is not about buying at Edgars
It’s a hand cut off voting for your choice
Freedom is not allowed in this country

In Mutoko, Mashonaland East, suspected youth sell-outs
Pay between two goats and a herd of cattle to base managers
Or risk disappearing
This is usually after their buttocks have turned to minced meat

In Chegutu, Mashonaland West, as we speak
One white couple three children two dogs one cat and a maid
Spent the whole day frog-jumping in their underwear
For not accepting the rule of looting
That normally happens just before harvest
In Matabeleland nobody wants to talk about it,
Gukurahundi,
Some people may have to change their names
When freedom comes

In Mutare
Helicopters hover over diamond panners in Chiadzwa
2000 dead. Nobody gives a damn
Diamonds are for members of the politburo only

Whether its Robert or Morgan
Each can be two sides of the same coin
Freedom may remain a myth
Until we claim it

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Ten (10) Enumerators: CARE International in Zimbabwe
Deadline: 14 November 2013

Duty Station: Mberengwa (7) and Chivi (3)
Position Code: STA-E13

Job summary
CARE International in Zimbabwe is inviting applications for Enumerator positions that have arisen in one of its projects.  The incumbent will be responsible for facilitating participatory community based village targeting and registration in selected wards. S/he will also be responsible for the following:

Duties and responsibilities
-Coordinate community public meeting in assigned wards
-Coordinating with local leaders, appraise community members on the registration criterion and other key considerations necessary to complete the ranking process
-Guide community members in the conduct of village mapping
-Compile beneficiary profiles and other necessary data required for the completion of the household register in the order of priority
-Provide feedback to communities and conduct household visits to ascertain accuracy and eligibility of registered households
-Submit manual registers for computerization

Qualifications, skills and experience
-At least 2 A level passes
-Ability to communicate in vernacular languages (Shona and/or Ndebele)
-Ability and experience working in a communal environment and working with rural communities
-Applicants must be residents in the respective duty stations

To apply
Interested and suitably qualified applicants should submit application letters together with updated Curriculum Vitae by Thursday 14 November 2013 quoting the position code on the subject for e-mail applications to:

Human Resources Manager
(STA-E13) CARE International in Zimbabwe
8 Ross Avenue
Belgravia
Harare

Or email: vacancies [at] carezimbabwe [dot] org

Two (2) positions: Local Welfare Organization
Deadline: 15 November 2013

A local Welfare Organization is looking for suitably qualified candidates to fill the two (2) positions listed below. The persons should be able to commence work on 01 December 2013 and both positions will on a Fixed Term Contracts basis for the period 01 December 2013 to 31 October 2014. The successful candidates would be required to obtain a Police Clearance Report:

1) Nurse – RGN

Person specification
-Registered General Nurse Diploma
-Diploma in Counseling
-Training in HIV/AIDS Management
-Highly knowledgeable in Opportunistic Infection Drugs
-Strong Report Writing Skills
-Computer literate
-Class four (4) Driving License
-3 Years post qualification experience
-Mature, 30 years and above

Key job specification
-Developing and Implementing HIV/AIDS Management interventions
-Providing Nursing Care to targeted beneficiaries
-Providing counseling to targeted beneficiaries
-Producing Project Progress Reports

2) Social Worker

Person specification
-First degree in Social Work/Community Development
-Must have a Certificate in counseling
-Knowledge of HIV/AIDS
-Computer literate
-Class four (4) Driving License
-A minimum of 2years experience
-Mature, 30 years and above
-Good communication and problem solving skills

Key job specification
-Assessing, developing and implementing interventions for targeted beneficiaries
-Facilitating implementation, Supervising and guiding Community Based Income Generating Projects (IGPs) Ø    Rendering integrated social services to families with emphasis on empowerment and development
-Assisting targeted beneficiaries in acquiring identity documents (e.g. Birth/Death Certificates and National Identity Cards)
-Networking with the relevant institutions and stakeholders
-Producing Projects Reports

To apply
If interested reply via email: mashambanzoumail [a] mashambanzou [dot] co [dot] zw or bring your CVs and application letter to 40 Sundown Road, Waterfalls, Harare by Friday 15, November 2013.

Government’s announcement that it would be taking down “illegal structures” around the country, and the demolition of tuck shops in Ruwa last week, was met with criticism from many actors, including Kubatana’s subscribers. This week, the Ministry of Local Government and the City of Harare have begun to distance themselves from these plans.

With good reason – This ironic “Letter to Gogo” from a Kubatana subscriber puts the issue very well:

Nhamo Primary School
Box 100% Poverty
Uzumba

Dear Grandmother

I am happy to tell you that bhora mugedhi has started its operations in Harare.

The little I was sending you from my tuck shop is no more. If all goes well, I will lose my job through the employment creation and empowerment scheme on the table.

I will let you know the progress in due course.

Yours in poverty,
Tichafa

In Harare police have taken to setting up informal road blocks in places that cause congestion. I say informal because there is seldom any warning that one is approaching such a road block – unless backed up traffic counts as notification. There are no police signs anywhere to be seen.

Armed (and it’s no accident I use this word) with a lime green reflective vest and a receipt book, police in Harare camp out at comfortable locations and fund raise for themselves. Official fines are seldom raised, tickets seldom issued, but money certainly changes hands.

If the police force has any commitment to public safety or public good they should institute a system whereby reflective vests emblazoned with ‘POLICE’ and receipt books used to record fines should be strictly controlled – as one would weapons.

Ask anyone and they will confirm that crime in the capital is on the up. Gone is the quiet thief who strikes whilst you’re out or asleep. Common is the brazen thief who wants to catch you unawares at your home or carjack you on the road. They can be brazen because the police force has little interest in Real Policing.

Two current favourite policing activities are:

a) Stopping kombis (privately run transport operators) on any pretense and delaying them long enough to secure a bribe. Usually the driver will get out of his car, walk back to the police officer, shake his/her hand and start to negotiate.

b) Stopping cars on behalf of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation’s licensing inspectors.

In both of these scenarios, the police have no interest in using this opportunity to check that a driver is licensed to be at the wheel, or that the vehicle is roadworthy. As long as you have a Radio Licence or will pay a bribe, you can drive a vehicle!

I think the collective term for police has traditionally been a ‘posse’ or something similar. These days it would be more apt to pick from one of the following:

An obstruction of police
A huddle of police
A den of police
A swagger of police

Given the destruction of illegal structures which began in Ruwa this week, and the Ministry of Local Government’s take that they are actually trying to protect people, we asked our subscribers for their perspective on the demolition of illegal structures, and what they were seeing on the ground. This is some of their feedback:

• Destruction of homes is inhuman with the crisis faced by people now, and in the rainy season. Some people are ruthless. I am not affected yet.
• Yes, I am affected by the destruction of homes. It is not good, we are left homeless.
• Here in Norton nothing much.
• They must first provide shelter then destroy. If they destroy now, where are they going to stay? Too bad.
• Nothing has happened yet in Chitungwiza butpeople have been warned. But this time we are going to fight back because this is politics. We have been allocated these stands by council and some buying from registered cooperatives. Chitown council approved these stands but today Zanu PF wants to destroy them.
• Tsunami again
• Ndiyo inonzi bhora mugedhi akomona. Let us not be more worried about these people whose houses and tuck shops are being destroyed by Murambatsvina. They are the same people who voted Zanu PF, it is again an eye opener. They forgot Murambatsvina yekuma2005. Hazvititadzise kudya sadza.
• This destruction is killing people. If for the bet they have to build houses for people and market places or give people stands.
• Murambatsvina 2 ma 1. But here in rural Chipinge hatisati taiona. Keep on updating us.
• It is so touching that the authorities let people build and then at last they say it is illegal so togarepi nhayi Havana tsitsi nesu shuwa.
• I have not yet seen this, I’m in Mutare. As soon as zvangosvika we will let you know.
• This move is wrongly timed and what is the solution since our economy is down, those tuck shops are sustaining lives for many Zimbabweans.
• This is nuisance and those affected should retaliate
• Buhera RDC abolished illegal vendors within the growth point, a public notice of one month. The vendors were a menace polluting and evading tax shrinking council revenue.
• These are the same people who gave us these so called illegal stands before the elections and now they want to divide the population again and drive people back to their strong holds namely rural areas. It’s wrong.
• I think all Zimbabweans must unite and demonstrate against Zanu PF plan because if we cannot show them true colour they think that is in good direction.
• Shanties bad but planning important.
• I am not affected by this but this is not fair. Where are those people going to stay. Zvavarikushandisa pakuputsa zvadii zvashandiswa pakukudevelopa. Marod akafa, magetsi arikunetsa. Hurumende ngaisada kutambudza vanhu ichidaro.
• Hey, I wonder what was that same minister doing when he allowed erection of illegal structures for the past years. Wasn’t he looting people’s money from such illegal land allocation? The so-called Mr Weapon is so wrong cause I don’t see any reason why he take such a stance as if when such activities were happening. I feel pity for those who will be affected.
• I am not affected but I foresee some disaster. A real crisis. Rise in rentals. Invasion of some neighbouring farms or forests just like the Hopley case. Ma1.And this will be disorder by trying to put order. I believe remedies should be done at appropriate times. My bigger question is why did they allow this to take place for the past years if they knew it was not apt?
• Report frm the ground; vagari vemaseke vanogara munharaunda dzinoti Murisa,kuora,chitsvatsva and kaseke varikuchema chaizvo mushure mekunge pabhuda nyaya yekuputsirwa dzimba varikuti ivo havasi kuzorega kusungisa avo vakavatengesera.apo vakapihwa piriod ye7days kuti vapaze dzimba idzi nekumira kuvaka bt as for nw hapana ati apaza.vamwe vevatengesi veland iyi varikutiza munyika nekuti havasisina mari yekudzosera varidzi they were nt investing they just buy car’s 2 cover there povart.
•  Hie i’m from ruwa.the destruction of tuckshops happened and it was bad, but now people still sell here tuckshops were destroyed, but now in open space
• Yes the destruction of homes & tuckshops has begun. Yes i’m really affected though not direct bcoz my relatives and friends ar suffering as a result of this  second phase of murambatsvina/vanhu. It is very painful and a great lose to all investments done by the pple only to be destroyed within some seconds by the notorious zanu pf. Im experiencing the ongoing suffering of the zimbabweans & th highest level criminal activities being enforced by this government. We ar now experiencing a bad system of governance.   I think pple should unite and stand up.