An interview with Farai Maguwu, the director of the Center for Research and Development (CRD).

Could you explain who currently controls the diamond industry in Zimbabwe? How is this source of wealth likely to factor into the upcoming national elections?

The official view is that all mining is done through joint-venture partnerships between the Zimbabwean government and private enterprises. However, in practice there are several private companies involved in mining activities in the Marange diamond field. For instance, the deputy mines minister recently revealed that Anjin Investments, which is by far the biggest diamond mining company in Marange, is controlled 50 percent by the Chinese, 40 percent by the Zimbabwe National Army through its subsidiary company Zimbabwe Defense Industries (ZDI), and 10 percent by another company linked to the army. This militarization of the extractive sector in Zimbabwe, where the generals have become company directors and shareholders on behalf of the government, is extremely worrying.

More from Freedom House

Student Intern: Local NGO
26 July 2012

A local NGO is looking for a student intern to work in the Finance and Administration office.

Qualifications and Skills
-Person must be undergoing a Degree or HND or Diploma in Accountancy or related professional qualification
-Must have excellent written and oral English communication skills
-Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office
-Strong organizing and planning skills
-Must be a self starter and team player
-Works with minimum supervision
-Ability to work under pressure
-Ability to effectively communicate with people of different backgrounds and at different levels
-Honest and hardworking

Those interested should sent their applications and CVs clearly marked Student Intern to:
zwbtc2 [at] gmail [dot] com or send to 43 Hillside Road, Box CR120, Craneborne, Harare

The incumbent should be prepared to start as soon as possible.

Public Health and Hygiene Intern: Africare
Deadline: 31 July 2012 (Close of Business)

Location: Harare based, spending 80% of time in Chitungwiza
Duration of assignment: 10 months, starting end of August 2012

Compensation:  The internship provides a monthly stipend to cater for bus fare to and from work. The Office will provide documentation of the Internship to educational institutions and other appropriate bodies, as needed.

Supervision: The Intern will be directly supervised by the WASH M & E officer based at Africare head office in Harare.

Duties and Responsibilities

To support the Office in implementing the Urban WASH project in Chitungwiza through:
-Registration and verification of project beneficiaries
-Collecting, capturing and analysing data on activities of the different facets of the project
-Collaborating and liaising with city health promoters in the setting up of community and school based health clubs
-To monitor and ensure project adheres to national guidelines and protocols in public health practice
-Developing messages for IEC materials and assist in sourcing such material where out sourcing is involved
-Assisting the M&E/ WASH officer with the facilitation of trainings on public health and hygiene
-Assist with procurement of project materials for rehabilitation of public toilets and rain water harvesting tanks
-Facilitating clean up campaigns by community members
-Writing some articles, features or bulletins on stories of change and assist in visibility of the WASH and Africare’s programs through production of brochures and posters
-Performing other duties as required

Qualifications

Required
-Student pursuing a diploma or degree studies in Water and Sanitation or another related field
-Training in providing public health and hygiene
-The ability to work with vulnerable individuals
-A basic working knowledge of national guidelines and protocols in public health practice
-Fluency in spoken and written English, including excellent English-language writing skills
-The adaptability to work in a multicultural environment
-Ability to take initiative and work under little supervision
-Ability to work under stress and pressure
-Willingness to sometimes work long hours and during weekends

To Apply

Please send an updated CV, a current writing sample (maximum 3 pages), and a cover letter stating your reasons for applying for the internship to: lmlotshwa [at] africare [dot] org   copying   sndlovu [at] africare [dot] org

Please note that only complete applications will be considered and only candidate(s) selected for interviews will be contacted.

Calling all young women’s groups!

Mama Cash is an International Women’s Fund, which supports ambitious feminist and women’s rights organisations and initiatives led by and for women and girls. Mama Cash supports pioneering and innovative women’s initiatives around the world, because she believes that social change starts with women and girls.

As part of our grant making we have dedicated some funds to supporting girl-led initiatives. Therefore, we are calling for Letter of Interest (LOI’s) from girl-led groups that work on the advancement of girl’s and young women’s rights in their communities.

Please note that this call is exclusively open for girl-led groups and programmes (girls under 19).

We are looking for groups/organisation/programmes that are set up and led by girls under the age of 19 and that work at the crossroads of Mama Cash’s Money, Body or Voice Portfolio. Focus issues include: sexual and reproductive health and rights, sexuality and gender norms, (gender based) violence, economic justice, natural resource rights, land/property/inheritance rights, fundamentalism, labour rights, political participation and issues of women in militaristic environments.

For a full description on focus areas and priorities, grant making criteria and more information on the application process, please visit our website at www.mamacash.org or contact Lara van Kouterik, Programme Officer Voice at: l.vankouterik [at] mamacash [dot] nl

How true is this.

Maybe I’m a dreamer, but I wish mental health care were as easy to get as, say, a gun.
- a tweet from Andy Borowitz

I want to hear raucous music, to see faces, to brush against bodies, to drink fiery benedictine. Beautiful women and handsome men arouse fierce desires in me. I want to dance. I want drugs. I want to know perverse people, to be intimate with them. I never look at naive faces. I want to bite into life, and to be torn by it. – Anais Nin