Conclusions from the Youth Agenda’s First Time Voters Training Camp.

1. The young people of Zimbabwe will tirelessly work towards resisting any machinations by the state machinery to subvert the will of the youths and the broader Zimbabwean society through the state sponsored technical and political frustration of young people to register as eligible voters. A declaration was made that with immediate effect youths will go back to their provinces and forthwith engage in a mass identification, recruitment and mobilisation of young voters in endeavors to chat a democratic dispensation for the country

2. Youths are fully aware of the political risks they will be exposed to as they execute their constitutional mandate of encouraging the broader societies to proclaim their right to vote and choose political leaders through popular participation and a democratic process. Youth Agenda Trust was mandated to set up networks with relevant institutions that offer social solidarity, legal aid, medical aid and psychosocial counseling to affected young people.

3. The state media remains partisan, unprofessional and irrelevant in disseminating crucial information to young people on the voting process. It was noted that the state media continues to be the epicentre of hate speech, indoctrination, intolerance and the instigation of political violence amongst young Zimbabweans. The youths resolved to set up a parallel political information programme that will flood the social media, mobile networks, print media, electronic media and community information centres that will act as the hub of informing and educating Zimbabweans on the electoral process and peaceful conduct during and after elections.

4. The camp resolved that young people will participate in the forthcoming elections  as candidates, election observers, to monitor the tabulation and transmission of election results and to mobilize Zimbabweans to a  peaceful action program that rejects any 2013 electoral outcome that is against the democratic will of Zimbabweans as expressed through the electoral process.

TOR for Consultant for the Revision of the Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association Financial Procedures Manual
Deadline: 23 November 2012

Background
ZWLA is a registered non- governmental organization of  women lawyers which was established in 1996. The organization has grown since its establishment and it now runs  a number of  programs  which are managed by different officers. ZWLA also has a regional office in Bulawayo. ZWLA had an accounting manual which was last reviewed in 2003. Due to  the  rapid change in our economy and the  change in currency and unprecented levels of inflation world over  there is  need to review and update our financial policies , so that we are in compliance with International accounting standards. There is also need to ensure that throughout ZWLA there are adequate financial management systems in place both at Head Office and the regional office.

Objective
To review the existing financial policies and procedures manual of ZWLA and develop improved processes to ensure that the overall financial management system of ZWLA is clearly documented, strengthened and robust.

ZWLA  will contract the services of a consultant with proven experience in reviewing the Financial procedures manual.

Scope of work
Carry out an assessment of the existing financial management system, procedures and practices and identify gaps and areas which may require improvement and strengthening.

The following steps have to be carried out consequent to this:
- Familiarize themselves with current ZWLA Financial Policies & ZWLA  programmes
- Liase with ZWLA  , auditors, members, staff , Finance and Audit committee  Board
- Ensure a participatory process in coming up with the revised policies and procedures
- Put in place the necessary procedures, practices and training to fill capacity gaps and strengthen the Financial systems
- Facilitate the training of staff members and or board on the new policies and procedures

Duration and Placement
The contract period is from   22 November  2012 to  29 November 2012

Payment Terms
The consultant will be remunerated by ZWLA  and will work a total of 7 days

Deliverables
- An Inception report
- A revised Financial Policies & Procedures Manual
- Training workshop for staff on the new policies and procedures manual and report of the same

Supervision
The consultant will report to the Chairperson of the Finance and Audit Committee but work closely with the Finance Officer who will be their contact person within the organization

Qualifications & Experience required
- An Accounting Degree/Professional Qualification in Accounting/Finance
- A minimum of  five  (5) years of relevant work experience
- Previous experience in the setup/review of Financial Systems for NGOs

Disclaimer
The material arising from the contract shall be the property of ZWLA  and cannot be used without expressed written consent by ZWLA.

Applications
Please email: emilia@zwla.co.zw or laizam@zwla.co.zw or deliver hard copies to ZWLA, 17 Fife Avenue, Harare.

The Paris Review: Raymond Carver’s OkCupid profile, as edited by Gordon Lish.

I’ve just come across some shocking statistics on Zimbabwe’s road traffic safety – or lack thereof. According to Transport, Communications and Infrastructure Development Minister Nicholas Goche:

In Zimbabwe there are 28 deaths per every 10 000 registered vehicles and there is a traffic collision every 15 minutes with an average of 45 people getting injured per day while on average five people are killed per day.

That’s right. An average of five people are killed per day on Zimbabwe’s roads. If 5 people per day were dying in political violence, there would be an outcry. SADC would be sending negotiators, the media would be covering events, and the responsible parties would be facing international censure.

But when it’s all of us, on our own roads, driving badly, it’s acceptable?

After facing years of persecution and harassment, members of the Church of the Province of Central Africa in Zimbabwe can now pray with both eyes closed after winning property ownership in the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe. The highest court of appeal in Zimbabwe has ruled that rightful ownership of Anglican Church assets belongs to the faction led by Bishop Chad Gandhiya and the CPCA.

Part of the Judgement delivered by Justice Omerjee at the Supreme Court reads:

“When one leaves a club one does not take its property with him or her. It has long been established as a salutary principle of law in this area of property ownership that when one or more people secede from an existing Church, they have no right to claim Church property even if those who remain members of the congregation are in the minority.”

Now what that looting and plundering has been put to a halt what remains to be seen is whether the ex-communicated Bishop and his followers will face the same fate of beatings and teargas by the police as they conduct services at the gates of the properties they once seized.