Work in and for Zimbabwe. Help grow our nation. Check out the vacancies below. If you’d like to receive this sort of information, as well as civic and human rights updates, by email each week drop us a note saying “subscribe” to info [at] kubatana [dot] net

Please note that the job vacancies we carry are related to the NGO and civil society sectors only.

Advocacy And Networking Officer: Local NGO
Deadline: 30 November 2012

Basic Function
The Advocacy and Networking Officer will be part of a team implementing the Organisation’s Public Advocacy, policy based Advocacy, Campaigns and other programs, as well as maintaining and increasing the Coalitions network density.

Terms Of Reference
-Assist with the Development and implementation of lobby and advocacy strategies to achieve the organisations objects.
-Lead and Participate in the planning and organisation of key Public and Policy based advocacy initiatives.
-Participate in the development and implementation of campaigns around the organisations key objectives.
-Together with other officers assist with the strategic public positioning of the organisation.
-Take responsibility for the servicing and maintenance of the organisations networks and strategic linkages with varied stakeholders, including members.
-Assisting with designing advocacy tools for use in the organisations work and regional and advocacy work.
-Engaging in the full cycle of project development and implementation – from conceptualisation and writing to reporting and evaluation.
-Assisting with the production of in-house organizational publications

Selection Factors
1) Education: Possession of relevant University Degree (Social Science or Law degree’s preferable), certification in projects management, an added advantage. (20 points)
2) Prior Work Experience: 2 years expirience with project implementation and management work in an advocacy field. Previous expirience with implementing campaigns is desirable. (30 points)
3) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (50 points):
Language Proficiency: High profiency levels of written and spoken English is required. Fluency in other national languages is an advantage.

Knowledge
Candidates must possess a thorough knowledge, and understanding of lobby and advocacy work at various levels. Knowledge on managing value-based projects will be an asset. Candidates must also demonstrate a clear knowledge and understanding of political developments in Zimbabwe and the region. Knowledge of and belief in Democracy and Good governance as well as the ability to interpret various developments using these frameworks is a must for candidates for this position. An understanding of political transitions is also desirable.

Abilities and Skills
Candidates for this position must possess the ability to think outside the box/creatively and possess demonstrable networking and communication skills at various levels. Candidates with organising and or mobilising skills will be considered favourably. Project management skills and abilities will be a key factor in considering successful candidates. Candidates for this position must be effective communicators, with clear thought leadership abilities. Ability to lead and participate in teams will be a considered as part of the selcetion process.

To Apply
Please read this section carefully and follow the instructions closely. Interested applicants must address all the above qualifications in their application. An application should be addressed to the Finance & Administration Manager and include:

1. An application letter, detailing how the applicant meets the above minimum qualifications. Please type your response to each item, e.g Education, and state how you meet the requirement. Failure to do so will result in you not being shortlisted. Your letter must address each of the qualifications listed above.
2. A current resume relevant to the position (no more than 2 pages)

Relevant documentation supporting the minimum requirements listed above should be available upon request, if called for an interview, but do not have to be attached to the application.

Selection Process: The Organisation will screen and short-list the most promising candidates for the above stated positions. Short listed candidates will be invited to an interview process, which may include an oral, and/or written exercises to test knowledge and skills.

Please Note: The Organisation will not be able to contact all applicants.

Please follow these instructions for submission
Please submit email applications via email to: vacanciesopen [at] gmail [dot] com
Position being applied for must be clearly marked as the subject of the email.
Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

Take me to your trees. Take me to your breakfasts, your sunsets, your bad dreams, your shoes, your nouns. Take me to your fingers.
- Margaret Atwood, Good Bones

Work in and for Zimbabwe. Help grow our nation. Check out the vacancies below. If you’d like to receive this sort of information, as well as civic and human rights updates, by email each week drop us a note saying “subscribe” to:   info [at] kubatana [dot] net

Please note that the job vacancies we carry are related to the NGO and civil society sectors only.

Three (3) positions: Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA)
Deadline: 23 November 2012

Start date will be immediate

Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) is one of the leading organizations working in mine action worldwide.  70 countries are affected by landmines, cluster munitions and other Explosive Remnants of War, NPA works in 28 of them. NPA is starting a new mine action programme to be based in Mutare, Zimbabwe and is looking for dynamic people to join the organization.

Recruitment is currently being conducted for the following positions:

1) Supervisor

Reports to: Operations Manager
Location: Mutare
Start Date: Immediate
End Date: 31.12.2012

General Description: The Supervisor is responsible for daily management of operational tasks assigned to his/her group.

Duties and Responsibilities

Operations
-Conduct and supervise non technical survey, technical survey and demining activities
-Carry out the operational activities according to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
-Make sure the team leaders, surveyors and deminers comply with their duties and responsibilities and work according to the SOPs
-Produce the operational plan according to the tasks given
-Make sure the information is recorded correctly
-Establish good relations with Local Authorities, Local Communities, Non Governmental Organizations and other stakeholders in the area of operation

Reporting
-Submit non technical and technical survey reports as well as clearance and other operational reports to the Operations Manager
-Submit monthly progress reports with respective maps to the Operations Manager
-Provide updated information regarding operations and personnel to the Operations Manager

Other tasks
-Brief the visitors
-Look into all aspects concerning discipline and well fare of personnel under his/her responsibility
-Make sure the field personnel is highly motivated and cooperate with one another
-Other tasks assigned by the Operations Manager

2) Survey Assistant

Reports to: Supervisor
Location: Mutare
Start Date: Immediate
End Date: 31.12.2012

General Description: The Survey Assistant is responsible for gathering the information regarding the areas contaminated by mines, ERW and sub-munitions and their socio-economic impact on affected communities.

Duties and Responsibilities

Operations
-Conduct survey interviews and record the information
-Identify the target groups and assess the socio-economic impact on the affected population
-Give Mine Risk Education to the affected population as a part of the survey task
-Mark the identified suspect mined areas
-Conduct the survey task according to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
-Know the medical evacuation procedures

Reporting
Produce survey reports with respective maps and submit them to the Supervisor

Other tasks
Other tasks assigned by the Supervisor

Skills Requirements
-Demining background preferably with survey experience
-Ability to communicate effectively with the local community

3) Paramedic

Reports to: Medical Coordinator
Location: Mutare
Start Date: Immediate
End Date: 31.12.2012

General Description: The Paramedic is responsible for the medical assistance in the field and must be always prepared for any accident involving NPA Mine Action personnel and if necessary follow the patient to the hospital or clinic in case of a medical evacuation.

Duties and Responsibilities

Medical evacuation (medevac)
-Plan and coordinate the medical evacuation procedures
-Make sure the trauma kit is always complete

Hygiene and health care
-Make sure a high standard of hygiene is maintained in the field camps and operation site
-Provide medical assistance to NPA MA staff in the field

Personnel
-Open personal files medical for the staff in the field team and record all information medical personal information (sicknesses, treatments etc)
-Assist the team leaders and supervisors to keep good relations and a good psychological atmosphere with the team (eg Moral support, psychological interviews etc.)

Reporting
-Provide the Medical Coordinator with monthly reports and incident reports
-Submit the documents regarding treatment of staff and others to the Medical Coordinator

Other tasks
Other tasks assigned by the Medical Coordinator

To apply, please write a full CV with traceable references and submit by email to marionu [at] npaid [dot] org and sheilam [at] npaid [dot] org

NPA is an equal opportunity employer and women are strongly encouraged to apply.

From the diary of Chris Magadza:

Chris Magadza, Zimbabwean poet and academic, shares his experiences during a research road trip with a group of students.

Saturday
Leaving for Hwange with my Master’s class of four; an eight-hundred-kilometre drive. As the vehicle is not an off-road 4×4, I have to take the Bulawayo route, otherwise we could cut the trip by going via Binga, reducing the journey by some 300 km. Arrived 4:30 p.m., averaging 110 km per hour, including fuelling and toilet stops. Caught doing 135 km per hour!  Traffic officer demurred to my age and advised safe driving. Sometimes it pays not to shave.

Sunday
Went on the Dopi Loop in the morning recording animals, temperature, humidity and coordinates; Nyamandhlovu viewing platform in the afternoon. First time students had seen any wild animals. A noticeable number of newly born and yearlings, elephant babies among the herds. Many pictures with my new GE camera; can take good pictures at more than 200m.

Monday
Student Z had generously urinated all over the toilet seat and on the floor. When I shouted at him, he just smiled. Went the Central road transect towards Robin Camp for 48km counting animals; more elephants seen than any other mammalian species; evidence of elephant damage on vegetation quite visible? One horned kudu at Guvalala Pumped Waterhole and magnificent sable bull. Visited Painted Dog Project Centre. Greg almost as short as me now after his air-crash operation! Had to wait an hour before evening shower since Student Z had emptied all the hot water to have a full bath.

Tuesday
The three male students slept until 11 a.m., in spite of an assignment given the evening before. So much for supposedly post-graduate ecology students; definitely the worst class I’ve had in my teaching career. No wonder everyone refers to University of Zimbabwe students now as ‘vana vechikoro’ . . .  schoolchildren.

Wednesday
Male students kicked out of bed by cleaning lady at 10:30 a.m. Left for Harare at 11:30 a.m. Home 8:30 p.m. Young police officer asks for my driving license at the Gwayi roadblock. ‘Do you think at my age (almost 73) I would be driving a university vehicle without a driver’s licence?’ He then demanded to see it. He walked round the vehicle and then ordered me to park off road and walked off with my licence. After a minute, I went to ask why he was detaining us. He signalled me to a young lady officer who was already writing something down.
“What are you writing?” I asked.
“A ticket” she said menacingly.
“What for?” I asked.
“Your left-side rear-view mirror is missing.”
“What does the law say about rear-view mirrors?”
“But you have a missing mirror.”
“How many mirrors must I have?”
“That is the law”
“The law says I must have a rear-view mirror. If you would like to check, there is a rear-view mirror mounted in the car.”
“But you must have all the mirrors the car was made with.”
“I drive a car Reg. AAM 9735 that was made with no left-hand side rear-view mirror. Is that an offence?”
“Just go, but someone will arrest you.”

Driving against opposing night traffic when most drivers don’t dim their headlights is quite nerve-wracking. It’s fine not being able to dim your headlights, or having no signals, or lights for that matter!

Thursday
Dorothy rang: Borrowdale vleis fight; the greed and corruption of Zimbabwean politicians makes one feel you are perpetually swimming in urine; all for double storey, multi-multi-bedroomed mansions, as well as the biggest Mercedes in the world – possessions that in no way contribute to the economy of the land. Have to give talk at Harare Rotary but can’t remember venue.

Friday
Eventful start; nearly run over by own car, knocked down by door trying to stop it rolling back; stopped by smashing Irene’s potted plant, fortunately large enough to stop the car. Have to write to Vice Chancellor explaining why the Red Bishop and Masked Weaver need reeds to breed; he has been ordering the them cut down as well as a host of trees, some planted more than 50 years ago by founding professor of Botany Arthur Boughey, according the Bentham-Hooker systematics scheme. Also, must prepare annual report for WEZ for Saturday AGM.

Source: Poetry International

I have been bugging over the past few days, imagining and re-imagining the olive leaf Tsvangirai says he will extend to Zanu PF “moderates” when he assumes power. It appears to be a given that he will saunter into State House in the coming polls, never mind the doomsayers in the form of Freedom House.

But then Zanu PF does not think it is about to hand over the keys to anyone: Mugabe and his curious motley of Afro-optimists who nevertheless many say double as inveterate political misanthropes are firmly convinced Zanu PF will win.

It strikes me as kowtowing to the politics of meaningless appeasement when Tsvangirai says he will not hesitate to co-opt favoured Zanu PF officials into his perceived government. What is he saying about the men and women within the MDC-T who have dedicated their lives to unseating Zanu PF?  Are they less skilled in “statecraft,” to borrow from his own secretary general? And he would still have to be answerable to Zimbabweans who sprung him to power having these Zanuoids in his cabinet, that is if his own lieutenants allow it to happen.

If MT is surely sincere about this thing, I call it a thing because that’s what it is, he only pays into the hands of critics who say, he along with his top officials, remain Zanu PF at heart despite all pretence to the contrary, and we know such critics only have to point to what they see as his fabulous spending habits that only seeks to keep up with Zanu PF profligacy.

There is no one to appease in Zanu PF period. The only appeasing is the one he mentioned about appeasing the gods over the blood of pro-democracy activists!

The masses trust the MDC-T with their vote because of the promise of re-birth, of restoring Zimbabwe’s UDI economic juggernaut the same MDC-T policy czars love referring to but was decimated by Zanu PF.

Come on, this is politics, appointing Zanu PF officials into an MDC government is not only political folly of the highest order considering the fact that we know how the same people have plundered state resources to finance their political party activities, but we already know Zanu PF will never respond in like magnanimity in the event Mugabe beats Tsvangirai!

This is African politics for fuck’s sake where there has been cyclical abysmal failure to transplant “the US model of democracy” on the continent despite all evidence of parallel governments being run by the frivolous coalitions that defeat the whole concept of a truly bipartisan regime.

Perhaps MT has been misquoted, perhaps like Gabriel Shumba on the formation of his political party a few years ago, he was only joking, but this ain’t no laughing matter as he seems too eager to win over some Zanu PF folks, perhaps as his own political strategy that if he has them on their side, the military and other Zanu PF spoilers are kept in check?

Perhaps he needs to re-read the history of African politics and he will find that this fantasy will turn out to be a petard that will blow up on his already perforated face.