ZANU PF’s 13th National People’s Conference held in Gweru pulls the curtain down on some of the major political highlights of 2012. The conference, which was declared a resounding success, came up with resolutions, setting the tone for elections in 2013.

Among some of the resolutions which may come as sweet to music the ears of those who have been carrying illegal mining activities is the resolution to decriminalize gold panning.

At the People’s Conference, the party has resolved to “spearhead the decriminalisation of mining operations undertaken by the gold panners (“makorokoza”) and implores Government to give them mining licences so that they operate lawfully”.

This resolution falls under National Economy Indigenising & Empowerment. Call it electioneering strategy or whatever you like but soon running battles with the police under “Operation Chikorokoza Chapera” will be a thing of the past as panners will be awarded with licenses to legitimize their operations.

Recently MDC came up with JUICE for the electorate. Since JUICE is just on paper ZANU PF was not to be outdone with paper strategies of the other parties but promised real papers to legitimatize the illegal activity of gold panning. Well to a young person with the potential to put an X in the next ballot maybe the resolution fell short of also decriminalizing diamond panning.

Desperation is the raw material of drastic change. Only those who can leave behind everything they have ever believed in can hope to escape.
- William S. Burroughs

Marketing & Communications Manager: Africa Centre for Holistic Management (ACHM)
Deadline: 15 January 2013

Position Summary
ACHM’s Marketing & Communications Manager is responsible for developing and managing a marketing and communications plan that results in increased participation in ACHM’s programmes and profit-making activities, and sufficient revenue to keep the organisation growing in quality, influence and impact. Make presentations, manage, identify and coordinate activities at marketing platforms nationally, and at key exhibitions regionally. Work with the ACHM team to develop an understanding of our activities on the ground and in turn assist them to explain those activities meaningfully. Identify, approach and follow up on potential fundraising opportunities that are in line with ACHM’s core focus.

ACHM is an award-winning organization that is restoring land to health while enhancing livelihoods (and profits) and reducing conflict. We seek a mature, dynamic, results-orientated individual with passion who values working in a learning organization.

Key Challenge
To develop and implement a successful marketing strategy for ACHM’s business ventures and a communications strategy that will make ACHM and its land and water restoration efforts well known in Zimbabwe and the Region

Supervisor:  Executive Director

Required Qualifications & Work Experience
-BSc Degree or higher in Marketing, Journalism, or related field
-A minimum of five years work experience in leading marketing, communications, and public relations efforts
-Experience in making presentations, co-ordinating and facilitating meetings
-Experience in social media marketing and communications
-International work experience
-Knowledge of Holistic Management a plus; commitment to gaining it essential

Required Skills
-Ability to develop and lead the implementation of a successful marketing and communications strategy or plan
-Results orientation; ability to close on sales
-Outstanding public speaking and presentation skills
-Excellent writing skills in English
-Leadership, organizational and interpersonal skills
-Proficiency in website management and updating
-Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
-Fluency in Ndebele

Preferred Qualifications
-Knowledge and experience of proposal development a plus
-Fluency in Nambya, Tonga & Shona a plus

Duties & Responsibilities
1. Lead and manage ACHM’s marketing and communications efforts
a. Oversee production of advertising and communication information materials.
b.  Develop a program to improve the dissemination of Africa Centre’s work to national, regional and international communities.
c.  Work closely with organisation’s various sections to understand activities on the ground to create accurate feedback to stakeholders at all levels (communities, Trustees, Scientific Liaison Committee, NGO partners throughout the region, and local, regional and international donors and funding agencies) through speaking assignments, written materials (brochures, flyers, newsletters, quarterly reports, editorials and articles for relevant media etc), and social media (website, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc).
2. Liaise with funding organizations locally, regionally and internationally and follow up communications and opportunities for funding of our core programme.

Organizational Responsibilities
-Build the skill base in marketing and communications within the senior management team, so they can in turn enhance the knowledge and skills of their staff
-Produce regular reports for the Executive Director (monthly), Donors (quarterly), Trustees (quarterly) and other key stakeholders (as needed).

Application Process
ACHM is an equal opportunity employer. Salary and benefits are commensurate with experience.

For consideration, please email a cover letter, C.V. and references to:
hmatanga [at] achmonline [dot] org with a copy to: ejanuary [at] achmonline [dot] org

For more information on the Africa Centre for Holistic Management visit:
www.achmonline.org

Quote of the day from The Dish:

“In French, one can say Je suis seul (I am alone) or Je me sens seul (I feel alone), but nothing as baldly distressing as ‘I am lonely’ or ‘I am lonesome.’ Or, even worse, ‘I am a loner.’ My first poems were often about loneliness. My father was a military man and my brothers were athletes, so I was always looking for a different way to be a man. To look inward and explore the darker corners of the soul is one of the functions of the lyric poem. I think immediately of Hopkins, whose poems I love. I hate having to apologize for, or defend, inwardness. It was the American poet Marianne Moore who said that solitude was the cure for loneliness, but if I spend too much time alone, I am called égoïste, or selfish. Surely, it is impossible to be a writer without being égoïste,” – Henri Cole.

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.

Director, Ecumenical Peace Observation Initiative in Zimbabwe
Deadline: Close of Business on 21 December 2012

The Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) comprising the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, The Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches seek a suitably qualified person to be Director for its Ecumenical Peace Observation Initiative in Zimbabwe (EPOIZ).

EPOIZ Director Responsibilities
-Provide oversight, monitor and co-ordinate EPOIZ work
-Plan EPOIZ work in consultation with Justice & Peace departments of the three ecumenical umbrella bodies (EFZ, ZCBC & ZCC)
-Supervise programme officers and other EPOIZ staff
-Conduct research and advise EPOIZ Board on relevant action
-Facilitate regional and international advocacy by ecumenical bodies and ensure accreditation with relevant regional bodies
-Identify, negotiate and liaise with development partners
-Represent EPOIZ in meetings and engage government on national peace-building issues
-Report to, and advise, the ZHOCD Executive on the performance of the organization
-Any other duties as assigned by the ZHOCD Executive.

Required Qualifications
-A Masters Degree from a recognised university in a relevant field
-Five years experience in peace-building and conflict transformation or a related field
-Detailed knowledge of the peace and conflict transformation dynamics in Zimbabwe and the Southern Africa region
-A professional qualification and not less than two years experience in middle or senior management
-Excellent analytical, organizational and computer skills; skilled in MS Office including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint
-Experience of working with ecumenical bodies

Salary and Benefits
Salary and benefits will be commensurate with skills, experience and prevailing market trends.

Interested and qualified persons are invited to submit their applications via email, together with a cover letter and detailed Curriculum Vitae that includes the names and contact details of three traceable references, with reference ZHOCD EPOIZ 12/12 in subject line, to: The Executive Secretary, HOCDZ, email: epoizim [at] gmail [dot] com

Administrative Officer: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
Deadline: 23 December 2012

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you. For 60 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS.

Vacancy Announcement No. Zim/2012:35
NOB Level
Based in Harare
Fixed Term Appointment Post

Purpose of the Job
The incumbent is responsible for the delivery of timely, efficient and cost effective UNICEF funded administrative services for the UNICEF Zimbabwe Country Office and management of administrative staff. Ensures the Office’s administrative operations and services are in compliance with UNICEF administrative policy, procedures, regulations and rules.

Major Tasks to be accomplished
-Responsible for correct and consistent application of policies and procedures in administrative functions.
-Responsible for all office renovations, maintenance and repair of equipment and general cleanliness of complex.
-Ensure the security of office premises, through assessment of security needs, attending Security meetings, arranging fire drills and ensuring Minimum Operating Security Standards (MOSS) and Minimum Operating Residential Security Standards (MORSS) compliance.
-Procure administrative goods, stationery and equip in liaison with the procurement section and ensure adequate office supplies for smooth program delivery at all times.
-Supervision and management of contractual arrangements with suppliers of goods and services, to ensure that the terms and conditions of all contracts are being adhered to by the suppliers of goods and services.
-Supervises the timely and organized delivery, collection, registry, reproduction and courier of correspondence, documents, pouch services and administrative supplies, provided internally or through a contractor.
-Brief and assist arriving and departing staff on administrative procedures and requirements, (i.e. shipment and insurance of personal effects, liability claims, as well as in identification, arrangement and selection of staff housing).
-Responsible for office allocation and installation of new staff members both locally and internationally recruited.
-Organizes the reconciliation of Property, Plant & Equipment ((PP&E) asset data with office records to ensure physical count taken is complete and identifies discrepancies for corrective action.  Prepares required reports on UNICEF office premises and equipment (PP&E) for UNICEF Headquarters.
-Keep Administrative Specialist abreast of potential problem areas, and identify and recommend solutions.

Qualifications and Competencies
-University degree in Public Administration, Business Administration or other related disciplines
-Two years of practical professional work experience in the field of general office administration, especially in the areas of transportation management, travel, customs and protocol arrangements
-Demonstrable proficiency in computer application packages
-Good communication and organizational skills
-Ability to work in a multicultural environment.

If you have experience of working in a similar capacity, meet the above profile and want to make an active and lasting contribution to build a better world for children, send your application letter together with curriculum vitae quoting vacancy notice number to the following address.

Human Resources Manager
(Vacancy Notice Zim/2012:35)
UNICEF, 6 Fairbridge Avenue,
P O Box 1250
Belgravia, Harare

Or email: hararevacancies [at] unicef [dot] org

Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

UNICEF is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff. Well-qualified candidates, particularly women are especially encouraged to apply.