It is encouraging that a country as large as Nigeria, which is undoubtedly a big contributor to Africa’s carbon footprint is contributing to environmentally friendly initiative such as this. The seemingly limitless supply plastic bottles, is an encouraging indicator of the longevity of such a project.

In view of Zimbabwe’s hosing shortage, and increasing carbon footprint, due to the growing number of cars on the road, and the use of fossil fuels and firewood, instead of hydro-electrical power, (due to power cuts), and the lack of consistent garbage collection, a scheme like this, even just to provide temporary shelter, could make a huge difference to the housing shortage as well as in cleaning up our increasingly garbage ridden cities. If nothing else, it’s worth a try!

Check out the story ….

What a group of activists did was come up with a plan to build a house using those bottles, providing what they say is an environmentally smart strategy of chipping away at a housing shortage in Africa’s most populous nation.

With the prototype near the northern Nigerian city of Kaduna now well underway, the group wants to extend its efforts and build more, aiming to unleash what they say is some long bottled-up potential.

The project was initiated by the Kaduna-based NGO Development Association for Renewable Energies (DARE), with help from foreign experts from Africa Community Trust, a London-based NGO.

Sitting on 58-square meters (624-square feet), the two-bedroom bungalow looks like an ordinary home, but it differs in many ways. When completed, the house whose construction started in June will be used to train masons in building such structures.

It is made from capped, sand-filled plastic bottles, each weighing three kilograms, or nearly two pounds.

The bottles are stacked into layers and bonded together by mud and cement, with an intricate network of strings holding each bottle by its neck, providing extra support to the structure.
Bottle caps of various colors protrude from the cement-plastered walls, giving them a unique look. Those behind the project claim the sand-filled bottles are stronger than ordinary cinder blocks.

“The structure has the added advantage of being fire proof, bullet proof and earthquake resistant, with the interior maintaining a constant temperature of 18 degrees C (64 degrees F) which is good for tropical climate,” Yahaya Ahmad, the project coordinator said.

With the right adjustments to the supporting pillars the building can be as high as three stories, but can go no higher due to the weight of the sand-filled bottles, Ahmad said.

The house is also designed to produce zero carbon emissions as it will be wholly powered by solar panels and methane gas from recycled human and animal waste.

“Nigeria has a serious waste and energy problem, and this project is one small step towards making positive changes,” said Katrin Macmillan, a British environmental activist involved in the project.

Construction is estimated to require 14,000 bottles. Environmental experts say Nigeria, a country of some 160 million, throws out about three million plastic bottles daily.

Plastic houses are cheap to construct as it costs a quarter of the money required to build a conventional house. Nigeria has been grappling with a deficit of 16 million housing units.

TAIWAN NEWS

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.

Zimbabwe Country Consultant: American Jewish World Service (AJWS)
Deadline: 10 November 2011

American Jewish World Service (AJWS) is an international development organization based in New York, motivated by Judaism’s imperative to pursue justice. AJWS is dedicated to alleviating poverty, hunger and disease among the people of the developing world regardless of race, religion or nationality. Through grants to grassroots organizations, volunteer service, advocacy and education, AJWS fosters civil society, sustainable development and human rights for all people, while promoting the values and responsibilities of global citizenship within the Jewish community.

American Jewish World Service seeks to hire a country consultant in Zimbabwe to work with the AJWS grants department in New York to support our grant making to grassroots organizations in the country.

Job Description:

-Provide technical support and guidance to AJWS partners in Zimbabwe.
-Facilitate access to capacity building, training and networking opportunities for AJWS partners.
-Facilitate linkages for AJWS partners to other donors and opportunities.
-Organize AJWS partner meetings and peer exchanges to share knowledge and learning.
-Advise AJWS on current social, political and economic trends that might impact our grantees.
-Advise AJWS on private, government, UN and multi-or bi-lateral funding streams in the region.
-Travel in country to monitor and evaluate AJWS grant making, including trips with AJWS program officers.
-Provide logistical support to AJWS program officers visiting the country.

Qualifications:

-Significant work experience in the NGO community
-Minimum 4 years post-secondary education
-Strong writing and analytical skills
-At least one local language and English fluency for report writing and direct communication with US staff
-Expertise in the rights-based approach to development preferred
-Experience with NGO capacity building strongly preferred
-Women are strongly encouraged to apply

Salary:
Send salary requirements.  We are looking for a part-time consultant (approximately 6 days per month, flexible schedule) based in Harare or Bulawayo.  The contract is for six months with the possibility of extension.

How to Apply:
For immediate consideration, please forward your resume or Curriculum Vitae, cover letter and list of references to tmukuka [at] ajws [dot] org and indicate your name and “Zimbabwe consultant” in the subject line.

For more information about AJWS, please visit our website at www.ajws.org

Food Security and Relief Coordinator: CARE Canada
Deadline: 22 November 2011

CARE is looking for a highly experienced Food Security & Relief Coordinator to lead a variety of programmes including those funded under USAID’s Food for Peace (FFP), World Food Programme (WFP), USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) and other as directed by the Assistant Country Director – Programmes.

Position summary:

The Food Security and Relief Coordinator directly leads the teams responsible for the final stages of the implementation of the FFP PRIZE program, an OFDA disaster risk reduction project and WFP programs along with other humanitarian response teams as necessary. The position is responsible for the entire spectrum of activities from development, implementation, compliance, budgeting and reporting on humanitarian and food security activities in strict accordance with USAID FFP regulations, WFP & other donor regulations and procedures and CARE Food Security Policies and Strategies.

The Coordinator is the key person responsible for liaising with in-country USAID – FFP, WFP, and other donors and stakeholders, including the government. S/he will also collaborate closely with lead consortium management unit and logistics department and CARE’s logistics co-ordinator. S/he will be responsible for oversight, management, planning, compliance and reporting for all food and non-food items within his/her program portfolio, in concert with the logistic co-ordinator and in keeping with all country office and donor policies/regulations.

S/he will coordinate and cooperate with all other Sector Coordinators and CARE administrative and financial departments at the sub-offices and country office to ensure established CARE procedures and polices are followed and to maximize support for project activities.

Find out more

Centre Director: Legal Resources Foundation (LRF)
Deadline: 25 November 2011

The Legal Resources Foundation a local legal services NGO invites applications from suitably qualified and experienced persons for the post of Centre Director within the organisation.

Duties and responsibilities:
-Administering the programmes and activities of the Centre
-Supervision and management of Centre staff
-Preparation of regular reports on Centre activities
-Engaging in fundraising, including drawing up funding proposals and budgeting

Qualifications and experience:
-Applicants must be registered legal practitioners with at least five years’ post-registration experience
-Background in civil society, particularly a legal services NGO, and computer literacy will be great advantages
-Applicants must be self-motivated and have a demonstrable ability to lead a team, and to work with minimal supervision.

How to apply Please send your application letter and CV to:
The National Director
P. O. Box 918
Harare

Or they can be sent by email to: pa [at] lrf [dot] co [dot] zw

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

Finance Director: Legal Resources Foundation (LRF)
Deadline: 25 November 2011

The Legal Resources Foundation a local legal services NGO invites applications from suitably qualified and experienced persons for the post of Finance Director.

This position is responsible for the overall financial management (planning, budgeting, accounting and reporting). The role will provide strategic leadership and guidance in developing and implementing guidelines and procedures governing finance and support systems. The incumbent must have experience in managing and dealing with donors.

Key responsibilities

-Accurate financial accounting and bank accounts management
-Planning and budgeting on financial aspects of the organisation’s programmes
-Accurate reporting to National Director, Board of Trustees and funding partners
-Overall accountability of organisational finances and compliance with the organisation’s policies and guidelines and donor requirements
-Prepare financial reports in line with organisational and donor reporting requirements
-Co-ordinate and maintain a cash forecasting system to ensure that adequate funds are available to meet the working requirements of the programmes
-Monitor ongoing levels of expenditure on individual programmes as against budget, and provide timely advice of likely over or under-spends
-Manage payroll and income tax payments

Qualifications, experience and competencies

-Accounting or Finance-related Degree, and/or fully qualified member of a recognised Accounting Professional Association such as ACCA and CIS
-Substantial post qualification experience and demonstrable understanding and experience of finance management, preferably within an NGO
-Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English

How to apply Please send your application letter and CV to:
The National Director
P. O. Box 918
Harare

Or they can be sent by email to: pa [at] lrf [dot] co [dot] zw

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

Director: Training and Consultancy – Africa Centre for Holistic Management
Deadline: 30 November 2011

Position Summary
The Director of Training and Consultancy is responsible for supporting partner organizations to implement Holistic Land and Livestock Management (HLLM) program in communities in Southern Africa. The Director is expected to select appropriate partners, oversee successful workshops and training programs, and ensure effective follow up support and will be based in Victoria Falls.

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

Supervisor:  Executive Director

Key Challenge
To achieve a working knowledge of Holistic land and Livestock Management in Southern Africa and ensure successful implementation of community land and water restoration efforts through working with other NGOs and government agencies.

Required qualifications and work experience
*Relevant Degree (in Education, Organization Development, Development Studies, Social Science, or equivalent)
*Experience in community mobilization
*Knowledge of experiential learning
*Experience running training programs
*Experience in a management or leadership position
*Knowledge and experience in program evaluation

Required skills
*Excellent presentation and facilitation skills
*Ability to design appropriate training programs
*Able to assess and select appropriate organizations to partner with
*Manage, mentor and lead a consulting team
*Possess excellent communication skills in English, both oral and written
*Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Explorer & Powerpoint

Preferred qualifications, knowledge and skills
*Team player who is able to motivate/build a cohesive team
*Knowledge of Holistic Management a plus
*Fluency in Southern African languages a plus
*Entrepreneurship
*Politically, culturally and religiously neutral in work setting

Responsibilities:
1.Develop and manage the newly formed Training & Consultancy section
2.Select appropriate partners (those likely to succeed) and develop relationship with them

*Assessing and selecting partner organization using ACHM define selection criteria.
*Facilitation in Leaders seminars
*Carry out pre-visits to selected partner organization
*Drafting MOU with selected partner organization.

3.Deliver successful (and appropriate) training program
*Organizing workshops and training programs
*Designing tailor made workshops
*Evaluation of training programs and workshops

4.Follow up coaching and support to implementing organizations
*Provide follow up support to partner organizations
*Management of report writing by consultants
*Negotiating contracts

5.Maintaining relationships
*Over seeing maintenance of relationships
*Constant communication with partners
*Negotiating contracts

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

Applications will be accepted through 30 November 2011. For consideration, please email a cover letter, C.V. and references to: hmatanga [at] achmonline [dot] org or rbikwa [at] achmonline [dot] org

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

The ICRC has, since 2009, provided food assistance to prison inmates and supported programmes to improve food security in detention places.

Outgoing head of the ICRC delegation in Zimbabwe, Thomas Merkelbach, said a joint steering committee comprising officials from the ICRC and the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society was closely monitoring the handover process of food assistance to ensure that the welfare of the inmates was not compromised.

“If necessary, the committee can make appropriate adjustments. However, capacity-building activities in the area of food production, and the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure and ICRC support for prison health services will continue in 2012,” said Merkelbach.

According to local prisoner’s rights group, Zimbabwe Association for Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation of the Offender, at least two inmates die every day due to hunger and disease at Chikurubi Prison and Harare Central Prison – the country’s two biggest jails.

From The Zimbabwean

How many of us know anyone who is in prison? Even if you don’t, just a take a few minutes to think about the conditions they live in. Prisoners in Zimbabwe deal with a vast array of life threatening conditions while serving time i.e. malnutrition, epidemics (cholera outbreaks), poor health care and poor food security. The work done by the ICRC in conjunction with the Ministry of Justice and Zimbabwe Prison Services to improve the lives of those who have essentially wronged others, with some humanity, is inspiring.

When we came home in 2004 we decided it was important to introduce some joy into our lives
something to help remind us of the lightness
as we walked through the dark of the same-old-same-old

Tony and Mel drove to Bulawayo and came back with Lily and Max Ndebele
twin Jack Russel puppies
two halves of the same spirit
posing always in exact replica
whether basking in the sun,
curled in their baskets
watching for rats
walking the paths to the vlei

bottoms together, tails turned outwards

and they played
as we sat on the veranda at night digesting yet another outrage
they danced and boxed and leaped over one another
paused
pounced, chased, spun
like coordinated lightening
like joy

tony walks them every night in the vlei
slowly coming down from the day

they sit at the doorway when I am in the A frame
they follow Mel around the garden
they dance a greeting when Kate and Rory come up the path with Eli
they eat together
sleep together

on Sat night – Guy Fawkes
we went out for dinner leaving Max and Lily in the house
(they don’t seem to mind noise  or bangs)
with their windows open
in our fairly impenetrable walled or fenced garden

when we came home two and a half hours later
she was gone

we walked the surrounds with torches
drove the roads
called the 24 hour vet
she was gone

Sunday everyone searched
the Mwanzas and the Zambezi kids
we drove and walked everywhere
searching ditches,
calling

we stuck up posters and phoned SPCA and Friends Foundation and vets

today is Tuesday
we have had two false alarms as other Jack Russels are found
but no Lily

Lily is the wild one
the tart
who seduces everyone by sitting on her haunches to have her stomach scratched
who leads the ratting raids
and wants to be brushed first

Max lies at the door step
or by our feet
lost his soul mate
trying to understand this unbearable ache

we try not to imagine what could have happened to her
those dark pictures that haunt us
her trapped somewhere
unloved

in some way it would almost better to find her dead

So we sit – with this Lily sized hole in our space
in our hearts
wishing we knew

Most likely Zanu PF will use the revenue from diamond sales to fund their election campaign, and all the violence that will go with it. Their lavish lifestyles also need to be maintained (at the very least). Yeah folks, Zimbabwe was liberated, didn’t yer know.

The Committee of the Peoples Charter recently issued their list of the top 7 priorities for Zimbabwe’s diamond revenue – see below. And Takura Zhangazha has warned against creating ‘diamond oligarchs’ in Zimbabwe.

Committee of the Peoples Charter (CPC) Press Statement On Seven (7) Priorities For Zimbabwe’s Diamond Revenue

The Committee of the Peoples Charter (CPC) notes the recent statements made by the Minister of Mines, Mr. Obert Mpofu on the recent Kimberly Process meeting in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at which Zimbabwe was given the go-ahead to sell diamonds from Marange to world markets at competitive prices. The Honourable Minister’s announcement that Zimbabwe will be able to make an estimated gross amount of US$2 billion per annum from these diamond sales is a matter that should be further explained with particular respect to the national fiscus and the intended priorities as to how this revenue should be utilized for the public good.

This is particularly important and urgent due to the fact that the Ministry of Finance will present the 2012 national budget this month. It is therefore imperative that this potential revenue be factored into Finance Minister Tendai Biti’s budget for 2012.

In this regard, it is the CPC’s firm view that the revenue acquired by the state via the sale of diamonds must be directed toward the following priority areas of our national economy:

1. The establishment of a social welfare and social benefit grants system for unemployed citizens, women, physically challenged citizens, the elderly and socially/economically disadvantaged children/minors.
2. The reintroduction of free primary school education and the subsidization of all government secondary schools in relation
3. The re-introduction of state subsidized and guaranteed student grants and loans for all tertiary level students
4. The provision of free healthcare for all together with the modernization of all of our referral and provincial hospitals through the purchase of the relevant equipment
5. The refurbishment of our railway lines, trains and coaches to provide public transport for both rural and urban areas.
6. The completion of the dualisation of the Harare-Bulawayo; Harare-Beitbridge highways.
7. The provision of clean and safe water for all citizens through the refurbishment of all urban water supply systems and the expansion of borehole water availability in all rural areas, together with the completion of the Matebeleland – Zambezi Water Project.

Where the government fails to commit diamond revenue to these six priority areas, it will be a travesty of social and economic justice. The CPC will be tracking the usage of this revenue with the intention of bringing the government to account and in order to curb corruption as well as the misplacement of priorities by the government.

An online report on President Robert Mugabe capping graduates from Chinhoi University last week made a passing remark about the Chancellor of Zimbabwe’s universities being not as sprightly as would have been expected, I suppose at least regarding the stamina that would be needed to preside over the graduation of so many students.

The reporter’s observation did however provide a hint about what is terribly wrong in this country about the executive branch, the public’s right to know and issues around the health – physical or otherwise – of people who claim to be in charge of government. Over the years, the president has continued to be “paraded” as a youthful lad still up to the task of the physically and psychologically taxing duties of being president of the Republic, yet we know much, much younger presidents, CEOs elsewhere have had their hearts suddenly stopping because of the hazards that come with that territory.

Surely does Her Grace, His Nibs, Georgy Podgey, Psycophant Numero Uno Mr. Eyebags Shamu and many others want to see the day when, in the middle of a speech, the old man clutches his chest and sends all into panic? Are these people going to claim they didn’t see it coming?

Come on, the man is only human (an 87 year old human) that is perhaps why so many people in this country always ask who exactly is in charge, because in other areas of existence, a chap like this would either have left office of his own volition or his colleagues would have advised him to go play golf, watch his grandchildren grow, and enjoy the remainder of his (questionably) fruitful life. Yet, because that hasn’t happened, it is obvious someone wants this guy to embarrass himself and croak right in front the cameras!

And to imagine there are folks who have been dragged before the courts for denigrating the President, making cruel jokes about his age, with one actually having said it’s only a matter of time before He meets His maker so that MT can rule. Ouch. People naturally say these statements because they fail to understand that insistence to continue against all evidence to slow down, and when they voice what are in essence their democratic opinions they suddenly become criminals!  Imagine punishing a guy for telling you stop behaving like a stud and quit patronising the sin bin: who the fuck do you think you are asking me to forego all these carnal pleasures? Take that mother… And a few days later, he dead, not because of HIV-related stuff, but because of a rhino-horn induced boner that refused to go away! A thousand ways to die?