I was in a combi and overheard a conversation between the driver (a rather burly man) and the hwindi, which I will not easily forget. It went something like this:

Driver: Ko indaba kungopera power soo?
Hwindi: Shamwari, handina chandadya kubvira nezuro masikati.
Driver: Ko nei usina kudya? Handiti ndimi makaroora manje-manje!
Hwindi: Ndakaramwa chikafu.
Driver: Kuramwa chikafu? Asi unopenga? (The heavy-set/ driver looked like he could stand to skip a few meals himself).
Hwindi:  Shamwari, dai waimuziva mukadzi wangu.
Driver: Hazvina basa izvozvo. Sadza isadza!
Hwindi: Zvaanoita soo. Anondinzwisa hasha dzekutoda kumurova chaiko.
Driver: Saka murovezve! Nhai! Zvirinani kurova mukadzi pane kuramwa sadza!
[The combi erupts with laughter]

English translation

Driver: Why do you seem like you have no energy?
Hwindi: Shamwari, I haven’t eaten since yesterday afternoon!
Driver: Why not? Aren’t you the one who married recently? [Your wife should be feeding you]
Hwindi: She upset me so, I refused to eat the food she made me..
Driver: Why? Are you mad? (The heavy-set/ driver looked like he could stand to skip a few meals himself).
Hwindi: Shamwari, if only you knew my wife.
Driver: That doesn’t matter. Sadza is sadza!
Hwindi: The things she does sometime! She makes me so mad sometimes, that I just want to hit her!
Driver: So hit her! Really. It’s better to beat your wife than to forego your sadza!
[The combi erupts with laughter]

I, of course was horrified. So many things about this entire situation bothered me, so much so that I began to feel quite confused, which only escalated my anger. How could a man prioritize his food over respect for his wife, however terrible she might be? Why were all these passengers all nodding in agreement? Why was no one in agreement with the hwindi, who was so obviously against hitting his terrible wife that he gave up his evening meal? Why couldn’t they see that there was something wrong with what they were saying? Is this how the majority of people think about the importance of women? What other things are valued more than women are? Where does respecting women rank in the hierarchy of the things valued in Zimbabwean society? (Below your new car or beloved your beer, but just above child abuse?) My head swam with all these questions. Maybe I should have said something, but I was so angry that I could not speak, (and it is a rarity for me to remain silent when I’m angry).

Now if virtually everything is more important, than respecting women (as it would seem, from this overheard discussion), Zimbabwe (and not just its women) has a HUGE problem on its hands. Gender-based violence is an issue that continues to tear the very fabric of our society. It affects us economically, socially and politically. That a man can raise a hand, fist, belt, and as more recently reported, a machete to a woman, in order to solve problems or have his way shows a fundamental breakdown of our humanity as a nation. And for one human being to abuse another, sexually, physically, emotionally and psychologically, something that makes him fundamentally human has been lost. It is essentially, all about respect, even just for the fact that this woman is also a human being. Where are we as Zimbabwe, if we don’t have respect?

Article 21 section 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Right states that; ” The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.”  This is of one of the international instruments used as the basis for the conduct of free and fair elections in a country. The major challenge with many countries is on how to guarantee the conduct of free and fair elections and to ensure equal suffrage.

The Mass Public Opinion Institute (MPOI) and The Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) foundation co-hosted a conference in Harare under the theme ” Pathway to Popular Legitimacy”. The purpose of the conference was to engage and promote reflective dialogue amongst Zimbabweans. The conference touched on various issues covering content of road map to free and fair elections and its challenges and opportunities and legislative reforms and imperatives of security sector reform.

In his presentation Mr Dieudonne N Tshiyoyo the Programme Manager of Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) highlighted that under the three phases of an electoral process, which are Pre-Election, Voting and Post-Election, the constitution of the country should guarantee a free and fair election. Freedom of movement, speech and assembly are some of the characteristics of free and fair elections. An Electoral Act and system that grants no special privileges to any political party or social group should to be put in place to ensure and guarantee the contact of a transparent free and fair election.

In the Zimbabwean context the Zimbabwe Election Support Network notes that the Global Peace Agreement signed by the three political parties in the country provided an opportunity for legislative reforms on laws like the Electoral Act, AIPPA and POSA thereby presenting an opportunity for the conduct of fair and free elections in the country. The role of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission came under the spotlight especially on the ballot stuffing issue.

Some of the issues raised emanated from the challenges, which were faced by voters in the previous elections conducted in the country. The voter’s roll and the presence of police officers to assist voters in the polling stations during elections came under the spotlight and the Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC) highlighted that some of these issues are a result of the provisions of the law. Under some of the best practices being followed in other countries an independent electoral body is given the mandate to maintain the voters roll. Currently in Zimbabwe the Registrar General is in charge of the voters roll, registration of births and deaths and according to a survey conducted by ZESN, the voters roll was reported to be in shambles with some deceased people still appearing on the voters roll. This has prompted some civic organisations to lobby for an independent body like ZEC to be in charge of the voter’s roll.

The crowding out of private media from the limited media space and repressive media laws has also reduced the role the media in the conduct of free and fair elections. The current Zimbabwean situation has seen the media being used as an instrument to promote hate speech, individual interests within parties and criminalisation of some sections of society. Some of the remedies discussed include that the constitution should guarantee media freedom and access to information, the establishment of an independent broadcasting authority and harmonised media regulation through self regulatory mechanisms.

The rain is back again and with is comes the nightmare of increased traffic congestion in the CBD.  Whether traveling by public transport or by car, I am usually home by 5:30pm at the very latest, but last night I got home just before 7:30pm. I left work yesterday at 4:30pm as usual and rushed to catch a combi, so I could at least get home before the looming dark gray clouds that threatened heavy rains, burst.

Getting into town took longer than usual, and by the time I got to the rank to get my bus home, there was a huge crowd causing presha, and no combis in sight, as they were all stuck in the mammoth city-wide traffic jam. After getting thoroughly soaked and trampled by numerous stampedes of desperate commuters, and wading through the dirty water flowing through the streets, I gave up and called for back-up.

My uncle, who himself was driving through town, arrived nearly an hour after I had placed the call. By then I had given up on even shielding myself from the pelting rain and was walking calmly through the traffic, to where he too was stuck in traffic. I was so relieved to finally be in a car and on my way out of town, until we reached the intersection of Samora Machel and Leopold Takawira, and witnessed the hugest display of selfishness, chaos and mayhem I’ve seen in a while.

The picture above, which I took with my phone, depicts only a fraction of the sheer madness that prevailed for the hour or so we were stuck, motionless at this intersection, my wet clothes slowly drying on my body.

Despite the fully functional traffic lights motorists drove according their own selfish rules, proceeding bumper-to-bumper through red traffic lights in the scramble to get home, all the while, causing more congestion, until the traffic, that had once been moving at a snail pace ground to complete halt, and we were all well and truly stuck.

While in the gridlock, we discussed the poor planning of road networks and lack of adequate upgrades of existing infrastructure, and the need for an upgrade of the public transport system and how it seemed that these days, “everyone, and their mama” has a car, and yet the roads are not much different from what they were 10 years ago. Despite the good conversation, I was growing restless, and outside several people had gotten out of their cars and were shouting at just about anyone, in their impatience.

Out from the chaos stepped an ordinary seeming man, with an extraordinary plan to set us all free. After having assessed the varying situations, this natural leader began to hand out instructions to surprisingly compliant motorists and things began to move. More of these self-appointed traffic coordinators began working their magic through the web of confusion until, eventually, our car left the intersection.

I looked back at the madness we had just left, all the time wondering where the police were in all this?

To mark their 50th Anniversary of USAID on 3rd November, USAID-Zimbabwe’s  Economic Growth Office Director, Dr Tina Dooley-Jones gave a presentation entitled USAID & Zimbabwe: Past, present and future at the U.S. Embassy’s Public Affairs Section, which covered the history of USAID, expanded upon the major policy and planning changes that have occurred in the organisation in the past 2 years,  outlined their 7 Global Development Priorities and explained how the organisation is currently engaged in Zimbabwe.

The organisation has been working in Zimbabwe since independence and has developed a number of different programmes and partnerships to move forward in the areas of: health, private sector development, low income housing, governance. The activities implemented in these areas have had a positive impact on the lives of many Zimbabweans. Currently USAID works in 4 areas in Zimbabwe in which the organisation has a comparative advantage in delivering development assistance and has found exceptional local partners to work locally.

Dooley  said that “Zimbabwe is and will remain important to USAID – because of developmental challenges and opportunities that exist here. With its highly educated workforce, systems, institutions and structures there is so much potential for development, the organization looks forward to deepening its engagement here and being a part of moving Zimbabwe forward.”

NGOs Humanitarian Reform Project: ActionAid Zimbabwe
Deadline: 7 November 2011 (1700 hours)

Location: Harare, Zimbabwe
To Start: Mid-November
Contract: 5 days a week for a period of one month

Purpose of The Position
ActionAid Zimbabwe seeks to engage a consultant to perform the function of country coordinator who will be responsible for the implementation of the NGOs and Humanitarian Reform Project Phase 2 in Zimbabwe, with the ultimate goal of enhancing NGO (national and international) representation, participation and leadership in humanitarian reform and other coordination forums.

Key Strategic Performance Areas
-Develop/improve structures, capacity and skills for NGOs to assume active membership and leadership functions in humanitarian reform forums have been built
-Strengthen in-country coordination mechanisms (training workshops, facilitate operational discussions on coordination and financing)
-Co-ordination with the Project Internationally
-Financial management and reporting (accurate and timely financial and narrative reports, ensure that project income is managed in a timely and appropriate manner, co-develop, closely monitor and report on country work plan and country budget expenditure)
-Networking and relationship building (engaging key stakeholders)

A detailed Job Profile and Terms of Reference will be made available to short listed candidates.

Minimum Requirements

Qualifications
Relevant degree/post-graduate qualification essential.

Other Essential Requirements
-At least 4 years practical experience in humanitarian response
-Familiarity with the humanitarian reform process
-Proven understanding and experience of advocacy and policy change work within a complex humanitarian context
-Proven skills in networking and relationship building
-Strong analytical and information gathering skills
-Excellent writing and facilitation skills
-Strong communication and representational skills
-Strong budget management skills
-Ability to work alone and on one’s own initiative
-Cultural sensitivity
-Knowledge of local languages (Shona, Ndebele) will be an added advantage
-Understanding of and commitment to humanitarian principles and action
-Willingness to travel extensively, mostly within the country and spend several weeks at a time away from home

Applications: To apply submit your curriculum vitae and motivation letter to Human Resources, ActionAid International, 16 York Avenue, Newlands, Harare or jobs.zimbabwe [at] actionaid [dot] org

NB: Whilst all applicants will be assessed strictly on their individual merits, qualified women are especially encouraged to apply.

Please note: Although we value all applications, we can only respond to short listed candidates.

National Strategic planning Consultancy: White Ribbon Alliance Zimbabwe
Deadline: 14 November 2011

White Ribbon alliance Zimbabwe is seeking for a consultant to develop a national strategic plan. The person should have knowledge of reproductive health, computer skills and 5yrs experience in reproductive health programming and development of strategic plans. Interested parties to forward their CVs and an indication of fees per day to Dr Christina Mudokwenyu Rowdon. Email guruchristina [at] yahoo [dot] com