Reading Marko’s blog on Gukurahundi reminded me of a quote I saw yesterday:

If there is a God, He will have to beg my forgiveness.
- A phrase that was carved on the walls of a concentration camp cell during WWII by a Jewish prisoner

Zimbabwe continues to be the destination of choice for refugees fleeing the troubled Great Lakes region, says the UNHCR, and this is because many of the refugees believe Zimbabwe to be a peaceful country where they can easily assimilate.

Refugees from the Great Lakes region remember Zimbabwe from its participation in the second DR Congo war back in the late 1990s.

This came to light during a talk by Ron Mponda, the UNHCR Zimbabwe Senior Legal Advisor to commemorate World Refugee Day in Harare.

There are presently around 7,000 refugees in Zimbabwe, with the majority of them coming from the DRC, while others come from countries such as Burundi, Rwanda and Somalia.

Mponda explained that not all refugees are confined at Tongogara Camp in Chipinge as some can be found in Harare and Bulawayo where they have assimilated and have jobs.

Part of that assimilation has seen some being employed in Ministry of Justice for example where skilled refugees are working as lawyers. Mponda some says are also working in the Ministry of Health as doctors.

Since Zimbabwe got its independence in 1980, thousands of people fleeing civil war in their respective countries have landed here, and it is interesting that Mponda explained that under international law refugees are afforded the same rights as locals such as the right to universal access to primary education.

And indeed out of tribulation comes triumph. Mponda explained that students at the Tongogara Refugee Camp are some of the brightest in the country as shown by their pass rate, and this at a time some government schools are recording abysmal results!

It is sad however that the UNHCR says it continues to receive unaccompanied minors deported from South Africa, and this has become a major highlight of the plight of Zimbabweans living in SA.

It must be an unfathomable decision for anyone to abandon one’s flesh and blood and a minor at that so that the parent can continue their illegal stay in a foreign country.

Yet it does foreground the tough choices some are forced to make, all based on economic survival.

I still find it ironic that the popular refrain for many is that all the toiling humankind does is ultimately for their children, and unaccompanied minors continue being deported?

It’s always tough trying to understand people’s personal circumstances but as Mponda said, being a refugee is not an easy life, and Zimbabwe’s own economic refugees certainly know this only too well.

This year’s refugee commemorations were held under the theme “*1 refugee family without shelter is too many*.”

UNHCR reports that there are 45.2 million refugees worldwide, which is an 18-year high.

In Syria alone for example, the UN says the civil war has produced a staggering 1,5 million, and these are people living under tents and some in the open exposed to the elements.

The UNHCR says “if the number of people fleeing the Syrian conflict continues to increase at such a rate every 10 weeks there will be more 3.5 million Syrian refugees, or 15% of total population of Syria, by the end of the year.”

In Africa, there are “more than one million Somali refugees in the East and Horn of Africa and some 1.36 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Somalia, the country remains at the centre of one of the worst humanitarian crises UNHCR has faced.”

And we only have to recall the treatment the Somalis have received from South Africa and the xenophobic attacks they have endured, never mind all claims that refugees should under international law enjoy all protection from their host country.

A participant in the Mponda talk asked if the UNHCR was looking for the root causes of the refugee crisis in the first place than merely trying to deal with assisting them and it was a telling question about African politics and the quest for power at all costs.

Solving conflict is certainly one area the UN in its 68 years of existence has been found wanting.

Calling all young African leaders: Mail & Guardian Newspaper
Deadline: 30 June 2013

Our continent is on the rise and it is Africa’s young leaders that will take us into the future.

To this end, the Mail & Guardian is sponsoring two dynamic young African leaders for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: to attend the One Young World Summit 2013, taking place in Johannesburg this year.

The M&G is a South African-based news publication that prides itself on being Africa’s best read.

The M&G, as part of our commitment to developing young leaders on the continent, will fully sponsor two delegate places to this year’s summit. In addition, we will cover the travel cost for each delegate from his or her home cities to Johannesburg, if necessary.

We’re on the hunt for very special candidates to attend this leadership and development conference. One Young World generally looks for candidates with proven leadership ability, and a passion for volunteering and a concern for global issues. We want to sponsor two candidates who display that, and more.

As a news publication dedicated to online innovation, we want to sponsor two candidates doing interesting things in the digital and tech space.

The Mail & Guardian Online was the first internet-based news publication in Africa, and has repeatedly received awards for its digital innovation. We want to sponsor someone who shares this DNA with us.

Perhaps you have been involved in a project that uses digital tools to improve agriculture, social development or media freedom. Whatever it is, we want to hear about it.

Do you have what it takes? Check out the criteria for our candidates, then fill in the form below and you could be part of this amazing conference, and experience being mentored by world leaders.

Candidate criteria includes the following
-One Young World delegates are 18-30 years old at the time of the summit
-Demonstrate leadership potential and skills (many have already had an impact in their home countries on a range of issues)
-Teamwork
-Concern about global issues
-Ability to generate and articulate impactful ideas
-A commitment to volunteering or other extracurricular activity (evidence required)

In addition, the M&G requires the following for our two candidates
-Involved in some sort of leadership or community project involving digital tools and/or tech innovation
-Display an innovative approach to solving some of the problems facing the continent
-Candidates must be nationals of, and residing, in any African country

Apply for this opportunity

Hey! Need a job? Want to work in the NGO/development sector in Zimbabwe? Check out the job vacancies below and apply today. If you want to receive regular civic and human rights information, together with NGO job vacancies and other opportunities like scholarships by getting our regular email newsletter, please email join [at] kubatana [dot] net

Group facilitator: International Business & Technical Consultants, Inc. (IBTCI)
Deadline: 21 June 2013

Summary
IBTCI is currently seeking a Zimbabwean national, Group Facilitator, for an Evaluation of USAID/Zimbabwe’s Agriculture Portfolio. The evaluation period of performance is about 10 weeks including about 5-6 weeks of fieldwork. This performance evaluation is a portfolio evaluation that will enable USAID/Zimbabwe Economic Growth Office to evaluate whether the portfolio design was appropriate and whether projects have and are achieving the desired results. It will also help inform the remaining implementation of on-going projects and future project design for follow-on activities.

Qualifications
-A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in marketing or communications
-At least five years’ experience in consumer market research or related fields
-At least two years’ experience in facilitating focus groups, conducting interviews, etc
-Individuals should be highly skilled in interviewing subjects from a lower socio economic background and drawing out information
-Knowledge of the social and cultural factors in agricultural development projects
-Prior experience on USAID activities or evaluations preferred
-Fluency in English and Shona and/or Ndebele required.

To apply
Please send an updated CV to: recruiting [at] ibtci [dot] com with the subject line “Zimbabwe Group Facilitator”.

No phone calls please. Only final candidates will be contacted.
IBTCI is an equal opportunity employer.

Hey! Need a job? Want to work in the NGO/development sector in Zimbabwe? Check out the job vacancies below and apply today. If you want to receive regular civic and human rights information, together with NGO job vacancies and other opportunities like scholarships by getting our regular email newsletter, please email join [at] kubatana [dot] net

Agronomist: Local CBO based in Bulawayo
Deadline: 21 June 2013

Designation: Agronomist
Area of operation: Bulawayo (Ward 1 to 29)
Position Code: zphca2-13

Job Summary
To undertake specific skilled support to work as an Agronomist for a nutritional organic garden for children with disabilities in Bulawayo.

Responsibilities
-To specialize in research and breeding of different horticultural products
-Find out the best methods of planting, cultivating, spraying and harvesting
-To have knowledge of producing, shipping and preservation of vegetables or ornamental plants
-To conduct workshops, trainings and prepare articles on best farming practices
-To provide professional advice on the selection, ordering, planting, and maintenance of horticultural products
-To plan and design horticultural beds
-To maintain nurseries and keep records on the operations
-To train and supervise subordinates in greenhouse operations
-To teach proper methods and techniques of planting horticultural products
-To prepare orders for various types of plants
-Train ground personnel in the techniques of pruning, cabling and bracing of trees and shrubs
-Assists in the preparation of maintenance programs for the control of plant diseases and insects
-Prepares organic manure programs for various types of plants
-Performs related duties as required

Qualifications, Skills and Experience
-A diploma or Degree in Agriculture
-3 years working related experience
-Clean class 4 drivers license
-Legally responsible and accountable
-Able to work with minimum supervision
-Excellent verbal and written communication skills

To apply
Interested and qualified persons can send their Curriculum Vitae Applications Letters quoting the position code on the subject to email applications to: zphcabulawayo [at] gmail [dot] com and address it to the Branch Coordinator.

Kindly note that only short listed candidates will be responded to.