Information is distributed to educate us all. It’s up to us how we decide to use this information. I was so devastated when I heard that The Color Purple joint in the City of Harare, a place where some people go to relax and braai, was gutted down by fire. A fire caused by human error too. The Color Purple Club has suffered a great fall because of a woman who decided to burn rubbish, the fire got out of control and things ended up in tragedy. The owner is so distraught by this and worse still she had not insured her hard earned work.

It’s so much appreciated how Kubatana has been distributing and being so relevant with the Good Neighbor cards. The cards simply encourage people to live together as neighbors. My work is not in vain as my task has been distributing these cards carrying important information. I just hope that people take heed and practice what is written therein.  I urge those that have received the good neighbor cards will share this information with others. It not only helps you and me but the communities we live in.

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.

Two (2) vacancies: local HIV and AIDS networking NGO
Deadline: 13 September 2012

Applications are invited from suitably qualified and experienced persons for the following positions for a local HIV and AIDS networking NGO.

1. Administration Assistant

Duties & Responsibilities
Working under the supervision of the Grants Manager the incumbent will be responsible for:
-Maintaining the schedule / calendar for the GMU with external and internal parties including visitors from external organizations, ZAN members, Global Fund partners (SRs and SSRs), as well as internal and external meetings, determining priority requirements.
-Undertaking all travel arrangements for the GMU.
-Preparation of briefing materials for appointments, meetings, missions.
-Maintenance of rosters of important contacts and telephone lists.
-Preparation of moderately complex correspondence, on behalf of Grant Manager for his/her signature and making follow-up when required.
-Management of e-mail and correspondence flow, ensuring prioritization and effective follow-up.
-Taking GMU and other organizational meeting minutes.
-Maintenance of a filing system

Personnel Specification
-Diploma in Business Administration or Business Studies or related field is desirable.
-Additional Public Relations qualification will be an added advantage.
-Minimum 2 years experience of progressive responsibility in administration in support of programme work in an NGO environment a requisite, preferably in an HIV & AIDS environment.
-Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc).
-Fluency in English with good verbal and written skills.
-Excellent information analysis and report writing skills.

2. Programme Assistant (Mashonaland Central – Bindura based)

Reporting to the Provincial Level Coordinator, the Programme Assistant’s main duties will include the following:
-Assist in planning and coordinating provincial networking and information sharing activities.
-Provide support and guidance in the implementation of HIV and AIDS programmes.
-Attend to member and other key stakeholder needs and inquiries within the provincial office.
-Assist in the collection and collation of data and preparation of results based reports on interventions undertaken in the province.
-Monitor and advise on grant implementation, reporting and compliance.
-Assist in the identification of technical and institutional support needs of members in the provinces.
-Assist in the conduct of provincial administrative duties that include office management, asset management, recording of all communication to and from the Head Office and other stakeholders.

Personnel Specification
-The successful candidate must hold a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Social Work, Development Studies, Education or any social science.
-Excellent oral and written communication skills.
-Proficient in MS computer packages, e.g. MS Word, Excel, Internet.
-Ability to work in a team set up.
-Initiative and assertiveness.
-Proven experience in HIV and AIDS programmes.
-At least one year’s experience working on HIV and AIDS issues.

NB People living with HIV are encouraged to apply.

In return, the organization offers a competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. Interested candidates who meet the stated specifications should submit applications, indicating the position, together with detailed CVs to:

The Human Resources & Administration Department
No 154 Samora Machel Avenue West
Belvedere
Harare

Or email to: recruitment [at] zan [dot] co [dot] zw

Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted.

Assistant Field Officer: Local NGO
Deadline: 13 September 2012

1 ¼ year fixed term employment contract
He/She will be based in Victoria Falls

Qualifications and attributes
-Degree or Diploma in Development Studies, Social Work
-A training related qualification an advantage
-Good report writing and presentation skills

Duties
-Plan, implement and monitor activities under the Youth Programme
-Actively participate in partner meetings
-Network with other youth focused Organisations
-Foster and maintain good stakeholder relationships
-Compile monthly, quarterly and annual activity progress reports.

Remuneration will be disclosed to short listed candidates.

To apply, submit your curriculum vitae with a motivation letter to: resourceshuman32 [at] gmail [dot] com

While we value all applications, we regret that we can only respond to short listed candidates.

As an aging Mandela lies recovering from hernia surgery back in Zimbabwe the fight for who is like Mandela is on between President Mugabe and Prime Minister Tsvangirai. Just when the political parties they lead are scuffling over who is popular now they have to scuffle over who is more like Mandela. When Tsvangirai visited Australia the PM likened him to Mandela. And when Lesotho’s PM visited Zimbabwe, he likened Mugabe to Mandela. Instead of focusing on whom among them is like Mandela they should acknowledge that Mandela is too great to match. He had his own share of struggles and victories. Of course Mugabe and Tsvangiari are also great men in their own right and if they concentrate more on doing what is right for the people then one day future leaders of the world will be likened to them.

Rufaro draws in the sand after school. The children find creative ways to entertain themselves despite the fact that they don’t have any toys.

Check out more photographs of Musha Wevana Children’s Home here

Photo credit: Kubatana.net/Leigh Worsley-Worswick

Many households in Zimbabwe have made an outcry over never being counted during the 2012 census. From an SMS survey conducted by Kubatana on the 2012 census people did mention they were not counted during this exercise. According to a report on New Zimbabwe this has led to Zimstat calling for a ‘mop-up count’ for all those who were left out.  Zimstat’s population census director, Washington Mapeta is quoted as saying, “We are checking all those reports and for the purposes of making the whole process credible, enumerators will visit areas where people are said to have been left out.” This is in the face of remarks made by the Finance Minister Tendai Biti who declared that the 2012 census was a success. It is important to point out also that the armed forces hijacked the census programme demanding to be included as enumerators.

From a Kubatana member:

Community boreholes that are not working due to lack of spare parts and service attention by the authorities. This is in our community of Chivi Ward 18 Virimai Village, Zimbabwe. People are struggling to get drinking water and animals are already dying. Drinking water is becoming an everyday problem in this community and its vicinity. Give us a hand.