Perhaps the biggest tragedy in our lives is that freedom is possible, yet we can pass our years trapped in the same old patterns. . . . We may want to love other people without holding back, to feel authentic, to breathe in the beauty around us, to dance and sing. Yet each day we listen to inner voices that keep our life small. – Tara Brach

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.

Senior Researcher: Gender Links
Deadline: 17h00 31 July 2012

Contract: 4 months

Gender Links, a Southern African NGO based in Johannesburg specialising in gender, media, women’s rights and governance, seeks the services of an experienced individual to serve as a senior researcher for a period of four months. The main task of the incumbent, who will be based at the Harare Office, will be to provide research and administrative support to the Gender Justice Unit that is carrying out pioneering research on gender violence indicators across the SADC region.

Key performance areas
-Partner relationship management
-Data collection, management, cleaning and analysis
-Administration, monitoring and evaluation
-Production of high quality knowledge and IEC materials
-Writing research reports
-Work with relevant staff teams in dissemination and advocacy strategies for research outputs

Skills
-Masters degree in social science, public health or related field
-Minimum 5 years relevant experience in a research environment
-Proficiency in MS Office, SPSS and STATA
-Problem-solving skills
-Excellent written and verbal skills
-Ability to work independently and collaboratively
-Knowledge of the SADC region will be an advantage

General conditions
GL is an equal opportunity employer. A competitive remuneration package will be offered commensurate with the skills and qualifications. Applications must be submitted as soon as possible and latest by 17h00 on Tuesday, 31 July 2012.

A letter of motivation, CVs, references and two samples of written work should be sent to: hr [at] genderlinks [dot] org [dot] za or fax 27 (0) 11- 622 4732. For further enquiries call Vivien Bakainaga on 27 (0) 11 622 2877. Late applications will not be considered. Only short listed and successful candidates will be contacted. GL reserves the right to not appoint anyone.

Read Takura Zhangazha’s view on the constitution making process here

This is a piece of street art created by Banky depicting a missile instead of a javelin, but it might be erased by the authorities … there’s a ban on graffiti during the Olympics.

More here

An interview with Farai Maguwu, the director of the Center for Research and Development (CRD).

Could you explain who currently controls the diamond industry in Zimbabwe? How is this source of wealth likely to factor into the upcoming national elections?

The official view is that all mining is done through joint-venture partnerships between the Zimbabwean government and private enterprises. However, in practice there are several private companies involved in mining activities in the Marange diamond field. For instance, the deputy mines minister recently revealed that Anjin Investments, which is by far the biggest diamond mining company in Marange, is controlled 50 percent by the Chinese, 40 percent by the Zimbabwe National Army through its subsidiary company Zimbabwe Defense Industries (ZDI), and 10 percent by another company linked to the army. This militarization of the extractive sector in Zimbabwe, where the generals have become company directors and shareholders on behalf of the government, is extremely worrying.

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