Petty crime in South Africa is on the rise. People are constantly being pick pocketed and mugged. The situation is getting ludicrous. A couple of months ago a Rhodes student was mugged at knife-point for a packet of chips. The situation was almost too ridiculous to take seriously and one had to question the desperation of the mugger.

Recently a close friend of mine who is currently studying at the University of Cape Town was mugged while walking home from an exam in the afternoon. She noticed two men walking towards her and told herself … “Zi walk with a purpose, walk with a purpose.” The two men cornered her and demanded she hand over her wallet. A smile slid slyly across her face as she reached into her bag and without reluctance handed her wallet over. The two men opened the wallet to find a measly five rand coin. Mystified the men handed back her wallet in disgust and disbelief.

Bewildered by the situation the two men instructed her to hand over her cell phone. Reaching once again into her bag, she now really had to practice some self-control and contain her laughter. The two stared excitedly awaiting the latest black berry or snazzy cell, but instead she whipped out a “brick Nokia, no colour screen”. “I was laughing in my heart,” she said as she pulled it out. The two muggers stared in utter disbelief and began to laugh hysterically as they chucked the brick back.

To make the situation even more hysterical they then proceeded to reprimand her for walking alone in dodgy areas. “Really can you believe the cheek to mug me and then to be too fussy to take any of my stuff?”

Clearly muggers can be choosers.

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.

Executive Director: Local NGO
Recruiting Immediately

Recruiting immediately: Executive Director of a health related non-profit making organisation, reporting to the board.

The Executive Director reports to the Board and is responsible for the organization’s consistent achievement of its mission.

To the Board and Membership:
-Assist the Board in the development and implementation of long-term strategies, goals and objectives for the organization
-Implement all policies, programs and other directives laid down by the Board
-Maintain official records and documents, and ensure organization’s compliance with all laws and regulations.
-Ability to source funding for the organization
-Coordinate the recruitment, employment, and release of all personnel, both paid staff and volunteers.
-Publicize the activities of the organization, its programs and goals.
-Coordinating relation of the organisations with donors and other organisations

Qualifications, skills and experience:

-Degree in Health or Social Sciences, preferably a master’s degree
-At least 5 years experience in NGO environment at a managerial/senior decision making level
-Experience and facility in proposal and report writing
-Ability to effectively direct activities of subordinates and meet deadlines
-Commitment to human rights
-High level of computer literacy
-Appreciation of Human Rights issues

Package will be released to short listed candidates

Send applications to: newEDpostzw [at] gmail [dot] com

Field Officers: Cluster Agricultural Development Services (CADS)
Deadline: 18 August 2011

Applications are invited from suitably qualified and experienced candidates to fill the above posts.

Requirements:

-Degree / Diploma in Agriculture
-At least 3 years experience working in sustainable agricultural NGO environment
-Driver’s License, Class 3 essential

Duties:

-Providing technical training for sustainable Agricultural Programs
-Planning and implementation of sustainable Agricultural Programs
-Train farmers on conservation agriculture practices
-Fundraising for agricultural projects
-Regular preparation of technical reports
-Self starter who can work with minimum supervision
-Ability to write reports

Deadline and application procedure:

Applicants must submit CVs with certified copies of academic, and professional qualifications, giving date of availability, employment and experience, contact telephone numbers, names and contact details of three referees.

Applications to be submitted to:
The Director
No. 1 Wembley Crescent
Eastlea
Harare

Responses will be made to only the short-listed candidates.

Email: cadsproject [at] cads [dot] org [dot] zw or cadscomp [at] cads [dot] org [dot] zw or cadsadmin [at] cads [dot] org [dot] zw

Monitoring and Evaluation Officer: Cluster Agricultural Development Services (CADS)
Deadline: 18 August 2011

Applications are invited from suitably qualified and experienced candidates to fill the above post.

Requirements:

-University degree in management or relevant discipline from a recognized institution
-A minimum of 2 years experience in the development sector
-Good monitoring and co-ordination skills, with documented experience in technical project implementation and monitoring
-Experience in writing project proposals, developing programmes and management plans
-Analytical and report writing skills
-Willingness to participate in field activities and travel
-Driver’s Licence, Class 4 essential

Responsibilities:

-Leading the design of and implementation of monitoring frameworks to track delivery against project goals and objectives
-Leading analysis of data collected under the monitoring framework for assessment of progress and areas of improvement
-Provide regular reports on the project activity implementation status against the project goals and objectives to the director
-Ensure collection of relevant and appropriate data which is needed for an effective M&E system which will be utilized in the monitoring of strengths, weaknesses and gaps in the existing programs and services
-Making creative and intuitive decisions regarding the production of established M&E reports
-Documenting all the project activities and generating periodic reports which will guide the project in pursuing the mandate
-Generating project related research data to inform future programming
-Ensure that all sub activities are aligned to the project’s main goal
-Guide, coach and mentor field officers on the monitoring frameworks

Deadline and application procedure:

Applicants must submit CVs with certified copies of academic, and professional qualifications, giving date of availability, employment and experience, contact telephone numbers, names and contact details of three referees.

Applications to be submitted to:
The Director
No. 1 Wembley Crescent
Eastlea
Harare

Responses will be made to the short-listed candidates only.

Email: cadsproject [at] cads [dot] org [dot] zw or cadscomp [at] cads [dot] org [dot] zw or cadsadmin [at] cads [dot] org [dot] zw

Pharmaceuticals Logisticians
Deadline: 19 August 2011

One of the leading healthcare provider organisations is looking for competent individuals to work in its medicines project. We are looking for individuals with in depth experience in pharmaceuticals management as well as procurement and logistics. This experience should be with reputable companies

Qualification and previous experience:
a)A degree in pharmacy
b)5yrs+  pharmaceutical experience
c)Experience in pharmaceutical procurement and logistics which is traceable
d)Excellent co-ordination skills

Responsibilities:
-Specification and forecast of the needed pharmaceutical logistics
-Evaluation of the costs and feasibility for the supplies
-Draft of the procurement planning & logistics budget
-Liaison with the head quarter for all the logistics aspects
-To introduce the general procurement pipeline
-To ensure purchase & supply processes are according to donor procurement rules

Interested candidates should send their CVs to applicationsbr [at] yahoo [dot] co [dot] uk

Project Officer: Local NGO
Deadline: 19 August 2011 (close of business)

Fixed term contract

A local child protection NGO is looking for a suitably qualified and motivated individual to fill a position that has arisen in the organisation.

The project officer will be responsible for Planning for preparatory and follow-up meetings for the project, Cultivating community participation through mobilization of locally available resources and labor for renovation of schools and clinics, Undertaking school and clinic assessments for prioritization of refurbishment activities, Preparing records of the assessment needs, Plan, and procure materials for the renovation activities, Providing technical support for the renovations, Liaise with responsible ministries for the project activities, Conducting trainings for beneficiary in line with identified capacity need in areas of child protection, health, education and livelihoods projects for the schools and Child Protection Committees, Participating in the monitoring and evaluation of project activities and Ensuring timely implementation of the project activities according to the set targets and deadlines

General qualifications:

-3 years experience in a similar environment
-Social Science degree
-Mature person
-Class 4 Driver’s license a must-those without driver’s license will automatically not be considered.

Skills:

-Good interpersonal and communication skills
-Computer literacy in Microsoft word and excel
-Application Procedures

Applications, quoting the position being applied for, including CV with three referees should be emailed to pmpofu [at] cps [dot] org [dot] zw or phineas [at] cps [dot] org [dot] zw

Head of Human Resources and Administration: ActionAid
Deadline: 25 August 2011

ActionAid is an international anti-poverty agency working in over 40 countries, taking sides with poor people to end poverty and injustice together.

We seek to employ a Head of HR and Admin to provide strategic leadership to the country programme’s human resource and Organization development (HR& OD) processes. The Head of HR and Admin is a member of the Country Management Team of ActionAid International Zimbabwe reporting to the Country Director and is technically supported by the Regional HROD Coordinator based in Nairobi.

The key responsibilities of the position is to develop, implement, interpret and revise as necessary HR/OD policies, procedures and systems; be involved and support in the development of country programme strategies; initiate, catalyze and manage desired organizational learning, change and transformation processes; initiate and facilitate organizational value and culture bundling processes; lead periodic HR and OD strategy, policies, system and procedures reviews; lead the strategic staff performance review and management processes; develop and implement human resource plans and forecasts aligned to country strategy, plans and priorities;  lead the employee resourcing, recruitment, selection, and induction processes; develop and lead the human resource development strategies and initiatives of the organization; lead the strategic and annual plan and budgeting processes for HR and OD programmes and functions; Provide strategic HR and OD support to programme team across the organization, play vital role in the joint team leadership of the country program’s overall engagements.

The ideal candidate will have an MA/MBA in Human Resource Management/Development and a minimum of eight years relevant experience OR BA in Management with a minimum of ten years relevant experience, of which a minimum of three years experience in senior management post; commitment to the mission of the organization; personal qualities of sense of judgment; strong ability and willingness to learn; excellent communication and interpersonal skills, staff responsiveness, value and team work oriented; proven report writing skill are essential; be fluent in both spoken and written English.

To apply submit your curriculum vitae with a motivation letter to jobs.Zimbabwe [at] actionaid [dot] org

While we value all applications, we can only respond to short listed candidates. Whilst all applicants will be assessed strictly on their individual merits, qualified women are especially encouraged to apply.

Driver: UNWOMEN Zimbabwe
Deadline: 25 August 2011

Nationals Only

Type of Contract: Local: Fixed Term Appointment
Level: GS-2
Post Number: 00052112

To apply for this post kindly click here

Office Manager/Local Area & Network Administrator: Australian Embassy
Deadline: 26 August 2011 (close of business)

The Australian Embassy in Harare is seeking an energetic and high performing person to be our Office Manager and Local Area & Network Administrator (LANA).

Responsibilities will include:

Management and training of local engaged staff, recruitment, policy implementation, formulation and development of staff development plans, strategic planning, trouble shooting, procurement and maintenance of IT equipment, consultation and liaison with Finance Manager and other diplomatic staff.

We are looking for someone with a proven managerial record, preferably who has previous experience with an international organisation.

Interested persons should visit www.zimbabwe.embassy.gov.au to obtain the Job Description and other details of the position.  Only applications that address the job description and have proven managerial experience will be considered.

The position salary is $3 200 per month.

Please email your application to: zimbabwe.embassy [at] dfat [dot] gov [dot] au

Finance and Administration Manager: Restless Development
Deadline: 26 August 2011

Based in Harare, Zimbabwe

Restless Development is the global leader in youth-led development – demonstrating that young people can and must play a leading role at all levels of development.

Restless Development Zimbabwe has a Head Office in Harare, with Programme Offices in Plumtree, Matabeleland South.

Restless Development Zimbabwe is entering an exciting new strategic phase, and is looking to find a Finance and Administration Manager with relevant professional qualifications and experience and a passion for Restless Development’s mission to place young people at the forefront of change and development.

Indicative annual net salary: USD$15,848 (approximate gross salary: USD$21,826)

Further information and application pack are available from: www.restlessdevelopment.org

Please note: The Restless Development Application Form and detailed Job Description can be downloaded from www.restlessdevelopment.org and should be sent by e-mail to jobs [at] restlessdevelopment [dot] org

Only applications using the Restless Development Application Form will be considered, CVs will not be accepted.

Restless Development will only contact applicants who have been selected for interview.

A friend of mine recently told me that she’s decided to work for the government.  She is a person I admire who has worked in the development field with nongovernmental organisations all over the world for several years. Naturally I laughed, and pointed out that faced with such a large bureaucracy her grand ideas would waste away. The system would beat her I said, and eventually she’d spend the whole day reading the newspapers and all the while she’d make less money in a month than she currently spent in a weekend. Undaunted by my cynicism, she remained optimistic. ‘How can you change government’, she asked, ‘if you don’t try?’

Both of my parents have spent their entire working careers as civil servants. They both have a background in the human sciences with multiple degrees, and undoubtedly would have found more lucrative careers outside the government. I have listened in on their long conversations about sexism, being passed over for promotions and corruption. I have seen how little they are remunerated for the great amount of time and energy they put into their work. My mother even calls her job community service; while my father is motivated by investing in the dream he watched so many die for. But even with all the frustrations, and sometimes thanklessness that comes with what they do and where they work, the one thing that has never changed is their faith in the dream that is Zimbabwe.

The trouble with your generation’, my father often says to me, ‘is that you aren’t willing to make sacrifices for anything.’ Considering my reaction to my friend’s news, I can’t say I disagree. Like so many Zimbabweans I’m quick to point out what is wrong with our government, and country, and even quicker to take sides in the ZANU-PF / MDC tug of war. Often it is without trying to understand why things are the way they are, or why the other side has picked the position it has picked. For us there is no middle ground, just good guys and bad guys, haves and have-nots. And because we are pulled in different directions we don’t create change or progress in our development, we only create divisions. Unlike, big picture people, like my parents and my friend, we have become caught up in the smaller details such as petty party politics and power struggles. Zimbabwe is a dream we all have to work towards, one life, one bad piece of legislation or bureaucratic process at a time. Just imagine if everyone went to work, not wanting self-aggrandisement, power and money, but instead worked to be the change they wanted to see. Imagine what kind of Zimbabwe that would be.

I see there is a lot of heat concerning the questionable “spending habits” of the Prime Minister, Finance Minister and other senior MDC officials in government and how they are abusing public funds. And heck, they are being investigated by “the law,” and they well could find themselves behind bars where they previously have been guests and would no doubt not relish a night at Matapi!

While of course one cannot afford the luxury of ignoring politicians bloating their faces with money meant for the poor, building humongous manors when across the road are hovels housing dirt poor families, or travelling by air first class when the ordinary Jack has to travel in those ramshackle death-traps called long distance buses they already know will falter, veer off the road and plunge into a ditch, one still has to question this rather apocryphal due diligence of the public defenders who have taken these coalition partners to task about how they are spending public funds. And this is in a country where we have folks who have been in government for barely three years being investigated for alleged fiscal malfeasance when we have men and women who have been at it for three decades exhibiting an indefatigable streak of kleptocracy still holding their heads high and with no lawman daring to throw the book at them.

That is why it has been fairly easy for MDC officials and supporters to dismiss the investigations on the USD1,5 million for the PM’s house and the foreign trips of the FM’s staffers as part of a grand plot that no doubt will unravel as we head for the next polls. We are obviously watching closely how this will pan out, yet I can see a flood of “sympathy votes” in the offing! But it is something to imagine how resources to investigate the abuse of government resources have never been diligently spread to challenge over the decades on anything from the 85 percent disability gratuity claims by men and women who “died for the country” but still walk the earth, housing funds meant for poor civil servants looted without batting an eyelid, tender scams from as far back as the 1980s that remain unpunished, the bankrupting of Roger Boka – we could go on and on and on, but then the hypocrisy of the founding fathers has become legendary. Remember the old man frothing about corrupt colleagues and threatening the wrath of the gods on offenders long before anyone imagined he rule “his Zimbabwe” with anyone? We are not asking that these people not be investigated, we are asking that there be consistency.

Great ain’t it?

Kenny Road runs from Avondale Shops on King George Road west to Kensington shops on Connaught Road. A street of suburban homes between two choice shopping and community centres.

Along this road, people have converted two houses (with a swimming pool) into restaurants and bars. They are ‘Actor Café’, at 7 Kenny Road, and next door ‘Number 9 Pub and Restaurant’. You can see the houses behind hedges, and they are well advertised on the street, so they are easy to find. However, they are illegal.

In October 2006, number 7 applied for a license as a ‘meeting house’. Council refused (meeting of the Environment Management Sub-Committee of the City Council, on 31 October 2006, Item 27 of the minutes) for the following reasons. 1) a site inspection revealed that a restaurant was already being run there! 2) the residents were opposed.

A restaurant is legally a ‘shop’, and this area is not zoned for commercial activity. So commercial activity already prohibited, aside from the fact that they had set up and were running an illegal entity before they even applied. Not to mention they applied for a licence as a ‘meeting place’ when they obviously fully intended to keep running a restaurant.

The first letter in my possession, dated 22 November 2006, reads; To; Mr. Mange He Ho, 7 Kenny Road. From; Psychology Chiwanga, Director of Urban Planning Services, City of Harare. Re; (7 Kenny Road), Avondale, says – there was a meeting to consider the application and it was refused for two reasons.

So, proper procedure had been followed, proper notice given, everything completely open and transparent. We all know it is not to be.

The second letter in my possession is from the Kenny Road residents to Mrs. Vhutuza, Urban Planning, City of Harare, dated 9 July 2009. It complains that nothing has been done. The residents are aware it is illegal, and yet the restaurants are quiet clearly there, and making a lot of noise as they expected (reason for objecting to it in the first place, three years ago).

So the city responds, 28 July 2009. Again, from Psychology Chiwanga, Director of Urban Planning Services, City of Harare. He points out that inspections were carried out, 13 July 2009, and indeed, these revealed both properties had been turned into restaurants, without approval.

Not only without approval, but he takes care to point out that approval could never be given! They are in ‘Residential Zone 1A(i)’, where commercial use is prohibited. And they fall into a zone where a Blanket Enforcement Order has already been issued (and published in the press).

Copies of this letter were sent, for appropriate action to be taken, to:

Secretary, Liquor Licensing Board
Officer in Charge, ZRP Avondale
Director of Health Services

Now, in August 2010, it is all thrust at me! In my wanderings in my area, I can clearly see that the restaurants are open and advertising. Taking in customers. Doing ‘normal’ business, quite openly and dishonestly.

To start, we have one restaurant (two now) operating for, at least, four years. They applied for a license (not even the correct one) when they were already operating as a restaurant, in 2006, and were refused (as the law requires).

So they have been operating illegally, taking in money and one assumes not paying tax etc, for at least four years.

The authorities (Police, City, Liquor Licensing, Health) are aware of it, have investigated it and seen it to be illegal, have communicated with each other on it’s illegality, and have done nothing. For four years!

Is Zimbabwe a country where the rule of law prevails? Certainly not in this case. It is illegal in terms of health. It is illegal in terms of zoning and use. It is illegal in terms of license (several – Liquor, Restaurant/Tourism tax, probably more). Do the police know of this and stop it? Yes and no.

I see Theresa Makoni, Co-Minister of Home Affairs, is reported to have made recent remarks, “the police are now executing their duties professionally”. Is this what constitutes “professionalism” in her opinion? There has been letters sent (does the post office not work?) by one authority to another. Can one authority not write? Or another not read? We assume they can, therefore the information must have been passed. Yet, quite obviously, the law is being broken, and nothing is being done.

While this might be the neighbours’ problem – they suffer from the loud noise until sun up, parking in the street, a security problem, etc., What about all the rest of us? We have a Health Ministry that really does not care about Health. Or they would not let an unlicensed establishment operate. We have a Liquor Board that does not care if, or who, alcohol is sold to. Aside from the loss of revenue – which they would not get as it can never be licensed – they have no control of what is actually happening. We have a municipality, with it’s own police force (for which they are constantly asking to be given power of arrest), that will maybe clamp your car for not paying the parking meter, but will allow two restaurants to run (taking in a LOT more money than a parking ticket) for four years!

And the common people on the street? Who pays taxes, is supposed to respect the authority of the people in uniform, upholds the laws of Zimbabwe as they are written and decided in parliament? Well, you are getting taken for a ride. You are being abused. You are being horribly wronged. For everyone who pays their tourism tax – stop doing it! There is obviously no need. We have the real life example of establishments, who do not ‘appear’, getting away with it for four years. Everyone who applies for and gets licenses, and pays their regular license fees – don’t do it! There is no need! People get away with it for four years. The people who drive on the left hand side of the road – don’t bother. It may be ‘the law’ but who cares? People break the law for four years (in a big way, it is difficult to hide two houses, and they advertise!) and no one arrests them.

The rumour is (and it is a rumour, there is no evidence at all), they are paying someone ‘powerful’ / in government / influential, etc. Well, whoever they are paying, he (or she) should be in jail. Aside from the fact that they are stealing our money (you and I pay taxes in an open and honest manner, that goes into a public purse, while ‘others’ make a living without anything going back to the public purse, so we are asked to pay more taxes), he/she giving us a health risk, aiding the misuse of alcohol, (very possibly increasing the AIDS epidemic), destroying the authority of the police (and other uniformed services by extension), and more ramifications that their pocket (which gets bigger everyday) is not concerned about. They are selling your soul/health/good life/education/safety for their personal gain.

But that is okay; it is only the neighbours problem.