The Kentucky Derby (pronounced “Darby”) arrived in Harare! We raided my daughter’s dressing up box for hats for everyone, and the kids managed to keep them on for most of the day! I had a huge purple striped hippy hat, which kept flopping into my face at the front, forcing me to peer at people out the side, with one eye. The only thing stopping the crowds of single men (already an exaggeration) must’ve been my progeny, clamouring for “uppy”, imprinting my legs and dress with sticky fingers and offering half mouthfuls from the buffet. I get to finish off everything tasted but not enjoyed, with a dash of slobber, sometimes a generous sprinkling of grass where it has been dropped and hastily recovered – if you’re not paying attention, you don’t even have time to clean these bits off as it gets shoved into your mouth mid-conversation. I blame it on the kids, but, well, it could’ve been the hat. And I’m not entirely sure there were many singles there – I was focused on my hat (naturally, being foremost in my vision) and the horses, and keeping the kids out of the flowerbed. But only when you are at a diplomat’s house! Did I mention the time they took wax crayons to a newly painted house? Austrian diplomats. Graham spent much of lunch that day with a scrubber and Handy Andy discreetly purloined from the staff in the kitchen while I distracted everyone with tales of poisonous spiders and prolific snakes – the dangers of living in the “bush”.

After several mint juleps (a Southern cocktail with spearmint, bourbon, sugar and water), I removed my high heels, flinging all decorum to the wind, or the flowerbed if we’re going to be accurate. The heels had bothered me much of the afternoon, sinking into the luscious lawn several times, culminating with me almost smacking myself in the face with my knee. My daughter wore them thereafter, although I still say the exchange was hardly fair – I couldn’t get my big toe into her sandals!

Anyway I left, far too late and many multiple juleps later, clutching my winnings, forgetting my hat on the table and my red high heels jutting out of the flowerbed (where my son had been using them in construction), but very jolly after an afternoon in the sun, at the races, pampered by Southern hospitality.

Why would one assume that others are gossiping about him/her just because they happen to be speaking amongst themselves in a language he/she doesn’t understand?  I often get that when a group of us are speaking SiNdebele around non-speakers.  Forget that we simply derive pleasure from conversing in our own tongue.  The reason SiNdebele is spoken is to gossip about other people because we really have nothing better to talk about.  It’s very irritating!

I suppose there is something in all of us that makes us regard with suspicion people who are different from ourselves.  And the differentiator needn’t be on major grounds, like being of another tribe, race or religion.  These days even a girl who doesn’t wear weaves in her hair is an oddity to be questioned, “What is wrong with her?”

The problem is when one isn’t open to accepting people’s differences distrust often results.  We then keep away from the object of suspicion and unwittingly become fertile ground for perpetuating prejudices.  So because I have limited interaction with Ndebeles, albinos and women with cropped hair, I then see these groups as being violent, practising witch craft and being lesbian.  Sadly, no matter how far-fetched or ridiculous the notion, lack of knowledge makes it all true.

It gets worse.  Stereotyping leads to intolerance which in turn breeds fear and hate.  And we wonder why society is plagued by discrimination, oppression and hate-crimes. Most people feel insulted and angered when they are exposed to politicians attempts to manipulate them. “What do they take us for?!” we hiss at rhetoric and blatant falsifications of the truth.

Well, let it be known that given the right circumstances – our own existing ignorance and suspicion of anyone different – politicians can and do successfully get the populace to think and act exactly how they want.  All it takes is for us to have the right conditions within ourselves; distrust, fear, hatred and prejudice.  For as long as we are unwilling to embrace peoples’ differences then the history of mankind will continue to be coloured red with genocides because we cannot accept that people look, dress, talk, worship and live differently.

In our fertile soils, each one of us can passively stand by or actively participate in forced evictions, Xenophobic attacks, ethnic cleansing, world wars etc, etc … the possibilities are endless.

Author and historian Blessing-Miles Tendi shared with Kubatana his response to Peter Godwin’s recent opinion piece in the New York Times:

Peter Godwin wrote an article entitled “Making Mugabe Laugh” in the International Herald Tribune on 20 April 2011. In the article Godwin claimed that the Ivory Coast under its recently ousted President Laurent Gbagbo and Zimbabwe, led by President Robert Mugabe, have some “striking parallels”. Godwin argues that both countries, led by highly educated presidents or intellectual-politicians who were liberators from repressive regimes, were once viewed as success stories in their respective regions. These parallels are true but they are hardly striking.

Africa has and continues to be led by many other intellectual-politicians who are also viewed as “liberators” of some sort. President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, former South Africa President Thabo Mbeki and Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika are only a few examples. Similarly Godwin’s narrative of a “success” story gone wrong can be applied to several African countries. Moreover, when Godwin likens Gbagbo and Mugabe by arguing that they resorted to “racist vestments of extreme nativism” he simplifies the deeply complex and different motives for both leaders’ actions.

Godwin also invents similarities in order to bolster his straw man argument that the Ivory Coast and Zimbabwe bear some “striking similarities”. For instance he asserts that the “two countries have also been similarly plagued by north-south conflicts”. This is an irresponsible distortion of history. Indeed the Ivory Coast has been deeply divided by a north-south conflict centring on religion, among other important factors. However, Zimbabwe has never experienced a north-south conflict in its history.

Where the Ivory Coast and Zimbabwe “crucially diverge”, Godwin argues, is that whereas West Africa’s leading power Nigeria refused to recognize Gbagbo after he lost the 2010 presidential election to Alassane Ouattara, Southern Africa’s leading state South Africa helped Mugabe stay in power after he lost the 2008 election. According to Godwin former South African president Mbeki “bullied” opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai into a power-sharing government led by Mugabe. Such a conclusion can only be reached by someone who has never taken the time to interview all the political actors involved in Zimbabwe’s 2008 power-sharing negotiations. Had Godwin done this, he would know that Tsvangirai was not bullied into a power-sharing arrangement. Negotiators to the power-sharing agreement, including Mbeki, have all recounted to me in interviews that sharing power was at the time the only viable solution to the 2008 political deadlock in Zimbabwe. The terms of the power-sharing agreement were crafted and agreed on by Zimbabwe’s rival political parties – not Mbeki as Godwin seems to believe.

I share Godwin’s criticism that power-sharing is a “democracy-defying model”. The spread of the model in recent years is a cause for concern. But it is clear that the question of how to resolve conflict in Africa remains extremely complex, and there may be good reasons for thinking that in some cases the benefits outweigh the costs. After all, power-sharing is usually justified principally in terms of the number of lives it is likely to save in the short term. However, in order to make accurate decisions as to when these benefits outweigh the costs, it is essential to fully recognise the barriers that power-sharing may create to genuine reform. Even if power-sharing arrangements do deliver greater peace and stability in the short term, their flaws suggest that it should only be used as a last resort.

Godwin is wrong when he writes that “Zimbabwe’s democratic opposition has been rewarded by the international community by being largely ignored”. By international community I presume that Godwin means the West. Here in Britain, where I reside, Zimbabwe features in the media frequently and it is discussed in parliament more than any other African state. There are even combined American and European Union targeted sanctions against Zimbabwe – something more undemocratic and human rights violating states such as Angola, Swaziland, Equatorial Guinea, Pakistan and Middle East states are not subject to.

The problem with the West is that double standards on global human rights and democracy promotion have helped Mugabe to cast and reject Western interference as imperialism. Western double standards have become undemocratic regimes’ fall guy for their unwillingness to introduce genuine, indigenous, workable and sovereign institutions for human rights promotion and protection. Consequently, Godwin’s call for America to support democracy and human rights movements in Zimbabwe is misguided. America and the West are part of the problem – not the solution – in Zimbabwe’s problems.

The Youth Forum shares this invitation for feedback and debate:

A lot of media hype has been created around the election roadmap for Zimbabwe that has again been the centre of intense negotiations amongst negotiators from Zanu PF and the two MDC formations. The Youth Forum will in the coming weeks be hosting discussions and consultations among youth on whether Zimbabwe is really in need of a special election roadmap. This is against the background that SADC approved in 2004 principles and guidelines governing democratic elections. Other SADC countries notably South Africa and Botswana have developed sound electoral systems based on these principles and guidelines.

The Youth Forum contends that if properly and fully followed, these guidelines can lead to the holding of a free and fair election in Zimbabwe. Section 7 of the SADC guidelines clearly lays out specific requirements to guarantee credible elections by member states. The Youth Forum will therefore seek to give young people a chance to scrutinize both the roadmap and the guidelines and detailed analyses of both will be made to determine whether SADC is not going round in circles in facilitating negotiations over the current proposed Zimbabwe election roadmap.

Read the:

• Zimbabwe Election Roadmap draft
• SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections

And share your comments below or contact youthforumpublicity [at] gmail [dot] com with your input.

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.

Project Officer – People Up Project: Practical Action Southern Africa
Deadline: 6 May 2011

Practical Action Southern Africa is part of an international technology development organisation headquartered in the United Kingdom, seeks to recruit a Project Officer for the People up Project based in Harare.

Key performance areas will include inter alia:

-Conducting quality control management on the project activities being undertaken.

-Participating in Monitoring and Evaluation of project progress against the original intention and design.

-Facilitating relevant thematic workshops with internal and external stakeholders.

-Producing monthly reports  to assist in project implementation so as to ensure successful completion

-Producing material for publication and documentation, to inform all stakeholders on progress and challenges.

-Conducting field research for the People Up project.

-Assisting in lobbying and advocacy activities to build the endorsement of Practical Action.

-Recruiting beneficiaries with the assistance of the supervisor.

-Engaging in public relations and networking to identify synergies and strengthen existing partnerships

-Participating in fundraising activities in support of Practical Action opportunities’ so that Urban Services are met.

Person Specifications:

-Bachelors Degree or Higher National Diploma in Rural & Urban Planning, Engineering, Development Studies or any related discipline.

-2 years NGO experience,

-Excellent interpersonal skills.

-Excellent computer skills

-Excellent communication skills a must i.e. both written and spoken

Send applications and detailed CVs to: Human Capital and Administration Manager, Practical Action, 4 Ludlow Rd, Newlands, Harare or email to: hc [at] practicalactionzw [dot] org

Four (4) vacancies: International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Deadline: 6 May 2011

Location: Mutare

IRC intends to implement a project to mitigate risks of water borne disease outbreaks focusing on community adoption of households’ water treatment practices.  The project will focus mainly on community behavior change through social marketing of Point of Use (PoU) water treatment products, promoting grassroots distribution systems of retail and kiosk owners in remote rural areas and creating demand of the products through community awareness raising. Four (4) positions have arisen and all will be based in Mutare with job responsibilities covering Manicaland Province. The contract is for a period of twelve (12) months

1. Project Manager  – WASH

The Project Manager WASH plays an important role in the International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) field office management structure and is responsible for the supervision of four officers.

Job Responsibilities

-Responsible for the overall management of the project which includes staff and the design of appropriate tools to spearhead community education on PoU water treatment techniques while working with the local authorities, government departments, schools authorities and traditional leaders.

-Prepare timely work plans and promote quality in project deliverables.

-Represent IRC and collaborate, plan and liaise with key local government officials, NGOs and community members in the implementation of project activities.

-Monitoring and documenting achievement of project outputs and objectives.

-Prepare and submit timely quality internal and donor project reports on field activities with indicators tracking.

-Participate in needs assessment activities.

-Manage project assets and budget management (Budget vs Actual expenditure tracking).

-Represent IRC in WASH Cluster Provincial coordination meetings to foster positive interaction and good working relations with all partners.

Skills and Qualifications

-Degree in Public Health, Health Education and Promotion or Social Studies with a strong bias on community development in WASH.

-Two years of professional experience managing WASH programs and experience in implementing OFDA funded projects is an added advantage.

-Strong understanding of Monitoring & Evaluation of WASH programs.

-Excellent interpersonal, organizational and time management skills.

-Capable of training staff and motivating community support.

-Operational knowledge of Microsoft Office software, knowledge of GIS mapping a plus.

2. Social Marketing Officer (SMO) x 2

Job responsibilities

-Responsible for organizing the provincial, district and ward level stakeholder inception/launch workshops/meetings.

-Identifying, assessing and listing down potential grassroots distributors of household PoU water treatment products in remote areas.

-Training the identified grassroots distributors on social marketing, business management and promotion of linkages with distributors and transporters.

-Rebranding places like kiosks, retail shops with household PoU water treatment products promotional materials and organize the grassroots household PoU water treatment products distributors to form buying clusters.

-Carrying out community based educational sessions on promotion of household PoU water treatment products at schools, business centers, market places etc.

-Develop & implementing a monitoring system to measure residual chlorine levels of treated water at household level.

-Monitoring and documenting achievement of use of PoU water treatment products as a project output.

-Prepare and submit timely and quality internal project reports on activities.

Skills and Qualifications

-Diploma in Marketing with a strong bias on community social marketing.

-Experience implementing WASH programs and experience in implementing OFDA-funded projects is an added advantage.

-Strong understanding of Monitoring & Evaluation of WASH programs.

-Capable of training communities and motivating community support.

-Operational knowledge of Microsoft Office software, knowledge of GIS mapping a plus.

3. Hygiene Promotion Officer (HPO)

Job responsibilities

-Responsible for identifying existing and establishing new school hygiene clubs, supporting their functioning and roll out their plans as vehicle for hygiene promotion.

-Carrying out training to School Hygiene Club Coordinators and community hygiene club leaders.

-Support the setting up of a Healthy Corner at school events such as soccer and athletics competitions.

-Spearheading community based educational sessions on promotion of behavior change.

-Supporting District WASH commemoration events.

-Monitoring and documenting achievement of behavior change project output and objective.

-Prepare and submit timely quality internal project reports and indicators tracking.

-Represent IRC in WASH coordination meetings/forums at district level to foster positive interaction and good working relations with all partners.

Qualifications

-Diploma in Environmental Health, Public Health Promotion with a strong bias on community development in WASH.

-Two years experience implementing WASH programs and experience in implementing OFDA funded projects is an added advantage.

-Strong understanding of Monitoring & Evaluation of WASH programs.

-Capable of training communities and motivating community support.

-Operational knowledge of Microsoft Office software, knowledge of GIS mapping a plus.

Qualified candidates should send their detailed CVs and cover letters to Zimbabwe [at] theirc [dot] org and write title of the position they are applying for in the subject line.

Youth & Adolescent Development Specialist at NOC Level: United Nations Children’s Fund
Deadline: 9 May 2011

Based in Harare, Zimbabwe (Fixed Term Post)

Vacancy Notice No. Zim/2011:08

UNICEF, the world’s leading children’s rights organization, has an opening for passionate and committed professionals who want to make a lasting difference for children in Zimbabwe. We are seeking people with a commitment for women and children, high drive for results, demonstrable embracing of diversity, integrity, demonstrable teamwork, good self-awareness and self-regulation.

Purpose of the Job:

Under the general guidance of the Chief of Communications, provides support in the conceptualization, planning, execution, monitoring and evaluation of child and youth participation strategy to promote respect for children’s’ and women’s’ rights and support UNICEF’s mission in Zimbabwe with approx.

Major Tasks to be accomplished:

* Actively contributes to the development and implementation of a Government of Zimbabwe/UNICEF child and youth participation strategy that will accelerate the realization of children’s and young people’s rights in Zimbabwe.

* Liaises and advocates with parliamentarians, civic society, private sector and independent providers on the benefits of, and need for, children’s participation as key stakeholders in social development and political agenda. e.g. participation in the legislative and Constitutional reforms; policies and programmes.

* Identifies and creates opportunities for child and young people’s meaningful participation where children’s and young people’s views, experiences and beliefs are heard, considered and acted upon. Explores the use of regional communication platforms, such as “Speak Africa” – Speak Zimbabwe to encourage dialogue and learning among children and young people.

* Provides technical support to strengthen the capacity of child and young people’s national structures and representations in government, civil society and children’s organizations e.g. child parliament, junior councilors, child protection committees, child participation clubs and other school based participation programmes.

* Works with children and young people to appreciate the regional and international legal and policy instruments on children and young people.  These include the UNCRC; ACRWC; African Youth Charter; A call for accelerated action on AFFC.

* Support operational research, documentation, information sharing and dissemination of good practices on child and young people’s participation, with government; civil society; young people and children, private sector and other partners.

* Facilitate coordination of child and young people’s participation within UNICEF country programme; UNCT and Government, civil society and other partners.

* Contributes to fundraising strategies for overall communications and advocacy, with special focus on child and young people’s participation.

* Draft relevant chapters for Annual Reviews; Reports on child and young people’s participation.

Qualifications and Competencies:

* Advanced university degree in social/ political sciences, or equivalent professional work experience in the child and young people’s participation area, or in related field.

* At least five years progressively responsible professional work experience in child and young people’s development and participation programmes, of which two years should be in developing countries.

* Good analytical and organizational skills and ability to work in a multicultural environment.

* General ability to express clearly and concisely ideas and concepts in written and oral form, specific skills in writing policy briefs and position papers on children’s rights, child and youth participation.

If you have experience of working in a similar capacity, meet the above profile and want to make an active and lasting contribution to build a better world for children, send your application quoting vacancy notice number to the following address:

HR Specialist

(Vacancy Notice No. Zim/2011:08)

UNICEF, 6 Fairbridge Avenue,

P O Box 1250

Belgravia, Harare

Or email: hararevacancies [at] gmail [dot] com

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Communication Officer at NOB Level
Deadline: 9 May 2011

Based in Harare, Zimbabwe (Fixed Term Post)

Vacancy Notice No. Zim/2011:09

Purpose of the Job:

Under the general guidance of the Chief of Communications, undertakes the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluating of an advocacy and communication strategy to get children’s and women’s issues into the public domain, strengthen donor and political will in support of UNICEF’s mission and objectives in Zimbabwe, and enhance the organization’s credibility and brand.  The Communications Officer also extends support to the co-ordination and dissemination of communications message through the local and international media and is responsible for the website of the Zimbabwe country office.

Major Tasks to be accomplished:

* Works on the production of communication products, including the country office website.

* Drafts background information, fact sheets, communication and other promotional advocacy materials for briefing visits, media, Goodwill Ambassadors and other special interest groups.

* Supports the development, drafting and maintenance of information and relationships with journalists and media outlets

* Writes articles, speeches, press releases, other public information materials and reports, as well as contributes to development of communication messages and materials for the traditional and web based media outlets

* Distribution and dissemination of advocacy materials from NY, Geneva, the Regional Office and the country office to identified partners and other target audiences. Helps to identify the need for additional materials/activities, such as radio and television programmes, publications, photographs, websites, etc., to advocate and promote organizational goals within the country.

* Facilitates engagement with nationally known personalities and helps to organize special events and activities to support country programme goals.  Generates public support for special events.

* Supports social mobilization and media through organizing community participation of key players and through organising field visits and media training events; photo coverage and TV Footage, using both the traditional and web based media as appropriate.

Qualifications and Competencies:

* University degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations; or equivalent professional work experience in the communication area, combined with an advanced university degree in a related discipline

* At least five years progressively responsible professional work experience in communication, print and broadcast media or interactive digital media, of which two years should be in developing countries.

* General ability to express clearly and concisely ideas and concepts in written and oral form; specific skills in writing press releases and articles/stories for traditional, electronic and new media.

* Proven ability to conceptualize, plan and execute ideas, as well as impart knowledge and teach skills

* Ability to work in a multicultural environment.

If you have experience of working in a similar capacity, meet the above profile and want to make an active and lasting contribution to build a better world for children, send your application quoting vacancy notice number to the following address:

HR Specialist

(Vacancy Notice No. Zim/2011:09)

UNICEF, 6 Fairbridge Avenue,

P O Box 1250

Belgravia, Harare

Or email: hararevacancies [at] gmail [dot] com

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

No major changes in the MDC’s leadership after their Congress. Chingoka re-elected Chairman of Zimbabwe cricket. Mugabe says the media in Zimbabwe should be objective. Tsvangirai promises $100 economy.

Sadly its not April Fools Day.