Lessons and challenges from the coalition government of Zimbabwe and Kenya brought together civil society representatives from the two nations under the weeklong Utetezi exchange visit in Zimbabwe. Kenya’s civil society members are in Zimbabwe to share experiences particularly in areas of national healing and reconciliation, governments of national unity and the constitution making process. The similarities between the two nations are just too many to ignore as the social, political and economic challenges experienced by both nations depict a similar picture. The two nations were once colonised by Britain and they both inherited badly written constitutions, which failed to address marginalization and injustices perpetrated during the pre and post-colonial era. The failed promises of independence saw further marginalisation of people and alienation of fertile land as the political elite amended and manipulated the constitution for personal gain.

Political power is now being used as a gateway to riches as the majority continue to wallow in poverty.

One can easily describe these coalition governments currently running both nations as initiatives brought about not out of good faith, but out of frustration. Zimbabwe, just like Kenya shares the same history of rejected constitutions. In  2000 Zimbabwe passed a “NO” vote over a constitution, which they regarded as not people driven and the same happened in Kenya in 2005 when President Mwai Kibaki tried to fast track a constitution, which had no input from the people. The same debatable issue around executive powers of the president, land, devolution of power, accountability, the re-structuring of the political system, the rule of law characterise the constitution making history of the two nations.

The exchange visit also focused on the role of civil society in shaping political discourse. The recent crack down of dissenting voices in Zimbabwe, particularly the politicisation of the work of civil society indicates the growing concern over the urgent need for reforms. Zimbabwe’s civil society was urged not to lie dormant but take its rightful place in society.

The journey to national healing and reconciliation resulted in the formation of the Organ on National Healing in Zimbabwe and the adoption of the Human Rights Commission, which recently came under fire for lack of independence and capacity. One speaker said that “change is not an activity but a process”, the current transitional period, which Zimbabwe is currently going through, could be compared to the situation where Kenya was ten to fifteen years ago. A constitution can remain a piece of paper unless it is put to use to solve the social, political and economic problems facing the nation. And if the nation is to progress political leaders need to drop self-aspirations and question the status quo.

Pocket sized printed versions of the Constitution are distributed in Kenya.

Zimbabwe lags behind.

Pope Benedict XVI is to step down; Pontiff says his age means he lacks strength to do job. More

Baseline assessment: Community mobilization for PMTCT and Pediatric HIV in Zimbabwe: SAfAIDS

Introduction
SAfAIDS is a partner in the FACE-Pediatric HIV Consortium, which is implementing a five-year national program to eliminate new HIV infections in children and improve the survival of mothers and children in line with the national strategic plan. SAfAIDS’ principal role in the partnership is to strengthen community participation and engagement in integrated PMTCT and Pediatric HIV Care.

The Assignment
The PMTCT Community Mobilisation Baseline Assessment
The consultant is expected to undertake a baseline assessment of community mobilization initiatives supporting increased uptake of integrated PMTCT services baseline assessment. The assessment will gather baseline data to facilitate project monitoring and evaluation.

Purpose of the Baseline Assessment
The purpose of this assessment is to gather baseline data that will inform SAfAIDS and the FACE Pediatric HIV Consortium with the design, implementation and evaluation of community mobilization approaches.

For more information and to apply please click here

Committee of the Peoples Charter (CPC) Press Statement on Proposed Government Exit Packages:

‘Say No to the Inclusive Government’s Politics of the Belly’

Issue Date: February 08 2013

The Committee of the Peoples Charter (CPC) is gravely disappointed with the departure lounge intentions of the inclusive government’s ministers and the current Parliament to award themselves ‘exit’ packages in the form of luxury vehicles and houses, as reported in the February 8-14 edition of the Zimbabwe Independent. Such an intention is grossly hypocritical as well as thoroughly unjustified and undeserved.

In a year where the country is facing a major drought as well as deplorable social services where there is lack of clean drinking water, affordable health care and a crisis in our education system, awarding these policy makers these ridiculous exit packages would be the height of political insensitivity.

These leaders would do well to be reminded that being in government is a service to the people of Zimbabwe and not a mechanism through which they must seek to enrich themselves.  Unfortunately this latest intention is only but the latest indication of the warped thinking that informs the inclusive government where and when it comes to matters of allowances and perks for its officials.

Against better advice, the inclusive government has over the last four years had a ridiculously high foreign travel bill, a penchant for purchasing luxury vehicles for ministers and their deputies while simultaneously claiming that the country has a mere US$217,00 in its bank account. That MPs and ministers now want ‘exit packages’  is akin to severance packages in a country where unemployment is reportedly as high as 80%, can only be viewed as a demonstration of utter contempt for the suffering of the ordinary people.

The CPC strongly advises the inclusive government and parliament to show contrition and sensitivity to the people that elected them into office by not seeking to loot the national purse for personal aggrandizement.

Zimbabwe is neither their personal tuck-shop nor theirs to treat as an ‘endgame takes all you can’ country.  Where the inclusive government decides to proceed with dishing out exit packages to itself, the CPC shall mobilize all Zimbabweans against such extravagance.

Consultancy: Translation of the Advocacy Toolkit  from English to Shona and Ndebele

Voluntary Service Overseas is an international development charity organization that works through and with people (volunteers) to fight global poverty.VSO has been in Zimbabwe since the 1980′s and initially its mandate was sourcing and delivering human capital to government and other institutions. VSO Zimbabwe is registered under the PVO Act of 2003(PVO 27/2010).

VSO Zimbabwe is part of an international organization that operates in more than 40 countries and has over 90 years of experience in development work. During that period, VSO International has placed over 40,000 professional volunteers into different professions globally. As a result of these efforts, over 14 million children are receiving a better education and almost five million people are accessing better quality HIV and AIDS services, and over a million disabled people are better able to enforce their rights to education and health services.

VSO is always looking for new ways to turn human energy and ingenuity into lasting change. VSO Zimbabwe has send professionals to share their skills with their local counterparts as one aspect of our vibrant National Volunteering Programme. The programme is also working towards enhancing national professional volunteerism in Zimbabwe.VSO work is demand driven. We embrace a range of development methods that allow us to provide whatever kind of help is needed most, including promoting international strategies and action, knowledge brokering and youth exchanges. We no longer exclusively recruit from the developed world as over 30 per cent of our volunteers come from within the country their nationality. VSO has just initiated a South to South fellowship programme where professionals from southern countries exchange knowledge and ideas through a 60 day exchange programme. At a global level, VSO is working very closely with the Commonwealth in promoting international learning exchange visits. (Commonwealth Fellowship Programme)

Purpose of the consultancy
VSO would like to recruit a consultant / consultancy firm / company or organization to translate the Advocacy Toolkit from English to Shona and Ndebele.

Criteria for selection
-Professional knowledge in Advocacy, Governance and law.
-Professional experience of at least 3 years in translation of community interventions material to shona and Ndebele.
-Strong analytical skills and good Shona and Ndebele writing skills.
-Experience and familiarity with communication for advocacy.
-Good appreciation of effective communication and facilitation skills, with readily available examples of translated work particularly on community interventions in Zimbabwe.
-An understanding of community interventions in Zimbabwe and interpersonal communication issues is an added advantage.

TORs for the consultancy may be requested from: peter.mutoredzanwa [at] vsoint [dot] org

Please submit applications including a proposal in a sealed envelope marked “Translation – Advocacy Toolkit” no later than 12 noon on 8 February 2013 to:
The Country Director, Voluntary service Overseas, Ref: Translation – Advocacy Toolkit, Room 14 Cambitzis Building, King George Rd, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe, P.O. Box CY 1836 Causeway, Harare; or by e-mail to peter.mutoredzanwa [at] vsoint [dot] org

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.

Programme Manager: Trocaire
Deadline: 8 February 2013

Description of the unit / department: Trocaire is one of Ireland’s leading agencies working for global justice and promoting human development. The International Division is responsible for Trocaire’s development and humanitarian work worldwide.

Background to the Role
The purpose of the country unit in Trocaire’s structure is to deliver results for poor people, achieving change through development, humanitarian and advocacy work which empowers poor and marginalised people to take increased control over decisions that affect their lives and to improve the quality of their lives, in the particular countries where we work. The country is also responsible for contributing to the achievement of Trocaire’s overarching goals in relation to international advocacy, campaigns, communications, fundraising and marketing.

The Programme Manager role is a new role, responding to a strategic decision to deepen Trocaire’s investment in programme quality management at country level.

For more information and to apply please click here

Programs Coordinator: National Association of Social Workers Zimbabwe (NASW-Z)
Deadline: 8 February 2013

Background to the Position
The National Association of Social Workers Zimbabwe (NASW-Z) is as a voluntary, membership-based, non-partisan, non-tribal, non-racial, non-discriminatory and not-for-profit organization, which was established in order to advance the interests of social workers and raise their professional status. In furtherance of its mandate and in its contribution to the Social Welfare Workforce Strengthening in Zimbabwe, NASW has entered into strategic partnerships with various stakeholders to run various programmes including a Social Worker Graduate Internship Program and other exciting innovations in the delivery of social work interventions in Zimbabwe. In this regard, the Association is seeking to recruit a Programmes Coordinator to run its programmes.

Job Summary
Reporting to the NASWZ National Executive Council (NEC) through the President of the Association or his designate, the main role of the Coordinator is to be the leader of the Association’s Secretariat, designing programmes and leading resource mobilizationefforts, overseeing the implementation of programmes and to be the face of the Association as assigned by the NEC. The Coordinator will assume the following responsibilities:

Key Functions of the post
-Oversee the Implementation of NASW programmes including the student and graduate internship program
-Design and develop programme management and resource mobilization strategies and systems
-Design, coordinate and support activities of the National Association of Social Workersincluding membership mobilization and retention
-Monitoring and evaluation of the Association’s Programmes
-Produce monthly, quarterly and annual progress reports and submit the same to the NEC
-Network and represent NASWZ at various social/child protection forums and meetings
-Technical backstopping for consultants on delivery based contracts
-Oversee day to day operations of the Association, including managing staff of the association at national and branch level
-Ensure effective management of resources and put in place systems for accountability to members and funders

Qualifications and Experience: Applicants must meet the following criteria
-Primary University degree in social work and registered with the Council of Social Workers
-An advanced degree is an added advantage
-NASW membership is a must
-Good Presentation skills
-Excellent communication skills
-At least 3 years experience working with vulnerable people and one year must be at lower to middle management level supervising people
-Understanding of the country’s labour laws and collective bargaining issues desirable but not a must
-Ability to work with little or no supervision
-Results oriented and able to work under pressure
-Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation
-Experience working within a multi stakeholder project

Female Applicants with the relevant qualifications and experience are encouraged to apply.

Email your application to: nasw.sec [at] gmail [dot] com or nasw.hararebranch [at] gmail [dot] com

Accountant: International Union Against TB and Lung Disease
Deadline: 12 February 2013

The International Union Against TB and Lung Disease (The Union) is an international scientific organisation headquartered in Paris, France and with 14 offices worldwide. To fulfill its mission, its office in Zimbabwe has a vacancy for an Accountant based in Harare. S/he will work closely, on a day-to-day basis, with and report to The Union’s Senior Administrator in Zimbabwe. The post holder will also provide financial support to the Director of The Union Zimbabwe Office and program co-ordinators. The successful candidate shall apply accounting principles and policies to assist in the analysis of financial information, prepare accurate and timely financial reports and statements and ensure the implementation of appropriate accounting control procedures. Applicants should posses a recognized accounting qualification or equivalent with a minimum of 3 years’ experience in the management of financial systems and budgets, financial accounting and reporting and financial data analysis.

For full details of the job and responsibilities, please visit The Union’s website, www.theunion.org
Condition of Employment – Initially one year contract subject to renewal based on performance and availability of funding.

Please send CV + motivation letter to: hrzimbabwe [at] theunion [dot] org