“Only if a coach is to sit on a national selection panel then that person should have international experience, in terms of paragraph 2.2 of the directive”

This directive has infuriated a lot people especially those in the sporting fraternity particularly those who have ambitions to coach or sit on selection panels of national sports. This directive came from the Sports and Recreation Commission and has sucked in the Minister of Sports of Sports and Culture, Senator David Coltart.

The reason why the directive has been seen to be racist in nature is the fact that there are some sporting activities which here in Zimbabwe have been regarded to be for the minority and for the elite. This was due to the fact that it was very rare (and it is still) to see at swimming pool at a government school in Chitungwiza. I remember when I was in primary in my hometown Chitungwiza, there was only one school with a cricket pitch. Every Friday all primary schools in Chitungwiza would gather at St Aidan for a cricket knock out tournament.

Given such a scenario of scarce resources how would do you then expect to groom players who can play these kinds of sports at international level so that one day they can sit on the national selector’s panel? Should we keep on blaming the whites for making the sports elite especially after almost 33 years of independence?

The alleged row at Zimbabwe Cricket seems to have been sparked by the Minister’s directive and some black players who have been sitting on the Cricket Zimbabwe’s national selection panel feel the directive is targeted at them. By throwing in racist allegations these selectors are trying to play to the gallery so that they receive some political sympathy while covering up for the poor results. Regardless of color nobody wants to support losers and that’s the reason why the nation has supported Kirsty Coventry and the Black family without mentioning racism.

My suggestion to the SRC directive is for the government to invest in sports so that no sporting activity will be regarded to be for the minority or elite. Sports have become a source of livelihood and many dreams and aspirations have been to put halt because of lack of resources.

Finance and Administration Officer: Absolute Return for Kids (ARK)
Deadline: 21 January 2013

Job Purpose
The role’s main objective is to ensure proper financial management of ARK Zimbabwe’s affairs and in particular to ensure that funded programmes effectively procure products and services so that projects are able to deliver the agreed outcomes to the time and budget agreed. The Administration and Finance Officer will therefore contribute to the overall good function of ARK and delivery of its agreed goals.

Reporting Relationships: Reporting to the Country Director

Liaison Relationships
-Internal: All staff, including London based colleagues
-External: MOHCW, UNICEF other Development Partners

Principal Accountabilities
-Administration of office expenses
-Management and control of petty cash
-Preparation of payment documentation and ensuring payments made to schedule
-Provision of fully coded financial transaction data to financial accountant
-Monitoring internal and external expenditures, providing regular updates to the Country Director, and alerting Country Director to possible budget overspend in timely manner
-Supporting the costing of programme activities and the drafting of office and programme budgets
-Ensuring good administration and procurement procedures and compliance with Financial and Administrative policies and procedures
-Ensuring human resource needs for the organization are being met
-Managing overall infrastructure for the office, including office supplies and basic equipment
-Procuring products and services for ARK and ARK supported programs on time and according to defined specifications
-Maintaining an inventory of assets and supplies

Requirements
-Strong numeracy skills
-Ability to present data in easily accessible way
-Excellent organizational, planning and logistical skills with a proactive attitude and attention to detail
-Strong inter-personal skills, enhancing team work culture
-Ability to identify and confidence to report risks and problems in appropriate way
-Excellent computer skills (Excel, Word Powerpoint) and significant experience with email administration and internet usage
-Ability to work efficiently under time pressure
-Ability to handle confidential information appropriately
-Skilled at prioritizing and completing multiple tasks
-Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as in a team environment
-Able to work additional hours or to vary hours when required
- Able to travel away from office when required

Qualification And Experience
-Degree level education, ideally with some Finance and Business Administration (may be studying for an accountancy/finance qualification)
-Minimum 3 years experience in bookkeeping or auditing in a reputable organization
-Experience in office management
-Clean class 4 drivers licence
-Working experience with NGO is an asset
-Traceable reference

Behavioral Competencies
-Relationship management: Builds and maintains mutually beneficial relationships with others inside or outside the organization who can provide information, assistance and support.  Remains calm under pressure.  Can manage multiple demands.
-Planning and organizing: Conducts planning for achievement of own, unit or organizational goals and organizes activities to achieve the goals
-Negotiation: Negotiates effectively and ensures mutually beneficial outcomes for both parties
-Integrity:  Maintains highest standards of honesty and integrity
-Teamwork: Works collaboratively with others to achieve organisational goals and objectives
-Communication: Listens to others and communicates both orally and in writing in an effective manner that fosters open communication
-Analytical skills: Interprets, links and analyses information in order to understand information
-Problem solving: Solves problems effectively

Applications
To apply for these position submit

1. A cover letter describing why you are interested in working for ARK and summarizing your suitability for the position
2. An updated curriculum vitae (not more than 2 A4 pages please)

Email to: zimrecruit [at] arkonline [dot] org cc: Easter.Shoniwa [at] arkonline [dot] org

On the subject line: Include first and last name, Job Title and date of submission

Or deliver to 7 St Quintin Avenue, Eastlea, Harare.

Only short listed candidates will be contacted for the recruitment processes.

Administration Assistant: Zimbabwe National Quality Assurance Programme (ZINQAP) Trust
Deadline: 21 January 2013 (4:30pm)

The Zimbabwe National Quality Assurance Programme (ZINQAP) Trust, is inviting applications from qualified candidates with the relevant experience to fill the position of Administrative Assistant.

Qualifications
-HND in Accounting/Administration
-Degree qualification will be an added advantage
-Competence in use of Pastel accounting package
-Minimum of 2years’ experience in the Accounts department  in the NGO sector
-Good Communication skills
-Fluent spoken English, Shona and/or Ndebele

Job Description
-Processing of payments to suppliers/creditors
-Receipting and Banking
-Maintaining petty cash
-Raising invoices to debtors on a quarterly basis
-Perform other duties as assigned by the Finance and Administration Manager

Submit application letter together with detailed CV and copies of certificates to:

The Director, ZINQAP Offices, Parirenyatwa Hospital Grounds, Harare

Or email: hr [at] zinqap [dot] org [dot] zw

Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

I am standing at the checkout at TM. My groceries waiting for someone else’s groceries to go through the till. And someone in the queue behind us is talking on his cell phone. As they will do. Loud and strong, as if they were in the privacy of their office. But we can all hear! The conversation is about that “den of iniquity”, the CMED, (he used to work there), where he has a ‘deal’ going on to get a part for a vehicle, which is hard to get, but through them he can get it at a ‘good’ price.

He continues that what is good for him is what counts. He used to work there, they used him, he deserves, and they are his contacts. What is more, every body does it anyways. He has got to – to survive. Compete in this world. Feed his family.

Corruption is a system. He knows this. If no one bought the stolen goods, they would not be stolen.

So next time you hit a pot hole (easily done since it has rained every day since Christmas,  and the storm drains have not been cleaned since…, so the water stays on the road), think of this man. It is his fault. He is a major player in the corruption system. Open and honest (enough to tell all of TM!). And it is the corruption system that ensures that CMED cannot service vehicles, which means than no one gets to the site to repair potholes.

In it’s simplest form.

In the larger form – by loudly, brazenly, with all the excuses in the world – he is the disease that is corruption. Perhaps not it’s only face, but as guilty as anyone else involved, and therefore he is the reason, the filth, the evilness, the scum, that keeps the potholes on our roads (and many other evils).

Development Outreach and Communications Specialist: USAID/Zimbabwe
Deadline: 23 January 2013 (5pm)

(DOC) Position
Grade: FSN-11
(US$42,311 – US$61,351 basic salary grade range)

The US Mission in Zimbabwe provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation.

USAID/Zimbabwe (hereafter the Mission) manages the USG development program in Zimbabwe, with an annual program budget of approximately $130 million.  The Mission portfolio includes a broad range of program activities.  The DOC supports the Mission to achieve its objectives by strategically producing and disseminating public information about USAID activities and by supporting the Communication Specialists of Implementing Partners (IPs) to define and achieve their communication goals. The DOC is responsible for collecting, investigating, and distributing information associated with USAID programs in Zimbabwe, and serves as the primary Mission point of contact for information requests.  The DOC reports to the Program Officer and/or his/her designee, and collaborates closely with the Mission Director, DO Team Leaders, and IPs to develop and implement the overall Mission communications strategy.  The DOC facilitates information access and sharing within the Mission, amongst USAID partners, as well as collaborates with other Mission agencies to ensure that personnel are properly apprised of USAID public activities and projects.  The DOC serves as principal liaison with the USAID/Washington Bureau of Legislative and Public Affairs (LPA) and remains in close communication with other USAID/Washington stakeholders.

For more information and details on how to apply, please click here

Regional WASH Coordinator: Oxfam GB
Deadline: 15 January 2013

Oxfam is a global movement of people who share the belief that, in a world rich in resources, poverty isn’t inevitable.

Public health (water and sanitation hygiene or WASH) plays a central role in the poverty continuum of Southern Africa. WASH is key in addressing issues of HIV, food security, livelihoods and emergencies. Oxfam in Southern Africa through its public health programmes in the region has an opportunity to increase the scale of our public health work, and more importantly to increase the impact of the programme, by ensuring that it is structured to most appropriately respond to the real underlying problems and to ensure that it integrates more effectively with other existing programmes and complements the implementation of WASH related policies in the countries and the region..

Oxfam GB seeks to appoint a Regional WASH Coordinator, based in Harare, Zimbabwe, to play a pivotal role in cementing water and sanitation as a core component of the region’s programme and will ensure that Oxfam continues to maintain key competencies in access to public health and emergency WASH preparedness and response.

The Regional WASH Coordinator will be responsible for leading regional WASH programme development and implementation support and regional WASH emergency preparedness and response.

This is an exciting opportunity to undertake pioneering work and innovation in humanitarian as well as development contexts working in both urban and rural settings. This is also an opportunity to inform and influence Oxfam’s regional and global WASH priorities in areas such as risk reduction, resilience and integrating and aligning WASH with Oxfam’s livelihood and gender work. Oxfam in Southern Africa has upgraded this position to reflect the importance and commitment to these expectations.

Requirements
-Master’s degree in water engineering (or similar) and / or equivalent technical experience and training in the design and implementation of water hygiene systems in Africa
-Demonstrate sound experience in leading public health programmes, programme policy and strategy development as well as the monitoring and management of large budgets
-Experience in assessing and responding to emergencies is essential
-Willing to travel up to 50% of the time.

Click here for a detailed job description and information on how to apply for this position (quote ref: INT5881).

Oxfam is an equal opportunities employer. It particularly encourages applications from people living with HIV and AIDS, people with disabilities, women and previously disadvantaged people.

Oxfam GB can only accept applications from qualified candidates with the right to live and work in Zimbabwe.

Gender activist Betty Makoni describes how women face war in their homes and how she feels about leaving Zimbabwe because of persecution from the State:

The last thing any human rights defender wants to do is to leave her home, work and settle in a foreign country. This was my last option during my time of despair and persecution in 2008; only the man I shared my home with knew as I grabbed my handbag and sped out of the door to run for safety.

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