On a busy Thursday morning a police traffic officer tried to stop a commuter omnibus “kombi”. Two heavy strikes on the moving kombi windscreen by the over zealous officer left passengers sitting on the front seat in shock and with serious cuts.  Tempers boiled over when members of the public clashed with one of the police officers who uttered a statement claiming that, “the police have the right to smash windscreens to protect the public and there is nothing the public could do because the officer was carrying out his normal duties”.  What really angered the public is the fact that the kombi driver obeyed the instruction to stop and in the middle of negotiating his way out heavy traffic that’s when everyone was shocked to see glasses flying everywhere. The cheeky officer pounced on the driver and wasted no time in cuffing him turning a deaf ear to passengers’ pleas for help.

The wanton use of excessive force, usually physical, by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police is on the increase in the streets of Harare. From humans to cars, anything moving is now a victim of the police baton stick. Police misconduct usually goes unreported because the victim feels unsafe to report such cases when elements working in law enforcement have developed an attitude and sense of authority over society. Unfortunately nowadays the people who are supposed to protect us and help us when we are in need, can’t be trusted.

Members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police usually mount roadblocks at intersections in Harare to assist in directing traffic have increasingly targeted public transport operators which has resulted in high speed pursuits and the smashing of windscreens.

External Evaluation – Community Based Child Care Project – Children First Project: The Child Protection Society
Deadline: 10 August 2012

Child Protection Society seeks to engage a qualified consultant(s) to conduct an end of project evaluation for the Children First – World Education funded project. The main objective of the project was to strengthen the capacity of communities to care for, support their families and to uphold children’s rights, specifically through ensuring access to essential services and facilities for orphan and other vulnerable children.

Qualifications and experience
-Advanced University Degree, preferably a Masters in any Social Science discipline or other relevant field
-10 years of relevant experience in child welfare and community based programmes
-Experience in undertaking similar evaluations in Zimbabwe
-Demonstrated ability to undertake both qualitative and quantitative research
-Excellent communication, analytical and report writing skills
-Knowledge of the Zimbabwe context is desirable

Terms of References can be obtained on request from pmpofu@cps.org.zw or physically from Child Protection Society Harare offices, Cnr H.Chitepo & Snowdon, Belvedere, Harare.

All applications should be hand delivered addressed to Administration Assistant in sealed envelopes or/and emailed to pmpofu@cps.org.zw with a clear Proposal and Budget, clearly marked: External Evaluation – Consultant.

Student Intern: Local NGO
26 July 2012

A local NGO is looking for a student intern to work in the Finance and Administration office.

Qualifications and Skills
-Person must be undergoing a Degree or HND or Diploma in Accountancy or related professional qualification
-Must have excellent written and oral English communication skills
-Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office
-Strong organizing and planning skills
-Must be a self starter and team player
-Works with minimum supervision
-Ability to work under pressure
-Ability to effectively communicate with people of different backgrounds and at different levels
-Honest and hardworking

Those interested should sent their applications and CVs clearly marked Student Intern to:
zwbtc2 [at] gmail [dot] com or send to 43 Hillside Road, Box CR120, Craneborne, Harare

The incumbent should be prepared to start as soon as possible.

Public Health and Hygiene Intern: Africare
Deadline: 31 July 2012 (Close of Business)

Location: Harare based, spending 80% of time in Chitungwiza
Duration of assignment: 10 months, starting end of August 2012

Compensation:  The internship provides a monthly stipend to cater for bus fare to and from work. The Office will provide documentation of the Internship to educational institutions and other appropriate bodies, as needed.

Supervision: The Intern will be directly supervised by the WASH M & E officer based at Africare head office in Harare.

Duties and Responsibilities

To support the Office in implementing the Urban WASH project in Chitungwiza through:
-Registration and verification of project beneficiaries
-Collecting, capturing and analysing data on activities of the different facets of the project
-Collaborating and liaising with city health promoters in the setting up of community and school based health clubs
-To monitor and ensure project adheres to national guidelines and protocols in public health practice
-Developing messages for IEC materials and assist in sourcing such material where out sourcing is involved
-Assisting the M&E/ WASH officer with the facilitation of trainings on public health and hygiene
-Assist with procurement of project materials for rehabilitation of public toilets and rain water harvesting tanks
-Facilitating clean up campaigns by community members
-Writing some articles, features or bulletins on stories of change and assist in visibility of the WASH and Africare’s programs through production of brochures and posters
-Performing other duties as required

Qualifications

Required
-Student pursuing a diploma or degree studies in Water and Sanitation or another related field
-Training in providing public health and hygiene
-The ability to work with vulnerable individuals
-A basic working knowledge of national guidelines and protocols in public health practice
-Fluency in spoken and written English, including excellent English-language writing skills
-The adaptability to work in a multicultural environment
-Ability to take initiative and work under little supervision
-Ability to work under stress and pressure
-Willingness to sometimes work long hours and during weekends

To Apply

Please send an updated CV, a current writing sample (maximum 3 pages), and a cover letter stating your reasons for applying for the internship to: lmlotshwa [at] africare [dot] org   copying   sndlovu [at] africare [dot] org

Please note that only complete applications will be considered and only candidate(s) selected for interviews will be contacted.

90% of council public toilets in Harare suburbs are not functioning and have long been closed down and this poses a health hazard.
- Talking Harare

Some advice on the way to start your day in Harare: Go grab a warm muesli muffin and a coffee at Vali’s at Triton gym and rock yourself into a riotous mood with the help of the spin class playlist. Get the benefit of the music and the vibe without breaking a sweat, just a smile.

Community Radio Harare included this article in their latest newsletter, Talking Harare:

Some Norton residents are travelling 100km to Kadoma in a bid to resolve ZESA’s disputed estimated bills. An investigation by Talking Harare following a tip-off from Harare Residents Trust (HRT) showed that some households in Katanga, Knowe and Govans are receiving monthly ZESA bills of about $100.

If they approach the local ZESA office they are being asked to go to Kadoma where the ‘responsible District offices’ that have the authority to deal with such queries are located.

Kadoma is about 100km from Norton and residents have to pay $10 for transport alone and this does not guarantee them the reversal of the high bills. Residents who have been affected by this anomaly told Talking Harare that sometimes they are forced to make several trips to Kadoma and no solution is offered.

Others said they end up paying the high bills fearing to be disconnected of electricity or ending up spending more money.

In Knowe suburb, residents are also complaining that each household is being forced to pay US$2 as education levy to the Norton Town Council, irrespective of whether or not one has a child attending council school.