Photo by Fungai Tichavangana

Kubatana recently went Inside/Out with Brian Geza, dancer, choreographer and boozer soccer player!

What does your background experience in choreography and dance consist of?
My transformation from being a dancer to a choreographer includes moving from being a Tumbuka dancer to choreography.

Describe yourself in five words?
Sociable, fun loving and friendly.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Never take shortcuts in life.

What are the most important elements that somebody can get out of choreography and dance?  
Thought provoking moments that can invoke debate.

Brian, what is your major source of inspiration?
My late father and mother.

What is your most treasured possession?  
My family.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
When my freedom of expression is blocked.

Do you have any strange hobbies?
Yes, I play boozers soccer.

What do you dislike most about your appearance?
My potbelly.

What is your greatest fear?
Fear of the unknown.

What were you like at school?
Besides being talkative I was an average student.

What are you doing next?
Keep on keeping on with my work.

Hey! Need a job? Want to work in the NGO/development sector in Zimbabwe? Check out the job vacancies below and apply today. If you want to receive regular civic and human rights information, together with NGO job vacancies and other opportunities like scholarships by getting our regular email newsletter, please email join [at] kubatana [dot] net

Compliance Officer: UZ-UCSF
Deadline: 12 April 2013

UZ-UCSF Collaborative Research Programme is seeking suitably trained and qualified applicants to fill the vacant post of Compliance Officer in the CTUA in Harare.

Qualifications and experience
- Degree in Accountancy /  CIS / CIMA / ACCA
- Minimum of 5 years experience in a similar position
- Leadership qualities, ability to work in a team and multi task
- Ability to think creatively and strategically
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal & written)
- Excellent organizational, planning and analytical skills
- Computer literacy
- Clean class 4 driver’s licence

Responsibilities
- Develop Compliance SOPs which will ensure implementation, monitoring and review of the functioning of internal controls and systems at projects and department level throughout the CTU
- Plan, organise and conduct internal audits and subsequent follow up of recommended actions
- Perform any special investigations as required by management
- Work closely with external auditors on annual audit of accounts and assist accounts team in preparation for audit
- Conduct internal control evaluation and risk assessment to identify loopholes and areas requiring management intervention to prevent frauds, embezzlements, misappropriations, misuse and wastage and ensuring that objectives of the organization are achieved economically, efficiently and effectively
- Responsible for risk management and ensuring that the CTU is in compliance with relevant financial laws and regulations and conformity with the administrative requirements of the funding agency
- Provision of an independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value and improve the Clinical Trials Unit’s (CTU) operations

Interested candidates should forward a detailed Curriculum Vitae with a cover letter, certified copies of academic and professional qualifications not later than 12 April, 2013 to the below mentioned address:

Human Resources & Logistics Manager
UZ-UCSF Research Programme
15 Phillips Avenue
Belgravia
Harare

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.  Canvassing candidates will be disqualified

Project Manager U-Report: United Nations Children’s Fund
Deadline: 7 April 2013

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you. For 60 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS.

Terms Of Reference
Name of Consultancy – Project Manager U- Report
Duration: The assignment will be for 9 months

Introduction
UNICEF Zimbabwe is establishing a free SMS service to give young Zimbabweans an opportunity to have their voices heard on critical development issues. In Uganda, U-Report gathers information from participants and informs citizens of their rights and available services. Apart from offering a way to monitor education and child protection, U-report has also been a catalyst for more responsible and responsive governance as members of parliament and media are engaging with it.

U-Report members will be engaged via SMS to solicit opinions and information on development issues that are important to Zimbabwean young people and children, such as justice for children, children’s rights, violence, human rights, early marriage, participation, employment, health, education, water availability, and equity.

Once the information is collected the data is instantly analysed.  The information will be subsequently utilised in advocacy work across all media channels, many UNICEF programs and through general political engagement.

The process would also require the application of the information gathered to having a positive impact on the livelihoods of youth and children throughout Zimbabwe.  This will be achieved through increased political engagement and partner mobilization.  Removal of barriers for participation within the U-report program and on-going recruitment will also be a key to the scalability and impact of the program.  Subsequent communication of lessons learned will be utilized to increase international exposure and potential adoption.

For more information please click here

Hey! Need a job? Want to work in the NGO/development sector in Zimbabwe? Check out the job vacancies below and apply today. If you want to receive regular civic and human rights information, together with NGO job vacancies and other opportunities like scholarships by getting our regular email newsletter, please email join [at] kubatana [dot] net

Finance and Administration Officer – H/O: Basilwizi Trust
Deadline: 29 March 2013

Applications are invited from suitably qualified and experienced individuals to fill the above position that has arisen within Basilwizi Trust. Basilwizi is a registered NGO working for a sustainable people driven socio-economic development in the Zambezi valley. This is a one year contract with a prospect of renewal based on resource availability and individual performance.

The purpose of the position is to develop, oversee and monitor finance and administration functions for Basilwizi.

Main Duties
-Develop, implement and monitor financial management systems and budgets
-Oversee all financial and administration functions of Basilwizi Trust
-Prepare finance and administration reports to donor partners as well as the board
-Monitor and provide support on budgetary control to programs staff
-Develop sound administrative procedures
-Ensure compliance to the set procedures and policies for Basilwizi Trust
-Lead in human resources recruitment, management and mentoring
-Participate in strategic planning in key areas of Basilwizi work
-Develop, implement and monitor systems that safe guard Basilwizi assets
-Manage staff directly under supervision using set tools
-Develop new tools to enhance Basilwizi systems to comply with internationally accepted standards
-Liaise with the board treasurer as well as auditors in efficient management of Basilwizi resources.

Qualifications and Experience
The successful applicant is expected to have:
-A minimum of a first degree in Accounting from a reputable institution
-Full CIS or ACCA in the absence of a first degree
-Membership of an accounting body is a distinct advantage
-A higher qualification would be an added advantage
-Appreciation of Human resources practices
-At least two years experience in a similar position with an NGO environment
-Appreciation of community development and donor procedures a must have;

Personal attributes
-Team player and leader
-Outgoing
-Good communication skills
-Presentable
-Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines

Remuneration and related benefits will be shared only with short listed applicants.

Applications, with a detailed CV and certified copies of certificates must reach Basilwizi Trust  Director, 14 Edward Rd, Khumalo, Bulawayo or The Director, P.O. Box 3720, Bulawayo or scanned and sent to: info [at] basilwizi [dot] co [dot] zw

Only short listed applicants will be contacted for interviews.

Socio-economic Research and Analysis project Officer: Silveira House
Deadline: 2 April 2013

Silveira House seeks an economic and social analyst to take up the post of Socio-economic Research and Analysis project officer effect from 1st May 2012.

Success in promoting justice, peace and development in Zimbabwe calls for understanding how tomorrow will differ from today and yesterday! From such insights comes opportunity. This is what Silveira House has always tried to do since 1964.

The applicant must
-Be able to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of applied economics
-Have a detailed understanding of the economics and politics of Zimbabwe
-Have good communication and writing skills

Qualifications
-Masters in Economics or Economic Development, or equivalent
-BSc in Economics and Social Policy
-Experience in economic analysis
-Fluent in English
-Fluency in at least one Zimbabwean indigenous language in order to understand grassroots research data, results and situations
-Experience in journalism is preferred although not exclusively essential
-Driver’s licence (a must)

Special preference will be given to mature and settled applicants out of studies.

The successful applicant will initiate research to track emerging economic, social and political issues specifically affecting the lives of the people of Zimbabwe and provide us with thorough, in-depth analysis and forecasting. He/she will occasionally travel to the different provinces of the country and have regular contact with both local and national government, non-governmental organisations, business communities, media and most important of all, the ordinary citizens at grassroots level.

We offer the opportunity to work in a challenging, fast-paced environment where enthusiasm and creativity from the subject are the norm.

Salary is dependent on experience and qualification, and you will enjoy some excellent benefits.

Please send in your CV with a covering letter and details of current salary and employment to: director [at] sliveirahouse [dot] org

Or by post to the Director at Box 545, Harare

Two (2) Project Officers: Silveira House
Deadline: 2 April 2013

Silveira House seeks two qualified and experienced people to take up the posts of project officers in the Community Development programme which promotes leadership training, community development projects, citizens’ participation in economic and political processes, conflict management and youth formation/development. The successful applicants are expected to start work on 1st May 2013.

Main Objective of the job
The main objective of the job in question is to ensure the achievement of Silveira House goal and objectives by implementing programme and project activities as in the strategic plan and the programme operational plan.

The applicant must
-Be able to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the politics and social configuration of Zimbabwe
-Have a detailed understanding of development issues affecting poor areas of Zimbabwe
-Have good communication and writing skills

Qualifications
-At least 3 years of experience in community development work
-Masters in Community Development or Development Studies or Sociology
-Fluency in English and at least one local Zimbabwean language
-Experience in facilitating workshop trainings
-Driver’s licence (a must)

Special preference will be given to mature and settled applicants out of studies.

The successful applicant will plan and implement project activities with colleagues in the programmes, read and research on relevant issues affecting communities or various targeted groups in Zimbabwe to update our knowledge base, reflect on the situation on the ground in order to identify new areas of intervention, and prepare community conscientisation and community mobilisation material for workshop trainings. He/she will travel to the different provinces of the country and have regular contact with both local and national government, non-governmental organisations, business communities and most important of all, the ordinary citizens at grassroots level.

We offer the opportunity to work in a challenging, fast-paced environment where enthusiasm and creativity from the subject are the norm.

Salary is dependent on experience and qualification, and you will enjoy some excellent benefits.

Please send in your CV with a covering letter and details of current salary and employment to: director [at] sliveirahouse [dot] org

Or by post to the Director at Box 545, Harare.

It has become a rather cruel irony that Zimbabweans now go hospital not to get medical relief but to meet their Maker.

Saturday 23 March 2013 made this patently clear.

Perhaps these are isolated cases, perhaps they are not, but the fact is that were we as litigious a society as America is, many of these hospitals would have gone bust by now, paying out millions to grieving families.

Two men were buried, one in Harare and one in Bulawayo on March 23. I don’t know if it was cruel coincidence to be hearing two identical stories about two unrelated people from the country’s two major cities. And these narratives emerged from two relatives of the deceased, relatives who themselves remain unaware of the tragedy they share as they are from two different towns in Bulawayo.

The sixty-something year old died in Harare after reportedly spending upwards of USD8,000 in hospital bills, with the relatives only to be told that the doctors had all the time been treating a wrong ailment. Obviously if that happens, you die and we always thought doctors know best.

Same story with the 40-something year old Bulawayo man: the doctors had been treating him for something totally different from what was eating him. The family was told after the poor man’s death that he had cancer of the liver – and you get to know this through the death certificate. Talk about cruelty of the highest order.

Perhaps these things are common in the rather abstract and esoteric field of medicine, but when they happen with some “frequency” it does get you thinking what kind of circumstances we are living in that families merely have to accept this and are expected to get on with their lives just like that.

You cannot sue these bungling buffoons and it reminds me of a man who had a wrong limb amputated in the US, but fortunately for him, lived to sue for millions! Surely there must be a way families can get justice for their deceased loved ones. But then I am yet to hear anyone in Zimbabwe who successfully sued for wrongful death!

On the Zimbabwe Constitutional Referendum 16th March 2013

A national constitution is the supreme law by which a country and its people are governed. Every citizen and institution must live by, respect and defend this document. However, the genesis of this respect and defense must come from express support for the document from the people. We seek that endorsement today in Zimbabwe. Those that govern must do so with the consent of the governed, using instruments expressly endorsed by the governed. That is our agenda today. This referendum is not about politicians. It is about the people in their generality. It is a day for all citizens, the governed, to speak decisively and authoritatively on whether this draft constitution adequately captures how they want to be governed.

Let the people speak.

Arthur G.O.Mutambara
Deputy Prime Minister
Republic of Zimbabwe