‘Aliens’ to vote” was a catchy headline in a daily paper today. I think these so-called Aliens would rejoice if the headline would read “Aliens exempted from paying tax in Zimbabwe.” After 33 years of independence as a nation should we continue to classify other people under the banner of aliens? Who are these aliens? Are they black or white? Having parents of foreign origin or being born in a foreign land automatically puts one in the bracket of  “aliens”. These are people who have been labeled to have no totem at one point and who lived in the squashed urban settlements of Zimbabwe. An operations was launched a couple of years ago to cleanse the urban settlements from  “aliens”, but almost 8 years on “aliens” have developed a mentality of resisting in order to exist and to be recognized.

Also if you speak a foreign language with no fixed abode moving from one mine or farm to another looking for menial jobs your ID reflecting “A” you are not spared from the branding either. This alien brand went as far as making those with British roots join the renouncing queue at Registrar General’s Offices. After the economic meltdown of 2008 the even to the so-called original Zimbabweans ran for cover in foreign countries and they became bitter after being treated to the Alien brand which forced them back home. Imagine if you cannot stand to be called alien for four years how about someone who had to endure it for 33 years.

With the referendum over and expectations of new constitution it seems like “aliens” have all of a sudden become a special group which every politician is giving special mention so that their right to vote which was stolen some time back can be restored.  For the past 33 years “aliens” have been contributing to Zimbabwe’s economic growth under harsh working conditions in mines, farms, industries, now most these aliens’ children have become educated professionals and are now part of the systems running this great nation. Some of these “aliens” have gone to represent the nation in sports and some have become successful business people and all we have been hearing were praises for Zimbabwe and not “aliens”. These are our brothers and sisters who have been used for so many years to toyi toyi in the street campaigning for various political parties only to be denied that right to vote in an election because they are “aliens”. Even to get travel documents is still a hassle for them because they have to go through a rigorous process of renouncing some foreign citizenship. Election time is the only time when “aliens” get recognition and this time if they are allowed to vote those hopes are high that they will be recognized as Zimbabweans, not space invaders like what some people think.

Simukai Tinhu has published an article on why Zimbabwean voters are deserting Morgan Tsvangirai. Some good points are raised including the fact that its about time that the MDC, as a party, put forward a new candidate to lead them into the future. Tendai Biti please step forward. More

The demise of authoritarianism in Zimbabwe will surely come. But there is little reason to think that the day is near, and even less to think that the opposition MDC is the party that will torpedo the current dictatorship. Today the party is more dysfunctional and commands less authority and support than ever before, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise when it loses, even in a free and fair election.

After fighting so hard to move into his new residence in the plushy suburbs of Harare, Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai was reported to be securing his future by offering to buy the house from the government at a whopping price tag of 4.5 million US Dollars. The Prime Minister’s office quickly rubbished the report claiming that the PM has the right to buy the house but is yet to do that because he does not have the money.

But looking at both ways he can still make an offer and buy the house and most likely the price range is in the millions considering it was renovated with a loan of over 1.5 million dollars. This is a house which has been at the center of controversy with allegations of corruption in the loan allocation and which Mai Tsvangirai worked so hard to decorate with a kitchen suite reported to be worth over 40 000 US$. Taking it from the gospel of prosperity being preached in many churches these days some may say that as the Prime Minister he deserves to be associated with everything that glitters. From Hollywood style marriage celebrations to living in mansions. Who knows soon he will be having a chopper for his campaign in the next harmonized elections. The offer to buy the house comes at the time when legislators have also filed golden handshake demands in the form of stands, cars and cash as exit packages.  Whether the mansion will be the new state house or a retirement home for the Prime Minister it remains to be seen. It is up to the electorate to approve demands of such a tasty lifestyle.

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

Programme Officer: PADARE / ENKUDLENI
Deadline: 26 April 2013

Duty Station: Bulawayo

PADARE / ENKUDLENI is seeking a dynamic programme officer to boost its provincial work in the Bulawayo and the surrounding provinces in an effort to mobilise men and boys in search for practical ways to end all forms of discrimination against women and girls. The Programe Officer will be part of the National Secretariat that coordinates supports and promotes the organization’s national activities. The successful candidate will play a key role in the growth of ENKUNDLENI in the province. The position is initially offered for a period of one year, but may be extended if the partnership continues to develop successfully.

Responsibility
To carry out community advocacy initiatives and training activities which mobilises communities, men and boys in addressing all forms of discrimination against women and girls. Working closely with the provincial structures of men’s groups to enable them carry out local level practical interventions that enable the participation communities, men and boys in responding to the spread and impact of HIV/AIDS and work towards a society with gender justice, where women and girls and young people enjoy their sexual and reproductive health rights. The Programme Officer will be will be responsible for implementing PADARE / ENKUNDLENI programs in Bulawayo and the surrounding provinces.

Strong writing and communication skills, experience in community mobilisation, research and policy analysis, and administrative skills are essential. Experience in gender issues, and in building and working with coalitions is highly desirable. Candidates must be fluent in English, excellent written and spoken Ndebele is highly desirable. The Programme Officer will report to the National Director.

Key responsibilities
-Developing and administrating the organisations community advocacy activities in Bulawayo and surrounding provinces that examine, re-evaluate and challenge sexist thinking in men and society.
-Implement activities in co-ordination with men’s groups, identified stakeholders and implementing and actively participate in relevant gender working groups at district and provincial level.
-Assist in designing and developing plan that create discussion forums for men and boys to analyse and challenge gender discrimination and offer practical community approaches that create and enabling environment for women to participate fully in our society.
-Monitor major policy developments related to advancing gender equality at provincial level and develop appropriate strategies for the community level interventions.
-Assist in producing written materials to support the organisation’s work, including research briefs, website content, advocacy materials, activity reports for all activities undertaken and monthly programme reports.
-Provide logistical and administrative support for the implementation of activities and identify possible fundraising initiatives.
-Assist in developing PADARE / ENKUNDLENI ‘s membership base, including liaising with members, managing the contacts database and identifying potential member organisations.
-Help to develop and implement information-sharing practices between members, their groups and member organisations.
-Manage requests and expressions of interest from the membership, affiliated organisations and the public.

Skills and attributes
-Graduate qualification in a relevant area (such as public policy, development studies, international relations, human rights or gender issues) or proven experience in a related field
-Demonstrated expertise in policy analysis and advocacy on national issues, experience in gender issues and in building and working with coalitions is highly desirable
-Excellent writing and communication skills
-Strong project management skills
-Experience in administrative support and events management
-Willingness to work in a collaborative team and with diverse alliances, including an ability to work in different cultural environments
-Ability to work with minimal supervision, and with a keen eye for accuracy and detail and potential implementation challenges
-Ability to use discretion and maintain confidentiality
-Excellent written and spoken English, fluency in Ndebele is highly desirable

How to apply
Please send a concise CV and one page cover letter demonstrating how you meet the criteria for this position to kelvin [at] padare [dot] org and jobs [at] padare [dot] org.zw clearly stating “Programme Officer” in the subject line.

Due to the large number of applications expected, we regret that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

I read a Herald headline that said, “Manicaland: Be decisive, Zanu PF urged” and imagined it could have easily read: “Manicaland: Be divisive, Zanu PF urged,” because that is exactly what is happening.

Perhaps the “stalwarts” behind the Manicaland divisions are staring reality in the eye that there really isn’t much to be done about their impending confinement to the much loved “dustbin of history” metaphor. You can only browbeat the peasantry to an extent, that constituency of course being the favourite of Zanu PF’s claim of popularity in the rural areas, yet we know from the violence of March 2008 that this is very much thanks to cudgels and sjamboks as the party’s preferred tools of political persuasion.

After all, some political theorists long noted that divisions that emerge within African political parties are their ultimate Achilles heel that author their attrition and thus harbinger or point to their loss of relevance to the national political ethos, Jonathan Moyo should have told them!

But then here we are dealing with a cabal that seeks to defy all laws, from gravity to commonsense, yet we do get solace in knowing that when the big guns fight for the control of the party, it gives other political parties ample time to regroup, set up their own Praetorian guard for the new political dispensation project and invest their energies in the most pressing matter at hand, that is winning the election. It could indeed be yet another lost opportunity if Zanu PF opponents do take advantage of the party’s squabbles. Else, not just history, nay, none but ourselves shall judge hashly the political strategists of these parties.

Just a few weeks after Professor Lovemore Madhuku showed some interest to form a political party criticism came in different forms across the Zimbabwe. Some people accused him of trying to dilute votes in the next election and some went further claiming that the Professor is trying seek attention from his former allies in the MDC party. The three parties in the government of national unity know that Madhuku could be a force to reckon with regardless of a poor showing in the just ended constitutional referendum. Small threats like these led to the dilution of votes in the harmonized elections of 2008 when the Mavambo/Kusile party was launched.