“If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year.
Do you suppose,” the Walrus said,
“That they could get it clear?”
“I doubt it,” said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.

This morning the tide line at Noordhoek beach was marked with a bright trail of plastic litter
If this is the result of one high tide, what is left out there in the ocean must surely make us weep.

Today is equinox
for a few moments the planet will pass through a place of balance with the sun
equal light and dark.

How far are we from the movement of this celestial dance?

Where did  we lose awe?  the reverence?
the honouring of our relationship with this extraordinary planet we inhabit?

Are we ready,
yet,
to let ourselves feel this loss?
for perhaps it is only in this opening
that we will be ready to take the responsibility for healing our brokenness
ready to dance on waste heaps, on littered beaches
and celebrate equinox with the pain and the awe
in balance?

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.

Assistant Coordinator: Disabled Women in Africa (DIWA)
Deadline: 17 September 2012

DIWA is an independent women’s wing of the Pan-African Federation of the Disabled (PAFOD), which is the umbrella body of Disabled People’s Organisations in Africa. The mission of DIWA is to give women with disabilities in Africa a voice and empower them to claim their human rights wherever they are violated.

Duties and Responsibilities
-Strengthening the institutional and programmatic structures of DIWA
-Enhancing the institutional building of organizations of Women with Disabilities
-Conceptualizing, designing, planning and implementing activities for women with disabilities
-Designing and implementing an information and communication strategy
-Facilitating the implementation of gender policies on all levels in the disability movement of Africa
-Co-operating and networking with Disabled People’s Organizations on regional and continental level and beyond
-Lobbying and advocating for the human rights of disabled women
-Raising awareness and do public relations work on disabled women’s demands
-Fund-raising and writing proposals, including budgeting, for DIWA
-Reporting to donors about DIWA projects

Qualifications
The applicant must have exceptional talents in conceptual, logical and creative thinking and be able to work with minimum supervision. Experiences in outcome oriented programming and financial and narrative report writing are highly appreciated. Knowledge of the Pan-African Disability Movement would be favourable. The capacity to work on an international level is required. Excellent communication skills in English are imperative. French or Portuguese skills would be of advantage.

Period: Oct 2012 – June 2013. The contract will be prolonged if the collaboration has been successful and funding secured.
Location: 19 Lobengula Street in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Please send in your applications with detailed CVs to DIWA Chairperson: rachel.kachaje [at] diwa [dot] ws

Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Fundraising and Partnerships Coordinator: Restless Development
Deadline: 21 September 2012 (1630hrs)

Restless Development is the global leader in youth-led development – demonstrating at the grassroots and policy levels that young people can and must play a lead role. Go to www.restlessdevelopment.org for more information.

Restless Development Zimbabwe is seeking a talented and dynamic leader to take up the role of Fundraising and Partnerships Coordinator in our growing Country Programme.

The successful candidate will be part of the Restless Development Zimbabwe Management Committee, taking responsibility for leading on proposal writing, work closely with the Country Director on donor management, and support the Country Director on networking. This position will also lead on developing and implementing the country strategy for Fundraising and Partnerships. This is an exciting opportunity for a young leader with an interest and commitment to international development; excellent inter-personal skills; self-motivation; desire to improve skills in resource mobilisation in the context of international development.

Annual Net Salary: $ 11,361 (Approximate Gross Salary: $14,278)

Full job description and application form (No CVs accepted) can be downloaded from www.restlessdevelopment.org/work-with-us and sent to: infozimbabwe [at] restlessdevelopment [dot] org

M & E Assistant: Childline
Deadline: 25 September 2012 (4pm)

Program: Specialised services for abused and neglected children
Reporting relationship: M&E officer
Place of Posting: Harare

Purpose of the Job
Childline’s continued success depends upon an effective Monitoring and Evaluation system for accountability and strategic decision-making. As such a well-managed M&E system is essential to the running of the organisation. The M&E assistant’s role is to support the M&E officer in designing, implementing and managing an effective Monitoring, Evaluation and Research system.

Roles and responsibility M&E Assistant
-Ensure accurate and timely data collation from drop-in centers
-Design tools and processes to collect data which may inform policies and procedures
-Spearhead training to project staff in data quality processes and procedures to gather required data
-Ensure the reliability and accuracy of data collected
-Regular data entry to produce primary reports
-Prepare M&E reports on request by management
-Initiate and spearhead operation research
-Maintain database of beneficiaries
-Support analysis of reports and providing feedback on reports from drop-in centers
-Assist in compiling donor reports

Qualifications and competencies
-A first degree in Statistics, Social Sciences or its equivalent
-Demonstrated experience of M&E
-Research experience in both quantitative and qualitative research methods
-Sound understanding of OVC, child protection and community development
-Experience in the use of statistical analysis packages – STATA; SPSS, Epi info an added advantage
-Excellent communication skills (both written and oral) and a team player
-A valid class four drivers licence with at least 3 years driving experience

Interested candidates who meet the above criteria should submit applications and updated curriculum Vitae to: Tamlyn [at] recruitmentmatters [dot] co [dot] zw or register at www.recruitmentmatters.co.zw

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.

Two (2) vacancies: local HIV and AIDS networking NGO
Deadline: 13 September 2012

Applications are invited from suitably qualified and experienced persons for the following positions for a local HIV and AIDS networking NGO.

1. Administration Assistant

Duties & Responsibilities
Working under the supervision of the Grants Manager the incumbent will be responsible for:
-Maintaining the schedule / calendar for the GMU with external and internal parties including visitors from external organizations, ZAN members, Global Fund partners (SRs and SSRs), as well as internal and external meetings, determining priority requirements.
-Undertaking all travel arrangements for the GMU.
-Preparation of briefing materials for appointments, meetings, missions.
-Maintenance of rosters of important contacts and telephone lists.
-Preparation of moderately complex correspondence, on behalf of Grant Manager for his/her signature and making follow-up when required.
-Management of e-mail and correspondence flow, ensuring prioritization and effective follow-up.
-Taking GMU and other organizational meeting minutes.
-Maintenance of a filing system

Personnel Specification
-Diploma in Business Administration or Business Studies or related field is desirable.
-Additional Public Relations qualification will be an added advantage.
-Minimum 2 years experience of progressive responsibility in administration in support of programme work in an NGO environment a requisite, preferably in an HIV & AIDS environment.
-Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc).
-Fluency in English with good verbal and written skills.
-Excellent information analysis and report writing skills.

2. Programme Assistant (Mashonaland Central – Bindura based)

Reporting to the Provincial Level Coordinator, the Programme Assistant’s main duties will include the following:
-Assist in planning and coordinating provincial networking and information sharing activities.
-Provide support and guidance in the implementation of HIV and AIDS programmes.
-Attend to member and other key stakeholder needs and inquiries within the provincial office.
-Assist in the collection and collation of data and preparation of results based reports on interventions undertaken in the province.
-Monitor and advise on grant implementation, reporting and compliance.
-Assist in the identification of technical and institutional support needs of members in the provinces.
-Assist in the conduct of provincial administrative duties that include office management, asset management, recording of all communication to and from the Head Office and other stakeholders.

Personnel Specification
-The successful candidate must hold a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Social Work, Development Studies, Education or any social science.
-Excellent oral and written communication skills.
-Proficient in MS computer packages, e.g. MS Word, Excel, Internet.
-Ability to work in a team set up.
-Initiative and assertiveness.
-Proven experience in HIV and AIDS programmes.
-At least one year’s experience working on HIV and AIDS issues.

NB People living with HIV are encouraged to apply.

In return, the organization offers a competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. Interested candidates who meet the stated specifications should submit applications, indicating the position, together with detailed CVs to:

The Human Resources & Administration Department
No 154 Samora Machel Avenue West
Belvedere
Harare

Or email to: recruitment [at] zan [dot] co [dot] zw

Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted.

Assistant Field Officer: Local NGO
Deadline: 13 September 2012

1 ¼ year fixed term employment contract
He/She will be based in Victoria Falls

Qualifications and attributes
-Degree or Diploma in Development Studies, Social Work
-A training related qualification an advantage
-Good report writing and presentation skills

Duties
-Plan, implement and monitor activities under the Youth Programme
-Actively participate in partner meetings
-Network with other youth focused Organisations
-Foster and maintain good stakeholder relationships
-Compile monthly, quarterly and annual activity progress reports.

Remuneration will be disclosed to short listed candidates.

To apply, submit your curriculum vitae with a motivation letter to: resourceshuman32 [at] gmail [dot] com

While we value all applications, we regret that we can only respond to short listed candidates.

Many households in Zimbabwe have made an outcry over never being counted during the 2012 census. From an SMS survey conducted by Kubatana on the 2012 census people did mention they were not counted during this exercise. According to a report on New Zimbabwe this has led to Zimstat calling for a ‘mop-up count’ for all those who were left out.  Zimstat’s population census director, Washington Mapeta is quoted as saying, “We are checking all those reports and for the purposes of making the whole process credible, enumerators will visit areas where people are said to have been left out.” This is in the face of remarks made by the Finance Minister Tendai Biti who declared that the 2012 census was a success. It is important to point out also that the armed forces hijacked the census programme demanding to be included as enumerators.

According to preliminary research findings carried out in 2011by the African Network of Constitutional Lawyers (ANCL) some Zimbabweans showed ignorance on the right of access to information.  This ignorance isn’t helped by the Access to Information and Protection of Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), which has no clear request and appeals procedures. This legislation has been blamed for focusing on media regulation rather than the promotion of access to information. Access to information should not be a preserve of the ministry of information and publicity and the media, as what was noted in the survey. Also access to information is not only about democracy and the media but also about the survival of the people. For example, information on health issues such as the current typhoid outbreak, which the country is experiencing at the moment, has not been made available to the public making it difficulty to hold the government accountable.

Today ANCL presented its findings at a meeting held in Harare highlighting that some of the objectives of the survey were to identify the existing legal framework for access to information in Zimbabwe, also assessing government responsiveness to access to information and recommendations for advancing the agenda of access to information.
Though these findings may be subject to debate, with some people arguing that politicization of public institutions has resulted in many people failing to access information of public interest in nature, and this information has not been made available due to bureaucracy and the culture of secrecy in government departments. In neighboring South Africa the government has the South Africa Government Services, which makes information of public interest available as stipulated under its Promotion of Access to Information Act. The department was created so that citizens can exercise their constitutional right to access any information held by the state.

Under AIPPA access to information from government institutions by members of the public has not been easy due to the arbitrary classification of state held information which some people have recommended that government should come up with a manual on what kind of information can be accessed from each department. The current constitution reform process presents opportunities for promoting access to information through the enhancement of state-citizen engagement.

Members of civil society and journalists in Zimbabwe have not been spared by AIPPA as many have been arrested for participating in civic education, and publishing stories that contain public interest information. The continued infringement on the right to access to information has resulted in many Zimbabweans losing interest in information coming from state run newspapers and broadcasters due to politicization of the content, preferring foreign and independent newspapers, TV and radio stations.

Yesterday the Herald headline read ‘ZANU PF popularity surges: Poll’.

I was shocked to see how the Herald, which is a state controlled paper, was quick to praise this survey titled “Change and ‘New’ Politics in Zimbabwe” done by a US based NGO Freedom House. The survey like any survey poses challenges to its findings due to its delimitations and as noted in the report it mostly concentrated in the rural areas. Honestly in Zimbabwe where freedom of speech is non-existent who would answer saying that they support or belong to opposition parties? According to the survey 47% of the respondents refused to indicate who they would vote for. Of the 53% who declared their preference 31% chose ZANU PF and 20 the MDC. My point of fear of disclosure is brought to light as shown that many people feared disclosing their political affiliation.

It’s so easy to say I support ZANU PF because you know you are not stepping on anyone’s toes. But when one publicly says they are for the MDC you are mostly likely to irk a few people and place your life at great risk in your community especially in rural communities. I was enlightened in the other findings of the survey, which somehow newspapers reporting on this story ignored.
-85% are ‘sure’ or ‘very sure’ that they will be casting their ballots in the next elections
-47% of those who said they would vote in the next elections stated ‘this is the election that will make the difference’.
-A total of 35% respondents in this survey (compared with 16% in 2010) now believe that the next round of elections will be free and fair.

These are among other findings summarised on the Freedom House website.

The last time such a report was published saying MDC was the most popular ZANU PF quickly rubbished this report and Herald did not even report on it. And because this year’s report shows ZANU PF as the most popular party, the Herald took the story to their front page and the MDC was quick to rubbish this report. I believe the ballot in a free and fair election will show who the most popular party is. May the best party win in the next elections!