Some years back HIV positive people were voiceless as HIV negative people represented them and so their deepest concerns were never really uttered. But Zimbabwe’s 24-year-old Anna Sango has put an end to this as she represented Zimbabwe women both living with HIV and not, at the first ever International AIDS Conference held in the United States. In her line of work back home Anna Sango is a peer educator in Bulawayo. She is a well-known vocal activist who founded her own community-based support group for women affected by HIV. She advocated for the inclusion of all women in matters of policy formulation in matters that affect them.

It is also at this conference that sex workers demanded their fuller inclusion. Sango in her presentation said:

“Frankly we are getting tired of repeating ourselves… why do so many of the same old problems exist? 2012′s pandemic has a woman’s shape… we need to look with clear eyes to see old problems, why are we working on the same old problems every 2 years? What is missing? We are missing! I’m a young woman, transitioning into full adulthood, full womanhood, I would like to do that in a safe space, I ask you, how are you holding yourself accountable?  An AIDS free generation looks like a generation which takes global responsibility for the safety and quality of life of all of its women and girls by discussing, implementing, and following through on plans for addressing racism and women’s equality. Policy decisions that affect women must include them in the decision-making process…This means all women, including women who use drugs and women sex workers.”

Whose right is it to kill?

Many countries in the world have abolished the death penalty but in Zimbabwe it is still in existence. Zimbabwe is crafting a new constitution and COPAC has submitted a Second Draft Constitution and if it passes will undergo a referendum. In this draft the death penalty is abolished – but only for women. This has led to many human rights organisation calling for an absolute abolition of the death penalty. The Zimbabwe Association for Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation of the Offender (ZACRO) an organisation committed to advocating for justice in prisons of Zimbabwe is amongst these organisations.

In Zimbabwe there are 71 people on the death row and three of them are women with the last execution being carried out in 2005. Elisha Chidombwe of ZACRO indicated that on each of their visits to Harare Central Prison they visit a guy who has served 15 years waiting for a resolution. Sadly he mentioned that many people facing the death penalty die before their penalty day because of isolation and the fear of death itself.

ZACRA believes that the death penalty is revenge and not justice. The organisation opts for the provision of correctional activities in prisons for those who would have committed offenses that carry the death penalty. The organisation is currently circulating a petition to present to Parliament to abolish the death penalty. They are hoping to get 2 million signatures.

If you want to put an end to the death penalty in Zimbabwe, contact ZACRO and make your signature count as your voice!

So much about what appears to be glib public statements on zero tolerance to political violence: “An election is coming. Universal peace is declared, and the foxes have a since interest in prolonging lives of poultry.” George Eliot, 1866

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.

Calling all young women’s groups!

Mama Cash is an International Women’s Fund, which supports ambitious feminist and women’s rights organisations and initiatives led by and for women and girls. Mama Cash supports pioneering and innovative women’s initiatives around the world, because she believes that social change starts with women and girls.

As part of our grant making we have dedicated some funds to supporting girl-led initiatives. Therefore, we are calling for Letter of Interest (LOI’s) from girl-led groups that work on the advancement of girl’s and young women’s rights in their communities.

Please note that this call is exclusively open for girl-led groups and programmes (girls under 19).

We are looking for groups/organisation/programmes that are set up and led by girls under the age of 19 and that work at the crossroads of Mama Cash’s Money, Body or Voice Portfolio. Focus issues include: sexual and reproductive health and rights, sexuality and gender norms, (gender based) violence, economic justice, natural resource rights, land/property/inheritance rights, fundamentalism, labour rights, political participation and issues of women in militaristic environments.

For a full description on focus areas and priorities, grant making criteria and more information on the application process, please visit our website at www.mamacash.org or contact Lara van Kouterik, Programme Officer Voice at: l.vankouterik [at] mamacash [dot] nl

Zimbabwe is planning to expand its circumcision campaign to include newly-born babies as part of the country’s fight against the spread of HIV and AIDS, a senior health ministry official has confirmed.

The ministry’s AIDS and TB unit co-ordinator, Getrude Ncube said a pilot project targeting babies between one and 28 days old would be launched before year end with the full programme likely to be rolled out in 2014.

“The project will start in Harare and Bulawayo,” Ncube said adding that, gradually, all maternity sites across the country would be circumcising newly born babies by 2014.

“Although circumcising neonates will not have an immediate an impact, results will show in 20 years’ time. Our sole aim is to try and reduce new HIV infections.”

Read full story here