I liked reading this on Andrew Sullivan’s blog recently.

A classic from the NYT in the form of an open letter to the restaurant owner, Guy Fieri. Money quote:

Why is one of the few things on your menu that can be eaten without fear or regret — a lunch-only sandwich of chopped soy-glazed pork with coleslaw and cucumbers — called a Roasted Pork Bahn Mi, when it resembles that item about as much as you resemble Emily Dickinson? …

Hey, did you try that blue drink, the one that glows like nuclear waste? The watermelon margarita? Any idea why it tastes like some combination of radiator fluid and formaldehyde? …

And when we hear the words Donkey Sauce, which part of the donkey are we supposed to think about?”

It’s great to read a literate rant in a review section. It should happen more often. Crankiness is way more readable than gussied-up p.r.

In Zimbabwe, being the scared of any kind of criticism country that we are, I’m really tired of “gussied-up p.r.” masquerading as restaurant reviews. For the most part our country’s restaurants offer up uninspired and overpriced food. Our reviewers need to stop being polite and start saying it like it is and maybe our standards would improve.

Programme Assistant: United Nations Children’s Fund
Deadline: 26 November 2012

Vacancy Announcement No. Zim/2012:33
GS5 Level (on secondment to ZIMSTAT)
Based in Harare (Temporary Appointment Post)

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.

Purpose of the Job
This post is created to provide support to ZIMSTAT to carry out second phase of the household targeting survey. The post will be placed at ZIMSTAT.

Major Tasks to be accomplished
-Assist the Project Manager of ZIMSTAT to liaise with all stakeholders
-Ensure the stakeholders have the same level of information on the progress of the targeting survey
-Provide logistic support for the targeting survey in close cooperation with the Programme Officer
-Conduct regular field monitoring of enumeration, minimum 5 days per month and immediately alert the Project Manager of any bottlenecks or issues of concern in the process

Qualifications and Competencies
-Completion of secondary education and ability to operate financial programmes and software
-Additional commercial training in accounting or finance is desirable
-At least 5 years of administrative experience, including record-keeping and processing of information
-Demonstrable proficiency in computer application packages
-Good communication and organizational skills
-Ability to work in a multicultural environment.

If you have experience of working in a similar capacity, meet the above profile and want to make an active and lasting contribution to build a better world for children, send your application letter together with curriculum vitae quoting vacancy notice number to the following address.

Human Resources Manager
(Vacancy Notice No. 33: Zim-2012)
UNICEF, 6 Fairbridge Avenue,
P O Box 1250
Belgravia, Harare

Or email: hararevacancies [at] unicef [dot] org

Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

UNICEF is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff. Well-qualified candidates, particularly women are especially encouraged to apply.

Mid-Term Evaluation EU NSA funded: “Strengthening Local Governance and Citizen Participation Project in Rural District Councils of Zimbabwe Project”
Deadline: 20 November 2012 (Close of business)

The Civic Forum on Housing (CFH) was formed in 1995 with the core mandate to foster positive communication, dialogue and consensus building involving civil society organizations and stakeholders for improved housing, service delivery and local economic development in rural and urban local authorities of Zimbabwe. The CFH envisions the development of inclusive and open societies where citizens are empowered to drive their own development.

Scope
In April 2010, the CFH started the implementation of a five-year EU funded project under its Non-State Actors Call in Mutoko, Chipinge, Tsholotsho and Nyaminyami Rural Districts Councils of Zimbabwe. The main objective of the project is to promote democratic, effective, transparent and accountable local governance in Rural District Councils of Zimbabwe through Participatory Learning by Doing Approach. The project is now in the third year of its implementation and a Mid-Term Evaluation is needed to establish the current status and future focus of the project.

The scope of the Mid-Term Evaluation (MTE) covers the entire LGCPP in the four targeted districts. The MTE will evaluate the progress in project implementation taking into account the status of the project activities and outputs and the efficiency of project operations to date. The MTE will commence in December 2012 and complete within a month.

Qualifications
Minimum of five years accumulated and recognized experience in Monitoring and Evaluation of Participatory Local Governance and Citizen Participation Programmes in Zimbabwe and/or the Region.

-Minimum of five years of project monitoring and evaluation and/or implementation experience
-Familiarity with socio-economic and socio-cultural or regional conditions relevant to Zimbabwe
-Comprehensive knowledge of EC best practices
-Excellent interview and report writing skills in English.

Proposal Submission
Proposals, including background, methodology, proposed report structure, budget and three references, should be addressed to: Technical Director, under the title LGCPP Mid-Term Evaluation. The sealed bids should be couriered, emailed to: schaikosa [at] gmail [dot] com or physically delivered to: The Coordinator, Civic Forum on Housing, 2nd Floor, Jubilee 2000 Centre, Harare, P. O. Box 1744 Harare.

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.

Country Funding Coordinator: Oxfam
Deadline: 21 November 2012 (Close of business UK time)

Job Reference no. INT5819

This position is open to candidates with the right to work in Zimbabwe

Team Purpose
To raise funds for Oxfam’s program in Zimbabwe and effectively manage the funds; To develop and maintain good quality and consistent relationships with donors; To lead on contract management: To effectively support program teams to develop and plan concept papers and proposals in accordance with country strategy and donor requirements.

Job Purpose
To establish, implement and maintain the Oxfam country funding strategy including resourcing for development, humanitarian and policy/advocacy work in order to increase Oxfam income from institutional donors.  This includes spotting funding opportunities, targeted donor relationship building and engaging in joint fundraising initiatives across Oxfam affiliates in Zimbabwe.To support directly the fundraising plans and efforts of Oxfam Novib through joint and individual funding initiatives

Post holder reports to: The post holder is directly accountable to the CLT and reports to the Oxfam Novib Associate Country Director in Zimbabwe.

Works with: All three Oxfam Affiliates in Zimbabwe

Interviews to be conducted: between 26 November 2012 – 7 December 2012

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organization. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please click here to apply

Four (4) vacancies: Catholic Relief Services – Zimbabwe Program
Deadline: 21 November 2012

Catholic Relief Services – Zimbabwe Program (PVO: 6/2002), an international humanitarian and development organization seeks qualified candidates for a USAID-funded, multi-year food security, nutrition and agricultural development project in Zimbabwe.

1) Gender Specialist (50% field office, 50% Harare)

The Gender Specialist will be responsible for integrating a comprehensive gender strategy across activities and overseeing the implementation of that gender strategy for the project. S/he must effectively manage relationships with project and partner staff to establish and oversee implementation of a comprehensive gender strategy for the program. S/he will also serve as the point person for gender with the donor and be responsible for coordinating and preparing all required reports.

Requirements
-Minimum bachelor’s degree in gender & development studies, social sciences and five years’ experience working in gender and development. Masters degree preferred
-Experience working in one or more sectors including food security, rural finance, micro-finance, agriculture, nutrition, and social marketing preferred
-Strong technical capacity in gender including knowledge of best practices and guidelines
-Understanding of donor expectations and trends related to gender
-Demonstrated ability managing project grants, including project design, budget preparation, expenditure tracking, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting; experience working with USG grants preferred
-Demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively with partners and transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through workshops, training, meetings, and participatory methods
-Excellent analytic, organizational and computer skills in MS Office Package
-Ability to work both independently and in a team
-Willingness to travel approximately 25% of time within country
-Excellent English oral and written communication skills required; knowledge of one or more relevant local languages preferred

2) Senior Agricultural Production Specialist (50% field office, 50% Harare)

The Senior Agro Production Specialist will be responsible for leading all agricultural production and farmer mobilization activities and overseeing the implementation of a comprehensive and quality agro-enterprise strategy for the project. S/he will oversee and guide all agricultural production and farmer mobilization activities for the program. S/he must effectively manage relationships with CRS and partner staff to establish and oversee a comprehensive agro enterprise strategy for the program.   S/he will also serve as the point person for agro-enterprise with the donor and be responsible for coordinating and preparing all required reports.

Requirements
-Masters degree in agriculture or a related field
-Minimum five years’ experience working in international development or agricultural production programs; farmer mobilization; experience working with USG grants preferred
-Strong technical capacity in agricultural production, with knowledge of best practices and guidelines
-Demonstrated experience in addressing gender equity in agriculture/food security programming
-Understanding of donor expectations and agricultural production trends and farmer mobilization
-Demonstrated ability with project grants management, including project design, budget preparation, expenditure tracking, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting
-Demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively with communities, partners, and transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through workshops, training, meetings, and participatory methods
-Excellent analytic, organizational and computer skills in MS Office Package
-Ability to work both independently and in a team
-Willingness to travel approximately 25% of time within country
-Excellent English oral and written communication skills required
-Ability to lead a multi-cultural team with a high level of respect for local culture

3) Senior Agro-enterprise/Markets Specialist (50% field office, 50% Harare)

The Senior Agro-enterprise Specialist will be responsible for leading all agro-enterprise activities and overseeing the implementation of a comprehensive and quality agro-enterprise strategy for the project. S/he will oversee and guide all agroenterprise activities for the program. S/he must effectively manage relationships with CRS and partner staff to establish and oversee a comprehensive agroenterprise strategy for the program.   S/he will also serve as the point person for agro-enterprise with the donor and be responsible for coordinating and preparing all required reports.

Requirements
-Masters degree in agro-enterprise, marketing, agriculture, or a related field
-Minimum five years’ experience working in international development or agro-enterprise programs; experience working with USG grants preferred
-Strong technical capacity in agroenterprise, with knowledge of best practices and guidelines
-Demonstrated experience in addressing gender equity in agriculture/food security programming
-Understanding of donor expectations and agro-enterprise trends
-Demonstrated ability with project grants management, including project design, budget preparation, expenditure tracking, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting
-Demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively with partners, and transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through workshops, training, meetings, and participatory methods
-Excellent analytic, organizational and computer skills; skilled in MS Office including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Access
-Ability to work both independently and in a team
-Willingness to travel approximately 25% of time within country
-Excellent English oral and written communication skills required
-Ability to lead a multi-cultural team with a high level of respect for local culture

4) Senior Health and Nutrition Specialist (50% field office, 50% Harare)

The Health and Nutrition Specialist will be responsible for integrating a comprehensive Health and Nutrition strategy across activities and overseeing the implementation of that strategy for the project. S/he will oversee and guide the integration of health and nutrition throughout project interventions. S/he must effectively manage relationships with project and partner staff to establish and oversee implementation of a comprehensive strategy for the program.   S/he will also serve as the point person for health and nutrition with the donor and be responsible for coordinating and preparing all required reports.

Requirements
1. Masters degree in nutrition and five years’ experience working in public health, nutrition, and development
2. Experience working in one or more sectors including food security, health, nutrition, and social marketing preferred
3. Strong technical capacity in gender including knowledge of best practices and guidelines.
4. Understanding of donor expectations and trends related to health and nutrition, food security
5. Demonstrated ability managing project grants, including project design, budget preparation, expenditure tracking, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting; experience working with USG grants preferred
6. Demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively with partners and transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through workshops, training, meetings, and participatory methods
7.  Excellent analytic, organizational and computer skills; skilled in MS Office Package.
8. Ability to work both independently and in a team
9. Willingness to travel approximately 25% of time within country
10. Excellent English oral and written communication skills required; knowledge of one or more relevant local languages preferred

* Note: these positions are contingent on the awarding of funding by the donor.

Those who meet the above criteria are invited to submit their applications together with a cover letter and detailed Curriculum Vitae that includes the names and contact details (plus email addresses) of three traceable references.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Please submit to: The Country Representative, 95 Park Lane, Harare or 33A Duncan Road Suburbs Bulawayo or P.O. Box CY 1111, Causeway, Harare, or to: taurai.musakaruka [at] crs [dot] org

To coincide with the international diamond conference currently being held at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Partnership Africa Canada has released a new report: Greed and Corruption in Zimbabwe’s Marange Diamond Fields:

The report is divided into three main sections. The first looks at ongoing trade irregularities and the lack of transparency of diamond revenues, and examines ways ZANU and the global diamond industry have interacted, before, during and after the Kimberley Process imposed an embargo on Marange stones in 2009. The second examines the various revenue streams of Obert Mpofu and concludes the Minister of Mines is utilizing monies and assets divorced from his ministerial salary and known business entities. The third offers policy suggestions and recommendations that would improve the management and public beneficiation of Zimbabwe’s diamond revenues.

The biggest conclusion of this report is that despite government pronouncements to the contrary, the illicit trade of Marange diamonds is alive and well. A parallel trade in Marange diamonds continues to thrive, with the full knowledge and complicity of top officials in the Ministry of Mines, ZMDC, MMCZ and military.

The theft of Marange diamonds is perhaps the biggest single plunder of diamonds the world has seen since Cecil Rhodes. Conservative estimates place the losses due to illicit activity at over $2 billion since 2008.

PAC has found that while the mismanagement of Marange remains primarily a Zimbabwean problem, the global dimensions of the illegality has metastasized to compromise most of the major diamond markets of the world. Previously most of the illegal trade primarily involved South Africa, Mozambique, UAE and India. This remains the case, but greater vigilance by enforcement authorities should now extend to other centres, particularly Israel.

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According to a statement issued by Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) today:

Seventy-nine members and two babies are under arrest at Bulawayo Central police station for staging a peaceful protest at the City Council Tower block on the water issue. A 16 year old girl was handcuffed for over an hour as they officer concerned could not locate the handcuff keys. Initially 150 members were arrested as police swooped but 70 were refused entry into the police station.

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