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

The lengthy interview of Welshman Ncube published by Sunday Mail does make the case for bit of reality check for some politicians. When asked his honest opinion about what he sees as prospects for his party in the coming election, if he considers his formation a government-in-waiting so to speak, Ncube threw modesty to the wind and declared he believes he will win.

Look, nothing against any ambitious politician or human being for that matter, but it did highlight many things wrong with all efforts to usher in a truly government of the people without yet another flawed poll that has only spawned collation governments across the mother continent. Afro-pessimists say some irrelevant politicians throw their hats to the ring being only too aware of the possible benefits of being incorporated into the government on some technicality or frivolous claim to represent one region, ethnicity or another.

Welshman’s bitterness is all too palpable in all interviews one reads, and he still considers himself relevant to national politics, perhaps that is one of the reasons why accusations of him being a tribalist always creep into these sit-downs his has with scribes because by asking why he still imagines his relevance it is thought or seen to be ineluctably tied to his belief that there just has to be a chap from Matebeleland in the political scheme of things. But that’s for federalists, regionalists, devolutions to prove at the polls. These things are for some reason always understood that way because Ncube still apparently has to prove his claim of any representation of the people from that region seeing that he himself is not an elected MP or Senator.

He has been asked if he will consider any united front for political parties to come together and battle Mugabe from one corner, and it is only folks who have not followed Welshman’s politics who ask that question in the first place. He still does not have convincing answers as to why he let Mutambara make what was essentially a unilateral decision to back Simba Makoni in the past polls or indeed why Mutambara took the helm at the “smaller faction of the MDC”. By now he knows the old adage that there are no permanent friends in politics, not even permanent interests as Jonathan Moyo has shown. But one thing emerges from all these claims of relevance to national elections not only for Welshman Ncube but also those populist politicians who seem to want to ride on the back of the history of Matebeleland and whip up people’s tribal emotions even, that the people by now know better that the time for splitting votes is long gone, what the country needs, and which Zanu PF is painfully aware of, is a group of people who have relevance to the future of Zimbabwe. And these are politicians who bring to the electorate not stories of perpetual justification why they are engaged in gladiatorial politics and deserve the people’s vote but those whom the Zimbabwean people have no second thoughts investing their time under the scorching African sun to cast their vote as informed by the proverbial bread and butter issues.

For now, in numerous conversations in the streets of Bulawayo, without any pretense to scientific methodologies, questions have emerged if it is at all true that regional representation is an issue for that woman whose kids know not bread with butter, that Ndebele-speaking Nuts university graduate walking the streets as a loafer, that guy right there who for the umpteenth time has been given pairs of shoes by his employer in lieu of his pay cheque. Those are the bread and butter issues.

According to a report, Criminalising Condoms, that surveyed sex workers in Kenya, Namibia, Russia, the US and Zimbabwe, the police confiscate and destroy condoms.

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Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition – Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Bill

When: Wednesday 18 July 2012
Time: 17:30 – 20:00hrs
Topic: 13th February 2009: Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Bill cut off date. A classical case of historical amnesia or a practical arrangement for a working Human Rights Commission?
Venue: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Harare

Speakers:
Hon Patrick Chinamasa – Minister of Justice
Hon Douglas Mwonzora – Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice
Mr Okay Machisa – Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Chairperson
Dr Ibbo Mandaza – Sapes Trust
Mr Nhlanhla Dube – Movement for Democratic Change-N (Spokesperson)

Chairing: Mrs Grace Chirenje Nachipo – Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Vice Chairperson

Note: The Meeting Has Been Cleared By The Police

Enjoy the Tour cause it’s off next Sunday but the Olympic Games are coming soon, Bev! No riders from Southern Africa this year in France. What’s the sourcing of your new favorite biscuit ? South Africa or proudly Zimbabwe made? Very sunny Harare, i.e. a nice winter down there! No cold time and burning firelogs in the townships? Enjoy your afternoon watching today’s leg while sipping your daily tea.  Cheers. Yves-Henri

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.

WASH Project Manager: Zvitambo
Deadline: 20 July 2012 (5pm)

Exciting position for a highly motivated, self-driven, WASH professional with excellent analytical problem-solving skills, strong reporting and budget management skills, and is a great team player especially working closely with district-level WASH officials. Research experience and availability to begin 1st August are advantages.

Submitted CV must include:

Relevant information and credentials, years of relevant experience, current employment status, salary history, size of budgets previously managed; and a writing example (a report or article). All information submitted will be held in strict confidence and we will not contact employers without candidate’s permission.

Send CVs to: applynow [at] zvitambo [dot] co [dot] zw

Programme Officer: Local NGO
Deadline: 20 July 2012

The post will be based in Harare with extensive traveling and visiting project sites. The Programme Officer will report to the National Coordinator.

Responsibilities
-Spearheading the information management and research component of the organisation’s program
-Developing, coordinating and implementing innovative, high quality and policy relevant advocacy strategies
-Managing the organisation’s key communication channels (website, media contacts, data base, press wall and library)
-Designing and maintaining a functional M&E system to enable regular monitoring and evaluation of projects

Qualifications and experience
-A Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, Media Studies, Social Sciences or qualification in a related field
-Proven experience in project management and implementation
-Experience in the media
-Experience working in local communities

Personal attributes
-Demonstrated strategic and analytical thinking
-Excellent oral and written communication skills
-Holder of a clean class four driver’s license
-Ability to effectively communicate technical material to both expert and lay audiences

Interested individuals are advised to submit their CV and motivational letter describing interest, qualifications and salary requirements to programmesofficer2012 [at] gmail [dot] com

Please be advised that only short listed candidates will be contacted.

Supply Officer: MSF-Spain
Deadline: 22 July 2012

Based in Harare

-Diploma in Purchasing and Supply or similar qualification
-Minimum 3 years experience in a similar role in the NGO sector
-Excellent knowledge in Inventory Control ensuring high stock accuracy
-Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office
-Experience in maintenance and update of supply software
-Experience in customs clearing
-Proven ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously
-Able to work under pressure and in a changing environment
-Willingness to work in a ‘hands on’ position
-Fluent in English and local languages
-Ability to work in a multicultural environment
-Responsible and flexible

Send CV to: HR Admin, MSF-Spain, 3 Natal Road, Belgravia, Harare, Zimbabwe or email: Msfe-harare-hr [at] Barcelona [dot] msf [dot] org

Finance Assistant: Catholic Relief Services
Deadline: 23 July 2012

Location: Bulawayo

Catholic Relief Services – Zimbabwe Program (PVO: 6/2002), an international humanitarian and development organization.

The Finance Assistant is responsible for assisting in ensuring that the sub office adheres to good financial accounting systems that enable the office to accurately report on the funds allocated to it. The main focus will be to assist in ensuring that the sub office is in compliance with CRS policies as well as any applicable external donor requirements. S/he ensures that the sub office submits reports to CRS Finance timely.

Qualifications & Experience
-Diploma in Accounting or studying towards a Bachelor of Accounting Degree, CIMA, ACCA, or CIS
-Minimum of 2 years’ experience in a similar position
-NGO exposure critical/essential
-High level of practical accounting knowledge
-Extremely detail oriented and with special attention to accuracy and timely reporting
-Very high level of computer literacy, especially MS Office applications including email
-Excellent oral and written communication skills
-Excellent interpersonal skills and an orientation to service
-Ability to meet deadlines under pressure
-Willingness to learn

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.

Applications should be clearly marked “Finance Assistant Bulawayo”. 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