The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum shares this statement about the charges against Zimbabwean human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa being dropped today:

In a week that shall always be remembered as consequential for the vindication of  Zimbabwean human rights defenders and civil society organisations, on 26 November,  Harare Magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa delivered a verdict of not guilty in the Beatrice Mtetwa  trial where charges of contravening Section 184 (1) (g) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

The Prosecution had alleged that Mtetwa, a fiery and prominent human rights lawyer, had defeated or obstructed the course of justice. She was arrested on 17 March 2013 and had been defending the matter  in court since  10 June 2013.

According to the Forum’s Court Report, The Magistrate gave reasons for her judgment saying that  Mtetwa had done nothing to interfere with the investigations the police were conducting. She cited that the police testimony was contradictory and it did nothing to put the Mtetwa to her defence.

The inspection in loco conducted at the premises where the arrest was effected also served to cast the State’s case in doubt and bad light as it was established that there was no way Mtetwa could have interfered with what was going on in an area of the house where she could not see what was happening; whilst guarded and  in handcuffs  in a vehicle outside the premises.

The Magistrate castigated the police for presenting contradictory testaments when they are professionals whose work relies on observation. She also made it clear that it is not an offence to take photographs and in any case after forensic examination, Mtetwa’s phone was found without any evidence that photographs of the scene had been taken. The Magistrate found that there is no evidence that  Mtetwa stopped or interfered with the search and returned a verdict of not guilty.

In addition to the Mtetwa case, on 22 November the same Magistrates Court acquitted Abel Chikomo, the Forum’s Director on charges of running an ‘illegal’ organisation. The details of the case and our analysis can be accessed here.

Both the Mtetwa and Chikomo cases  are reminiscent of the infamous Glen View 29 case, in which Justice Bhunu chided police officers for their unprofessional conduct in arresting human rights campaigner Cynthia Manjoro and MDC-T youth assembly president Solomon Madzore and other activists as they did not have credible evidence linking them to the commission of the offence. In that case the judge said the police had arrested Manjoro as an inducement for her boyfriend to surrender himself to the police in connection with the commission of the offence. The Judge made these remarks  on 19 September when he passed a not guilty verdict on 21 of the Glen View 29 activists who include Cynthia Manjoro, Solomon Madzore, Stanford Maengahama, and others.

Given this pattern where the police arrest human rights defenders and the judiciary takes a different stance, albeit, very late, could this be the beginning of a new era in the Zimbabwean Judiciary? The jury is still out on this. There is more to be said about Zimbabwe’s justice delivery system.

All this we hear about legalising makorokoza (panning) and reaching out to the West by relaxing the indigenisation project are just a heap of junk to cover up Zanu Pf’s desperation & failures. I do not want to see it as a coincidence that by the time Bruce Wharton is surprisingly proclaiming that the 31 July election was free and fair, Patrick Chinamasa was addressing western delegates with equal stun that he is giving them a reprieve on the indigenisation drive. It is absolutely nonsensical for anyone to believe that the planned formalisation of panning in Zimbabwe does not have a link with the recent public outcry that the Chinese are bullying us over our minerals using illegally acquired licenses to dig trenches in our rivers and fields. This is awfully far from empowering Zimbabweans because it is just a way of igniting anger and division over land degradation, invasion and destruction of our national heritage.

In fact, the only reason why the government is doing this is to cover their backs over the huge amount of corruption that is backpacked by the whole mining scandal. After all, if they are struggling to craft and enforce enough laws to protect the mining workers in formal companies now, what guarantee do we have that panning related deaths will not escalate if they legalise the looting of our minerals?

All this points to one thing in Zimbabwe, the desperation and pride in our nation’s leadership is forcing them to deliver our country on a silver platter for a song to other nations and drag all of us into their mess. The convergence of forces of merciless capitalism and totalitarianism in Zimbabwe right now is not by any measure crafted to bring empowerment to the commoner as noisily proclaimed, but instead expand the empire of tyranny.

In the office block where we work, there are about 30 offices, each with maybe 4 employees. So that’s about 120 workers, plus their various visitors, clients and passers through at the café and hair salon downstairs.

For the past ten days, there has not been municipal water. The borehole which the owners sunk for the building last year is dry. For a few days, the pump to the water tanks was broken. The building manager ordered a water delivery which lasted for about three days. Meanwhile, he’s struggling to get another delivery, and the water companies he phones tells him there is a backlog. No one has municipal water, and everyone is trying to order some.

Where does the bulk water we order come from? Some comes from legitimate sources, but some is pumped out of residential boreholes and city water recharge sources, further compromising the city’s water supply.

Like the recent Human Rights Watch video and report say – Never mind the quality of Harare’s water, even the supply is in crisis. Signs like this one at the toilet in our office block are the order of the day. We know there isn’t any water. We know to use it sparingly. But what we don’t know is when that’s going to change, and how.

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Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager: Regional NGO
Deadline: 30 November 2013

A regional NGO is looking for a Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager to be based in its Harare Office. The post requires a skilled self-starter, with experience in research, managing research teams and M&E staff, design and management of comprehensive multi-dimensional monitoring and evaluation systems.

Requirements
-A PhD or Master’s Degree in statistics, demography, epidemiology, public health or related field. – Minimum of 8 years experience in monitoring and evaluation of health and development programmes at multi-country or regional levels
-Experience in new technologies, including application of m Health and ICTs towards M&E systems
-Experience in logical framework models and results based monitoring, evaluation and reporting
-Strong research experience with demonstrated ability in quantitative and qualitative methods; survey techniques and operational research; tool design; data management systems building; data quality assurance and data analysis mechanisms
-Advanced computer skills in spread sheets, databases and graphics presentations, including knowledge of statistical packages such as SPSS, STATA, Atlas and NVivo 9
-Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
-Ability to build capacity and mentor organisational partners in M & E and research methods
-Experience of working in the southern Africa region and on HIV and health projects with multiple partners.

To apply
Interested applicants should email a motivational application and CV, with information on current salary, benefits and contact details of three referees to: rmerecruitments [at] outlook [dot] com

Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

Country Human Resources Manager: Plan
Deadline: 1 December 2013

Founded more than 75 years ago, Plan has global presence in 68 countries and is one of the world’s largest children’s development organisations. Plan promotes child rights and lifts millions of children out of poverty, particularly the excluded or marginalized, through high quality development programs that deliver long lasting benefits. Plan Zimbabwe is recruiting suitably qualified candidates to fill the above vacancy on a 2 year fixed term employment contract. Plan operates an equal opportunities policy and actively encourages diversity.

Job summary
Reporting to the Country Director, the position provides leadership and strategic direction to the country Human Resources (HR) function in accordance with Plan policies and principles, country labour laws, best HR practices and standards.

Key end results and typical responsibilities
-A member of the country leadership team providing advice and support on country HR initiatives
-Provides country wide strategic overview on the development and implementation of HR strategies & policies
-Has management responsibility for compliance with organisational HR policies and country labour law provisions
-Manages country HR processes which include workforce planning, learning and development, remuneration management, staff recruitment, induction, job profiling, employee relations etc
-Provides HR leadership in attracting and retaining a high performing country team
-Oversees HR needs of around 300 staff and manages the country HR team
-Has management responsibility on country HR reporting and budgeting
-Responsible for country HR risk management processes

Entry qualifications and experience
-A degree in Human Resources Management, Business Management or Social Sciences
-A post graduate qualification desirable
-A minimum of 8 years experience in human resources management
-Excellent communication and problem solving skills
-Proven facilitation, networking and analytical skills
-Proven skills in team development and management
-Strategic thinking, influencing and innovation skills
-Proficiency in MS office tools

To apply
Interested candidates who meet the above requirements are required to submit their curriculum vitae & covering letter outlining their suitability for the position to: zwe.recruitment [at] plan-international [dot] org

Plan is committed to keeping children safe from abuse, neglect and any forms of exploitation. Reference & background checks will be performed including clearances on child related offences in conformity with Plan’s Child Protection Policy.

Only short listed candidates will be contacted.