ZANU PF militia burn down village in Cashel Valley

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
3 May 2011

Some 21 villagers from Nyambeya in Cashel Valley have been forced to flee
their village after ZANU PF militia carried out an early morning raid on
Sunday and burned down seven houses owned by MDC-T officials.

Homes belonging to MDC ward chairman Moses Chemwanyisa, ward youth chairman
Admire Chizikani and his mother Naomi were torched, as rampaging ZANU PF
thugs went on a spree of violence and destruction.

Eyewitnesses told SW Radio Africa from Mutare that the entire village of
Nyambeya, which had already been attacked in March, had been set alight and
several houses razed to the ground. The village is in a constituency,
Chimanimani East, under the control of Samuel Undenge, a ZANU PF legislator.

It is believed the village was targeted again simply because the inhabitants
are staunch supporters of the MDC led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. A
senior army officer, identified as Colonel Charles Muresherwa, is being
accused of having links to the militia gangs terrorising the area.

‘Apart from the burning, some female villagers were badly beaten while other
homes were ransacked and vandalised. The heavily armed militia destroyed
maize fields and looted all villagers materials found, alleging people there
were enemies of ZANU PF,’ one of the eyewitnesses said.

Another eyewitness added; ‘The women were beaten with logs and rifle butts.
Some of the assailants are known soldiers based at the nearby army base. The
gang marched from house to house in an operation that saw children, men,
women and the aged chased into the bush before their houses were set ablaze.’

MDC-T spokesman for Manicaland province, Pishai Muchauraya, confirmed the
incident and said the attack took place when most of the male villagers were
in Bulawayo for the third national congress that ended on Sunday.

‘It was a planned attack because they knew they would face little or no
resistance from the women, children and the elderly. This is the same
village that was attacked in March this year forcing some of the villagers
to flee to neighbouring Mozambique,’ Muchauraya said.

Two months ago the MDC-T approached the Joint Monitoring and Implementation
Committee (JOMIC) to intervene, after more displaced villagers from Cashel
Valley turned up at their head office in Mutare, seeking shelter from
violent ZANU PF supporters.

A team from JOMIC visited the area but obviously this has not deterred the
rampaging thugs from operating with impunity and at times with police
assistance.

‘We made a report to Sergeant Hapawori of Cashel Valley police and we were
able to provide them with the names of some of the attackers but no arrests
have been made two days after we lodged a complaint.

‘I just want to remind Chihuri (police Commissioner-General) that we have
people from ZANU PF who have destroyed an entire village and your officers
are not taking action. This is why we accuse his police force of being too
partisan,’ Muchauraya said.

Meanwhile war vets leader Jabulani Sibanda is reportedly back in Masvingo
province, intimidating and threatening villagers with war if they refuse to
cooperate with ZANU PF.

Sibanda, who has never been questioned or arrested despite numerous reports
made to the police, has been having meetings with chiefs and village heads
in the province. He’s been telling them to make sure that their
‘subordinates do not repeat what they did in March 2008 if they want to
live,’ referring to the MDC-T election win in 2008.

Zim talks to continue in Cape Town

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
03 May 2011

The negotiators from the political party’s in Zimbabwe’s coalition
government will head to Cape Town this week, for the latest round of talks
with President Jacob Zuma’s facilitation team.

Zuma’s international relations advisor, Lindiwe Zulu, who is also part of
the South African facilitation team, confirmed on Monday that the meeting
will get underway on Thursday and continue for three days. She also
confirmed that on the agenda for these talks is the draft roadmap towards a
credible election in Zimbabwe, reportedly agreed to by all parties in the
unity government.

The roadmap has been laid down as a critical measure by leaders in the
Southern African Development Community (SADC), who earlier this year
appeared to do an about turn from their usual policy of ‘quiet diplomacy’
towards Zimbabwe. SADC leaders demanded an end to violence, and also called
for the drafting of an election roadmap, before its next Heads of State
summit, pegged for later this month.

But violence has not stopped and the draft roadmap, revealed last week, has
already been widely criticised as a nothing more than a shortened version of
the Global Political Agreement (GPA), which ZANU PF has refused to
implement. Political analysts have expressed concern that the draft does not
spell out any punitive measures if parties do not abide by the terms of the
roadmap.

The draft also fails make any concrete commitments to dealing with ZANU PF’s
structures of violence that are already entrenched in Zimbabwe’s political
landscape. For weeks, reports have been growing about an increased military
presence across the country, worsening harassment by militia groups and
violent attacks.

Political analyst Charles Mangongera confirmed that the roadmap is just a
shortened version of the GPA.

“My sense is that we are going round and round in circles,” Mangongera told
The Standard newspaper. “What is lacking is political will and commitment on
the part of the principals. We all know what needs to be done.”

Analyst Clifford Chitupa Mashiri meanwhile said the draft agreement
“confirms our worst fears,” saying that the roadmap “is a big joke.” He told
SW Radio Africa’s Diaspora Diaries series on Tuesday that “nothing about
this roadmap is satisfactory.”

“SADC will need to fulfill its promises and ensure that if there is a
roadmap, it is one that ensures the safety of the people and the credibility
of a vote. Otherwise this is just a roadmap to disaster,” Mashiri said.

Phillip Pasirayi from the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition said that ongoing
“sticky” issues that have haunted the GPA have not been dealt with in the
draft election roadmap. He said the meeting in Cape Town this week will once
again “end in a deadlock, because there will be no movement from ZANU PF,
again, on these issues.”

“We do have hope though that SADC will stick to its promise and ensure that
there is a proper roadmap. We will continue to lobby SADC to make sure that
they do not relent on their promises,” Pasirayi said.

Top Officials of Zimbabwe's ZANU-PF Seen Grabbing Stakes in ZimPlats

http://www.voanews.com/

Sources said Bright Matonga, a former deputy information minister, has set
up a consortium including top politicians, business leaders and residents in
a bid to forcibly take over Zimbabwe Platinum Holdings

Gibbs Dube | Washington  02 May 2011

Senior officials of the ZANU-PF party of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe
and top business executives with ties to the Affirmative Action Group have
started positioning to claim shares in Zimbabwe Platinum Holdings, the
country's largest platinum mine under the controversial indigenization or
black empowerment program, sources say.

The sources said former Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga has
already set up a consortium with top politicians, business chiefs and local
residents of Mashonaland West province in a bid to forcibly take over the
mining enterprise.

They said other top ZANU PF politicians seeking share stakes include
Information Minister Webster Shamu, Local Government Minister Ignatius
Chombo and other members of the former ruling party's politburo and central
committee.

Matonga, Shamu and Chombo could not be reached for comment. But sources said
they want to force ZimPlats to cede a 51 percent stake without compensation.

Affirmative Action Group President Supa Mandiwanzira said politicians have a
right to take a stake in such companies under the country’s indigenization
program.

But economic commentator Bekithemba Mhlanga said politicians lack the
capital to buy shares in large enterprises like ZimPlats. "If sources of
funding are investment vehicles then the money can be used to buy shares at
ZimPlats, but that can't be the case when broke politicians divert public
funds," Mhlanga said.

Zanu PF youth militia “witch hunt” MDC supporters

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/

Written by MDC Information & Publicity Department
Tuesday, 03 May 2011 17:02

Zanu PF youth militia in Mbare, Harare have launched a “witch hunt” on MDC
supporters who attended the just ended MDC Third National Congress that was
held in Bulawayo at the weekend.

An MDC supporter from Matapi flats who preferred anonymity said all MDC
supporters in the area are living in fear as they were being forced to
attend Zanu PF’s all night vigils for the past three days. Those who do not
attend are being threatened with expulsion from the flats as the youths
claim that the flats belong to Zanu PF when they are council property.

Meanwhile, Magreth Majoni an MDC member from Hwedza in Mashonaland West
province on Monday lost party regalia, grocery worth US$25, clothes and
US$12 to Zanu PF thugs at Mbare musika. She was coming from the MDC Third
National Congress that was held in Bulawayo at the weekend. Majoni who was
on her way from MDC congress was assaulted by thugs at Mbare musika in front
of a helpless crowd before trying in vain to seek for police protection.

She said the thugs comprising of three women and more than seven men led by
the one they called “Shefu” confronted her at the bus terminus and asked her
why she was wearing MDC regalia. They then took all her possessions before
running away.She reported the matter to the police but no action was taken.

Mean while in Ward 28 Chikomba East constituency in Mashonaland East
province, MDC supporters are again under threat from Zanu PF led by one Mai
Grace Rufu were they are threatened with unspecified action for spearheading
MDC attending the just ended MDC congress. MDC Councilor Ekenia Bhunu and
the Hwedza district organizing secretary Manyani are the main targets from
Zanu PF in the area. Reports say that people are being frog matched to bases
were they are forced to confess their sins of supporting MDC in the area.
The MDC Today - Issue 188

Chombo, Shamuyarira want Chiyangwa back

http://www.dailynews.co.zw/

By Chengetai Zvauya, Staff Writer
Tuesday, 03 May 2011 17:42

HARARE - Controversial businessman Phillip Chiyangwa who made an inglorious
exit from Zanu PF following his arrest on charges of spying against Zanu PF
and the government of President Robert Mugabe, might bounce back into the
party structures.

Chiyangwa, was suspended by the ailing Zanu PF in 2004 after he was nabbed
by security agents in a spying scandal which involved senior party officials
and an ex-diplomat.

He allegedly suffered a mild stroke during detention by the dreaded spies
from the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) who tortured him during
intense interrogation.

He was later freed and announced he was quitting active politics but would
remain an ordinary Zanu PF card carrying member.

Zanu PF political commissar Webster Shamu told the Daily News that
Mashonaland West Provincial senior politicians Nathan Shamuyarira and
Ignatius Chombo recommended his comeback and asked the Zanu PF secretariat
headed by Didymus Mutasa to accept Chiyangwa back into the party.

“The province wants Chiyangwa to come back and work for the party. They want
him to be allowed to contest in any post if he wishes, and this has been
forwarded to the administration,” said Shamu.

He said the decision to allow Chiyangwa back in the Zanu PF structures was
reached by the Zanu PF Mashonaland West leadership over the weekend.
Chiyangwa told the Daily News that if the Mashonaland West leadership wanted
him back, he had no problems with their decision.

“If the leadership says I must serve the party again, I have no problems
with that. It’s ok with me if that is their decision,” said Chiyangwa.

Chiyangwa once served as Mashonaland West chairman and legislator for
Chinhoyi before he ran into the spying problems.

Chiyangwa is tipped to be nominated for the post of the provincial chairman
following the death of Robert Sikanyika last month.

He was suspended from Zanu PF political activities in 2005 after he was
accused of selling official state secrets to foreigners and was charged with
espionage.

Chiyangwa was charged together with former banker Tendai Matambanadzo,
former Zanu PF deputy security chief Kenny Karidza, and Zimbabwe Ambassador
to Mozambique Godfrey Dzvairo.

They were accused of selling official secrets to South Africa and were
slapped with five years in prison but Chiyangwa was set free by the High
Court.

Sacked treason case activist loses appeal

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Lance Guma
03 May 2011

An internal hearing by the United Food and Allied Workers Union has upheld
the decision to fire its Organising Secretary, Eddson Chakuma, for being
‘absent from work without reasonable grounds’ even though he was detained
for more than three weeks in police custody facing trumped-up treason
charges.

Chakuma, along with Munyaradzi Gwisai, Antonetta Choto, Tatenda Mombeyarara,
Hopewell Gumbo and Welcome Zimuto, was charged with treason having been
singled out as one of the ring leaders who addressed a meeting in February
where video footage of protests in Egypt and Tunisia was screened and
debated.

The activists were tortured in custody, placed in solitary confinement and
subjected to all sorts of deliberate delays that saw them spend over 3 weeks
locked up. A judge finally granted them US$2,000 bail each, with conditions
to reside at their homes and report to the CID Law and Order section three
times a week.

Speaking to SW Radio Africa on Tuesday Chakuma told us an ‘appeal panel’
within the union decided to uphold his dismissal claiming he was absent
without good cause. Ironically they also claim his treason case has
tarnished the image of the union, even though they refuse to accept the same
case as the reason for his absence.

Four days after his release Chakuma said the union demanded a report from
him on why he was absent. Instead of receiving solidarity from the union he
works for, all he got was victimization. The appeal panel is also said to
have ignored receipts from the payment of bail, that he provided as evidence
for his absence.

Chakuma believes he is being victimized by the executive running the union,
because they have over-stayed their positions without going to elections and
he had in the past advised the branch structures to write letters of
complaint over the matter. He will now file an appeal with the Ministry of
Labour.

In the meantime, while Chakuma fights his case, he is on the verge of being
destitute and is appealing for help. He said he received some money from a
fund set up at the Zimbabwe Labour Centre, but it was not enough.

‘Since I came from prison I haven’t paid electricity bills, the only thing I
managed to pay is rent. I want to be able to sustain my family. Now I am
reporting thrice a week, I need transport (money) from home to the police
station,” Chakuma said.

He does not want to rely on hand outs everyday and says he wants help
starting a poultry project, something he has experience in, having worked
for a company that bred chickens.
Those willing to help can get in touch with him on echakuma1@yahoo.com or
via SW Radio Africa.

ZANU PF hawks ‘gearing to shove off ailing Mugabe’

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

by Irene Madongo
03 May 2011

Leading officials within ZANU PF are reported to be accelerating their plans
to dispose of Mugabe as leader and prepare a successor for elections.

Some reports suggest that senior party members have agreed that the ailing
octogenerian is too old and unwell to stand in the next election. Mugabe’s
health problems are becoming more apparent and he has shuttled between
Harare and Singapore for treatment a number of times, this year alone. There
are claims he is battling prostrate cancer, but his office has denied this,
saying he went to see doctors for an eye operation.

It is believed hat there are two main factions within ZANU PF. One is headed
by Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, a hardliner, and the other that
supports Vice-President Joyce Mujuru, regarded by some as a moderate.

Weekend press reports have highlighted infighting in the two camps which is
said to have intensified. The Sunday Times of South Africa allege that the
Mujuru camp was in talks with the MDC-T, on working together in the
post-Mugabe era.

Insiders also allege that Mugabe is giving in to the demands of his top
officials. ZANU PF’s recent announcement that elections should be held in
2012 or 2013 is reported to have come about after party hawks demanded
Mugabe agree to defer elections. This is a major and unusual climb down for
Mugabe as he has been insisting they be held this year.

The Zimbabwe Standard newspaper claimed that security chiefs held a
teleconference with Mugabe recently when he was in Singapore and told him to
tone down talk of having an election this year. The article went on to say
that ZANU PF’s attitude to the poll roadmap indicates that the president
agreed that it could be time to appoint a successor.

The newspaper said that the plan is for ZANU PF to have time to sell a new
presidential candidate to Zimbabweans. They quoted an informant who said;
“Zanu PF’s best chance was in identifying a successor who would be sold to
the electorate between now and 2013.”

The Sunday Times quoted a ZANU PF source saying; “He [Mugabe] is no longer
in control of his faculties and really people can’t take us seriously if we
present him as a candidate. He is looking frail and I tell you, if he
participates in an election with Tsvangirai, he will be severely thumped.”

Mugabe 'rift' with generals dismissed

http://www.nation.co.ke

By KITSEPILE NYATHI, NATION Correspondent

Posted  Tuesday, May 3 2011 at 18:37

Zimbabwe’s Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa has dismissed weekend reports
that army generals have demanded that President Robert Mugabe must prepare
to step down by appointing a successor immediately.

The privately owned The Standard newspaper on Sunday reported that the
service chiefs, who are known to be fiercely loyal to President Mugabe, told
the 87 year old in a teleconference while he was in Singapore last week that
they were no longer prepared to support his continued stay in power.

President Mugabe was reportedly told to tone down on talk of having
elections this year and choose a successor immediately who will receive the
support of the generals.

But Mr Mnangagwa who is said to be leading a Zanu PF party faction
positioning itself to succeed Zimbabwe’s only ruler since independence in
1980, has told state television that the report was “nonsense and rubbish.”

Another government spokesman Retired Major Anyway Mutambudzi described the
story as “wishful thinking.”

“I am a retired soldier and I am fully aware of security protocol,” he told
the state owned Herald newspaper.

“In the first place there was no way service chiefs could choose to discuss
a state security issue over the phone when they have access to the president
in the joint operations command meetings.”

He said the story was a “pack of lies designed to destabilise Zanu PF and
the government of Zimbabwe.”

President Mugabe was in Singapore to collect his wife who is reportedly
battling to recover from a dislocated hip.

Zimbabwe is now expected to hold elections in 2013 and the president who has
already been chosen by his party to be its candidate will be 89.

His main rival will be the 59 year old Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai whom
he has controversially beaten in two elections since 2002.

The last election in 2008 was inconclusive after President Mugabe’s
supporters launched a very violent campaign and this led to the formation of
a unity government a year later.

Mnangagwa sidelined in Mugabe retirement plan

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com

03/05/2011 14:41:00    Staff Reporter

HARARE – In an open show of defiance towards his Zanu PF succession rivals
Defence Minister, Emmerson Mnangagwa has dismissed with disdain the pressure
from within the party and Service chiefs for President Mugabe to resign with
immediate effect, amid reports that the Defence Minister has lost grip on
senior military officers who are now reporting to retired General Solomon
Mujuru.

The feuding rival factions have escalated their bitter skulduggeries on the
back of mounting health problems of the 87 year old President Mugabe and
there are glaring signs that the party will soon disintegrate as both sides
show no sign of working together without Mugabe at the helm.

In the last few weeks, Mujuru has stepped up his campaign to force Mugabe
into retirement and he has regional support particularly from the South
African President Jacob Zuma who has threatened the Generals with the
release of a highly sensitive election violence report.

In 2008 former South African President Thabo Mbeki commissioned a fact
finding mission into state sponsored violence that took place in the run up
to Zimbabwe’s one man presidential run-off.

Mbeki, as mediator, sent six retired South African army generals on two
fact-finding missions to investigate the cause of the political crisis,
especially the role of the army in the violence. The highly sensitive
damning report has still not been made public and attempts through the
courts have hit the brick wall, but now South African government are
threatening to throw the Generals to the wolfs, hence the latest effort to
push out their leader.

While this is happening, Mnangagwa has been sidelined and by-passed in high
level discussions which will culminate in SADC Heads of State Summit on 20
May 2011 forcing President Mugabe to retire.

In an interview with the State media, Mnangagwa lambasted the media for
reporting what he described as nonsense and utter rubbish.

He added that President Robert Mugabe is here to stay, and that claims by
the media are cheap politicking working in cahoots with Western sponsors.

“They and their western sponsors should stop fooling themselves as President
Mugabe has proved beyond doubt that he is a tried and tested leader who
still commands overwhelming support from his party, Zanu PF,” said
Mnangagwa.

The Defence Minister also dismissed, as cheap politicking by the western
sponsored paper, claims by the publishers of the paper that Service Chiefs
held a teleconference with the President while he was in Singapore, asking
him to relinquish power.

In its edition dated 1 May 2011, the weekly Standard newspaper said Service
Chiefs and hardliners in Zanu PF have asked President Mugabe to defer
elections and appoint a successor.

Mnangagwa said while it is not the first time that The Standard has tried
unsuccessfully to cause despondency in Zanu PF through falsehoods, this
latest article showed how desperate the paper, which is failing to find
relevant news, has become.

Sources within the military services said the Defence Minister is now being
by-passed by senior Military officers who are closely working with the Zanu
PF faction led by retired General Solomon Mujuru.

Most senior army and airforce officers worked with General Mujuru during the
liberation struggle while Mnangagwa was in an in the “back office” as an
assistant to Robert Mugabe, hence he has struggled to gain respect among the
service chiefs, who call him “povo”, meaning untrained civilian.

Hawks within Zanu PF and securocrats have reportedly demanded that President
Robert Mugabe defer elections and immediately appoint a successor, as time
was not on his side.

Sources said Mugabe and the security chiefs held a teleconference last week,
when the veteran leader was in Singapore, where the president was told to
tone down on talk of having an election this year.

He was also told to instead direct his energies to appointing a successor in
an effort to prevent further fissures within the party and the country.

The sources revealed that the hawks and securocrats told Mugabe that if need
be, he had to dictate a successor to his party and they would support that
person.

“He was told that he was no longer marketable as a candidate,” an informant
revealed.

“Zanu PF’s best chance was in identifying a successor who would be sold to
the electorate between now and 2013.”

It was not immediately clear what Mugabe’s response was, but the insider
said Zanu PF’s attitude to the poll roadmap indicates that the president
agreed that it could be time to appoint a successor.

Questions have been raised about Mugabe’s health and whether he was prepared
for the rigours associated with another election, the fourth in nine years.

Mugabe’s health has for decades been a matter of speculation and conjecture
and interestingly the teleconference was held while he was in Singapore,
where he has previously sought treatment and at a time when the veteran
leader had gone to collect his stricken wife, Grace.

Mugabe has been demanding an election this year to end what he describes as
an impasse in the inclusive government.

The uneasy coalition government was created by his Zanu PF party and the two
MDC formations in 2008 after an inconclusive election.

In recent days Zanu PF has changed its tune on elections, saying the
dictates from the poll roadmap made it impossible for a vote to be held this
year, with 2013 being the most likely date.

Then, Mugabe would be 89 and too old to embark on an exhaustive electoral
campaign.

“It is my own opinion that it is not possible to hold elections this year.
We need to start talking about elections next year or 2013, assuming that
the (constitution) referendum is completed in September as we have been
advised by Copac (Constitutional Parliamentary Committee),” Chinamasa told
the state media last week.

This indicates a major climb down from Zanu PF, which had claimed they would
have polls whether a new election had been approved or not.

Security chiefs are said to have warned that going for elections was likely
to mirror the 2008 polls, where Mugabe lost the popular vote.

He only maintained power by holding a much condemned election re-run, after
neither he nor his long time nemesis, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai were
unable to pass the 50% threshold to be declared outright winner.

The Zanu PF succession debate has been a thorny issue in the last two
decades, amid claims of a widening rift between two factions, one led by
retired army general Solomon Mujuru, whose wife, Joyce is the vice-president
and another led by Defence minister Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Afrexim bank chief to open ZITF

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/

03/05/2011 00:00:00
    by Lunga Sibanda

AFRICAN Export and Import Bank (Afrexim Bank) president, Jean Louis Ekra is
expected to officially open the 52nd edition of the Zimbabwe International
Trade Fair (ZITF) which kicked off in Bulawayo on Tuesday.

Officials said indications where that this year’s event – which will run
until Saturday -- would attract more foreign exhibitors this year compared
to last year.

General manager, Daniel Chigaru said the country was expecting to host 800
exhibitors of which 136 are foreign exhibitors.

“We are expecting close to 800 exhibitors in both local and foreign
exhibitors,” he said.

“We have 597 local exhibitors and 136 foreign exhibitors. There are 14
countries from SADC and several more from other countries such as Egypt,
German, Iran, Indonesia and Pakistan.”

Chigaru expressed satisfaction with the preparations and said everything was
in place for the trade showcase to begin adding this year’s event had better
prospects for business
compared to previous years.

The ZITF boss however, expressed concern over the supply of water to the
exhibition centre.

“Our major challenge is that the pressure of water in the tapes is very low.
A lot of people are using water and we fear that the supply might not be
adequate given the low pressure on the tapes,” he said.

He also expressed satisfaction with the uptake of exhibition space saying at
least 95 percent of the available stands had been taken up compared to 94
percent last year.

Exhibitors also expressed optimism that this year’s fair would provide them
the opportunity to improve their business operations.

Meanwhile, Bulawayo mayor, Councillor Thaba Moyo said the Fair could help
the city reclaim its place as the country’s economic hub.

“We are hosting the event as a city and it is an opportunity for us to
record good business as we will be having many visitors from within and
outside the country,” Moyo said.

“This means the services we render across various sectors will be doubled or
even tripled and it means that it is up to us as Bulawayo to make this big
event work because of the support we give it.

The fair is also expected to provide a much needed boost to the city’s hotel
and leisure industry with officials the sector was experiencing brisk
business.

“During the ZITF exhibition most hotels and lodges are fully booked which
shows that accommodation will be on demand and our hotels record brisk
business,” Moyo said.

“Most hotels and lodges have confirmed that they are fully booked for the
whole week which is always a great achievement for the city.”

ZITF 2011 Promises To Be Bigger And Better

http://www.radiovop.com/

03/05/2011 12:42:00

Bulawayo, May 03 2011 - The 52 nd edition of the Zimbabwe International
Trade Fair (ZITF) kicked off in Bulawayo on Tuesday amid praises from
exhibitors who see the fair as better organised than the previous ones held
in the last decade.

The country premier trade show will be officially opened on Friday by Africa
Import and Export Bank (Afreximbank) president Jean Louis Ekra. Exhibitors
who spoke to Radio VOP on Tuesday paid tribute to the organisers of the fair
for inviting Afreximbank boss instead of the traditional heads of state who
are usually invited to officially open the trade fair.

This year’s exhibition – which ends on Saturday - runs under the theme,
“Optimising Business Synergies Now and Beyond.”

“This year’s trade fair is really a fair with a difference. The organisers
have set the right tone for the fair by inviting a strategic technocrat whom
we believe is going to assist our local business people by identifying
synergies that will see our local companies forging strategic partnership
with both foreign financial institutions,” said James Moore, the Director of
Infet Irrigation suppliers whose company is exhibiting at the annual trade
expo for the first time in 10 years.

Moore said over the years, his company had lost faith in the trade fair
because of the politicisation of the event as well as the economic meltdown
which the country went through before the formation of the inclusive
government.

Industry and International Trade Minister, Welshman Ncube revealed that 96%
of exhibition space had been taken up by exhibitors. Thirteen foreign
countries including Turkey, Germany, Botswana, Egypt, Iran, India, Malawi,
Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia, among others are attending.

He said this year’s trade showcase is meant to be a return to the business
approach, saying this is the reason why the organizers closed out flea
market stands that have dominated the fair in previous years.

“It is certainly bigger than last year in terms of the space covered. The
space taken this year is around 96 and 97 percent the space available. It is
3000 square metres bigger than the space available last year,” Ncube said in
an interview. “This trade fair is an exhibition of the manufacturing
industry’s products and trade. We expect that the manufacturing sector will
showcase that which it produces."

The chief executive officer of Association for Business in Zimbabwe (ABUZ)
Lucky Mlilo said companies exhibiting at this year’s event must use the fair
as a platform to establish smart partnership with foreign companies.

“ZITF presents many businesses with the best chance to secure credit
facilities from multinational financial institutions. We encourage our
members to utilise such opportunities as they come once year. Credit lines
are hard to come by,“ he said.

The trade fair is being concurrently held with the International Business
conference.

Six Zim Mines Respond To Controversial Indigenisation Proposals

http://www.radiovop.com

03/05/2011 17:05:00

Harare, May 03, 2011 - At least six mining companies have told the Minister
of Indigenisation and Employment Creation their indigenisation plans as they
gear towards "change", Saviour Kasukuwere, has confirmed.

In an interview with Radio VOP, Kasukuwere, clad in a cap and T-shirt in his
office, said he was, however, very unhappy that some of proposals had the
"same names appearing maybe being used by Westerners to act as fronts in the
vetting process".

He said: "I can confirm that at least six mining firms have told us what
they intend to do as far as indigenisation is concerned. I am, however,
unhappy that we tend to see the same names appearing in their pitch letters
which is worrying".

President Robert Mugabe has regularly scolded local business entrepreneurs
accusing them of being used by Whites especially the British and the
Americans, saying Zimbabweans could be re-colonised.

While the minister did not reveal the names of the concerned mining
entities, it is reliably understood that mining giants Rio Tinto Zimbabwe
Limited (Rio Zim), Freda Rebecca Mine, Unki Mine and Zimplats (Private)
Limited have confirmed and dished out their proposals to Minister
Kasukuwere.

Rio Zim currently has a market capitalisation of US$53,923,626.00 on the
Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE).
Its share price stands at US$1,38. Rio is the second most heavily
capitalised mining concern on the bourse after Hwange Colliery Company
Limited (WCCL) whose market cap stands at a huge US$140,536,616.16.

However, WCCL faces numerous financial problems and dwindling international
markets and prices for its products. The mining giant is mainly
government-controlled by a huge shareholding, and is currently led by
tycoon, Tendai Savanhu, a Zanu (PF) functionary.

The Minister of Mines, Obert Mpofu, in an interview, said the mining
industry was "picking up" from about two years ago when many mines were
closed resulting in workers being sent home.

Investors have questioned the new indigenisation regulations in the mining
sector asking why they should continue putting their money on mines while
not being allowed to take dividends back to their investors in the West.

Kasukuwere urged mining houses to come clean and reveal their proposals
otherwise government would be forced to "take over the mines because they
belong to Zimbabweans".

‘Mugabe is a press freedom predator’

http://www.zimonline.co.za/

by James Mombe     Tuesday 03 May 2011

JOHANNESBURG – Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is among Africa’s seven
worst press freedom predators who regularly harass and persecute
journalists, media rights group Reporters Without Borders or Reporters sans
frontières (RSF) has said.

In statement released ahead of World Press Freedom Day tomorrow, the RSF
said journalism in Zimbabwe remains a risky and dangerous operation despite
formation more than two years ago of a unity government between Mugabe and
pro-democracy Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

The RSF said Mugabe has maintained a tight grip on the state-owned
broadcasting and newspaper publishing empire, the most dominant in Zimbabwe,
while making sure the make sure the small but vibrant privately-owned media
are, “unable to express themselves freely.”

The RSF, a France-based non-governmental organisation campaigning for
freedom of the Press, also mentioned unconfirmed reports that some state
editors have been “placed under electronic surveillance to check their
loyalty to the (ZANU PF) party of Mugabe.

“Despite being hailed as a “liberator” when he came to power in the 1980s,
Mugabe has no problem with the arbitrary arrests and harassment to which
most of the country’s journalists are exposed,” the group said, adding that
Mugabe has stepped curtailment on free speech as he prepares for the next
elections whose date is yet to be set.

Other top African press freedom violators on the RSF list are Gambian
President Yahya Jammeh, Eritrean President Issaias Afeworki, Equatorial
Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, Rwandan President Paul Kagamé,
Swaziland’s King Mswati III and Somalia’s Islamist militias (Al-Shabaab and
Hizb-Al-Islam).

Others outside Africa named as press freedom violators include the leaders
of North Korea, China, Iran, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Azerbaijan,
Vietnam, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

While Zimbabwe’s coalition government has implemented some of the media
reforms agreed in a power-sharing agreement between Mugabe and Tsvangirai it
has avoided instituting far-reaching measures that would drastically open up
the country’s media space.

The reforms instituted so far include the establishment of the Zimbabwe
Media Commission (ZMC) and the licensing of at least nine private newspapers
to compete with the state-run titles that have dominated the country’s media
landscape since 2003.

But Mugabe’s allies in the Ministry of Information that oversees the media
have continued to hold back reforms especially in the key broadcasting
sector.

More than a year after the coalition government was formed, the government
broadcaster Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) still dominates the
country’s media.

The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe has refused to license private
television or radio stations, forcing several radio stations to broadcast
into Zimbabwe from Europe or United States.

It however allowed the ZBC to launch a second television channel last May
underlining its dominance of the airwaves.

The Information Ministry that is controlled by Mugabe loyalist Webster Shamu
and the President’s influential press secretary George Charamba has also
held on to the draconian Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act
(AIPPA) and other laws that restrict media freedom.

The AIPPA requires journalists and media houses to register with the
government and also criminalises the publication of "falsehoods". The law
has been solely used to harass and arrest journalists working for the
private media or state media reporters who fail to toe the line. -- 
ZimOnline

MISA-Zimbabwe World Press Freedom Day Statement

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/

 

Tuesday, 03 May 2011 10:48

This year’s World Press Freedom Day (WFPD) commemorations on 3 May 2011 are indeed of great significance as they come on the backdrop of the 20th anniversary of the 1991 Windhoek Declaration. The Declaration is of great importance especially for the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) and more so for MISA-Zimbabwe as it provides the foundational mission and vision statements that guide the organisation’s media freedom and freedom of expression lobby and advocacy activities. The 2011 WFPD international theme: 21st Century Media: New Frontiers, New Barriers, directly relates to the fast growing media phenomena of information technologies not only in Africa but the world over.  According to the Posts and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), Zimbabwe has a total of 9.1 million mobile phone users but that the figure was projected  to decrease by about 34% following  the requirement for all subscribers to register their lines. The growing usage and demand for advanced information technologies undoubtedly adds value to the exercise of the fundamental right to freedom of expression and citizens’ right to access information. MISA-Zimbabwe therefore urges the government to complete its revision of the proposed ICT Bill as a matter of urgency given the potential of the ICT sector in entrenching democracy and employment creation. MISA-Zimbabwe however, notes with great concern that 10 years after the crafting of the African Charter on Broadcasting (ACB)  and enactment of the Braodcasting Services Act (BSA), Zimbabwe is still far from fulfilling the three-tier broadcasting system as envisaged under the Charter. The three-tier system comprises public broadcasting, private commercial broadcasting and establishment of community radio stations. It is against this background that MISA-Zimbabwe  came up with its 2011 WFPD theme: Broadcasting Reforms on the Agenda: Free the Airwaves Now! The theme was deliberately crafted to embrace the milestone significances of this year’s commemorations. For instance, this year marks the 10th anniversary of the coming into being of the 2001 African Charter on Broadcasting  as intertwined with the enactment of the  Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) in the same year. A majority of the 14-member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) now boast of a plethora of privately owned broadcasting stations and community radio stations. Zimbabwe thus remains stagnated as a monolithic pariah state whose airwaves continue to be monopolised by the state controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC). While the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) has taken commendable steps towards fulfilling the obligations of the Windhoek Declaration for a diversified, pluralistic and independent media environment by licensing more than 20 media houses in the print sector, the broadcasting media environment remains restricted and constricted. MISA-Zimbabwe therefore urges the inclusive government to fulfil its pledges and commitments to undertake comprehensive media reforms that will allow new private players into the broadcasting sector as mandated in terms of the GPA and Constitutional Amendment No 19 of 2009. This can be achieved in the immediate short-term through: •         Urgent reconstitution of Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) and licensing of aspiring private broadcasters and community radio stations as an interim measure to free the airwaves ahead of elections. •         Recognising the existence and potential of  Community Radio Initiatives (CRIs) spread throughout the country especially Radio Dialogue FM in Bulawayo and Community Radio Harare (CORAH), which are fully equipped and ready to broadcast. •         Urgent reconstitution of the ZBC governance board to ensure the broadcaster fulfills its public service mandate and reflects all shades of Zimbabwean opinions. •         Resuscitation and adequate resourcing of the Mass Media Trust to insulate Zimpapers from political interference. •         Urgent repeal or extensive amendment of laws that impinge on freedom of expression and media freedom, and citizens’ right to access to information notably AIPPA, BSA, Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and Interception of Communications Act. •         Arrests and prosecution of any individuals implicated in any forms of extra-legal media freedom violations in order to curb wanton harassment of media practitioners and guarantee the safety and security in the conduct of their lawful and professional duties.

Mugabe Bashes Local Media For Negative Reporting

http://www.radiovop.com/

03/05/2011 12:47:00

Harare, May 03, 2011 - President Robert Mugabe on Monday said journalists
should be free to do their work but quickly criticised the local media for
reporting negatively about Zimbabwe’s coalition administration.

"Press freedom means just that, press freedom, but freedom to report on what
is progressive to society,” he told journalists on his return from the
Vatican.

"Yes the negative must be reported but it must not be created by the media.
Most parts of our media focus on the negative, the negative always and the
conflicts between our leaders but never look at the constructive and
positive work that is being done by the inclusive government. We look
forward to being informed and objectively criticised, and objectively
praised."

Mugabe on Monday also criticised the Italians for denying ZBC’s chief
reporter Reuben Barwe a visa to travel in his delegation to Rome where he
attended the beatification of the late pontiff Pope John Paul II.
"I was surprised and shocked that on this holy trip there was an unholy
decision to bar one of our journalists called Reuben Barwe," he said.

Barwe is among a group of local journalists who were included on the EU and
American sanctions blacklist dominated by politicians for abetting Mugabe’s
regime violate human rights in Zimbabwe.

Unesco Launches Global Report On The Status of Media Women

http://www.radiovop.com/

03/05/2011 15:13:00

Paris, May 03, 2011 - In a groundbreaking effort to promote the voice of
women in the news-gathering and news dissemination process, UNESCO and the
International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) collaborated in a global
research partnership that has culminated in the publishing of a report on
women in the news media.

According to Unesco. the study report – titled Global Report on the Status
of Women in the News Media - represents a set of reliable and comprehensive
data on which to make a clear determination about where women currently fit
into the news-making operation, decision-making hierarchy and ownership
structure of media companies.

“This publication represents a significant milestone in the debate on gender
inequality and news media. It adds value to UNESCO’s ongoing work on
developing gender-sensitive media indicators, by highlighting the gaps that
such indicators could possibly address,” says Janis Karklins, UNESCO’s
Assistant Director-General for the Communication and Information Sector.

The research project was carried out over a two-year period, and sought to
offer the most complete picture to date of women’s status globally in news
media ownership, publishing, governance, reporting, editing,
photojournalism, broadcast production and other media jobs.

More than 150 researchers interviewed executives at more than 500 companies
in 59 countries, using a comprehensive questionnaire.

Overall, the study identified glass ceilings for women in 20 of 59 countries
studied, commonly visible in middle and senior management positions.
Slightly more than half of the companies sampled have an established
company-wide policy on gender equity, ranging from 16 percent of such
companies in Eastern Europe to 69 percent in Western and Sub-Saharan Africa.

“The challenge for UNESCO”, continues Karklins “is to innovatively factor
these findings into its regular and extra-budgetary programming. Clearly,
while some findings indicate that women are breaking through glass ceilings,
there is cause for alarm that this is not the case in all the countries
studied”.

The study also found that all regions except Eastern Europe suffered from
women’s under-representation in the journalism occupation. However, the
research report concludes, this does not suggest that women have failed to
advance both in number and occupational status in recent years. Rather, it
means that women are still lacking adequate access to the journalism
profession in many newsrooms across the globe.

UNESCO places a very high priority on gender equality. Its strategy consists
of gender-specific programming and gender mainstreaming with action in all
of UNESCO’s fields of competence: education, the sciences, culture, and
communication and information, and applies to all levels of interventions
from policy development, awareness raising and advocacy, research, to
institutional capacity building and training.

More specifically, in the field of communication UNESCO aims at “increasing
the participation and access of women to expression and decision-making in
and through the media and new technologies of communication”. The
Organization cooperated with the International Federation of Journalists to
produce and disseminate guidelines on gender equality in media organizations
and gender sensitive reporting. Recently UNESCO joined forces with major
stakeholders to elaborate gender sensitive indicators for media.

Outside View: Is Iran looking to Africa to secure uranium ore?

http://www.upi.com/

Published: May 3, 2011 at 8:35 AM
By AVI JORISCH, UPI Outside View Commentator

WASHINGTON, May 3 (UPI) -- Recently the United States pledged to provide
more than $1 billion in aid to Africa before the end of the fiscal year. But
another transaction is brewing, between Iran and Zimbabwe, that has received
far less interest but could have a far larger impact on U.S. foreign policy.

According to intelligence reports recently leaked by the United Nations'
International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran is looking to a number of African
countries in an effort to secure uranium, a key mineral in building nuclear
weapons.

It has been nearly a year since the United States and its allies
strengthened economic sanctions against Iran in an effort to force the
Islamic Republic to abandon its nuclear weapons program. Thus far, these
measures have yielded mixed results. As Iran continues to expand its nuclear
program, it will be seeking countries around the world that can provide it
with additional uranium, since it doesn't possess great quantities itself.

Naturally, the poorest and least-regulated countries that have this mineral
will serve as the richest targets.

The United States and its allies must make clear to those countries that are
considering providing Iran with uranium that doing so would have severe
economic and diplomatic consequences.

One of the most effective ways to achieve nuclearization is relatively
simple: obtaining ample supplies of enriched uranium. Normally, centrifuges
that contain uranium are spun to extract uranium hexafluoride -- also known
as uranium ore or yellow cake -- which can be used both as reactor fuel and
for arming nuclear missiles. All intelligence seems to suggest that Iran
doesn't have significant domestic supplies of uranium. This ultimately means
that unless Iran secures foreign supplies, its enrichment efforts will slow
down.

Iran has started to scour the Earth in search of countries that possess
uranium deposits, searching in Asia, Latin America and Africa. Recently, the
Islamic Republic has made a full-court press in Africa in particular and
Iranian engineers have reportedly mapped out all the uranium deposits on the
continent to assist in assessing which countries are most likely to sell
them the coveted mineral.

Iran has reportedly decided that Congo, Nigeria, Senegal and Zimbabwe are
the countries with uranium that are most likely to do business with it. Iran
appears to have targeted Zimbabwe as its most promising source of uranium.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Harare in April 2010 and,
according to the media, he expressed personal interest in Zimbabwe's
uranium. Ahmadinejad has followed up with President Robert Mugabe but the
talks have stalled over the most effective way of extracting Zimbabwe's
uranium without raising undue international attention.

While Zimbabwe has approximately 455,000 tons of uranium at Kanyemba, a site
north of Harare, it isn't near existing mining operations. Zimbabwe's
government is loath to start uranium mining, which would inevitably lead to
additional punishing sanctions against the country. Both the United Nations
and United States have a robust sanctions regime against the government of
Mugabe, who has been in power for more than 30 years.

In recent months, there have been reports that Iran has secured the mining
rights for Zimbabwe's uranium. Zimbabwe's minister of state for presidential
affairs, Didymus Mutasa, reportedly signed the agreement in Tehran last
year. In return for uranium, Harare is said to have secured oil and cash to
help its economy.

While Mugabe has denied these claims, he has stated that Iran can apply for
such privileges at any time.

Washington should closely monitor this connection between Iran and Zimbabwe
and, if it determines that Iran is beginning to mine or secure uranium
deposits from Harare, the U.S. government should engage in a full-court
diplomatic press and employ a wide array of existing financial sanctions
against companies and institutions that aid in Iran's illicit efforts to
obtain yellow cake.

Going forward, policymakers around the world will need to be vigilant in
tracking Iran's efforts to secure uranium.

Iran has yet to develop a nuclear weapon, but experts agree that sanctions
have thus far only delayed its efforts, not quelled its ambitions. If the
Islamic Republic succeeds in securing large quantities of uranium that can
ultimately be converted into yellow cake, this would most likely be the nail
in the coffin in the West's efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear
weapons.

--

(Avi Jorisch, a former U.S. Treasury official, is president of the Red Cell
Intelligence Group (www.redcellig.com) and the author of "Iran's Dirty
Banking: How the Islamic Republic Is Skirting International Financial
Sanctions.")

--

(United Press International's "Outside View" commentaries are written by
outside contributors who specialize in a variety of important issues. The
views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of United Press
International. In the interests of creating an open forum, original
submissions are invited.)

Zimbabwe: The house that books built

http://theafricareport.com

Written by Petina Gappah ″in Harare
Tuesday, 03 May 2011 14:25

Award-winning writer Petina Gappah ″is working to revive Harare City
Library. She explains the importance of the library to the city’s cultural
life and launches The Africa Report's campaign to help support it

To get to my office on the second floor of Harare City Library requires a
strong stomach. You walk through the main doors of the library, then up the
back stairs. There is no lift to the second floor. There was a book hoist
once, but it doesn’t work anymore. The binding room has been converted into
a storeroom that houses exam scripts for Zimbabwe Open University. Next to
the book hoist are toilets that no longer work: it is to walk past these
that you need the strong stomach – and a clothes peg for your nose. ″

The library was established in 1902 as the Queen Victoria Memorial Library
and Museum – a lending and reference library for the colony’s first
settlers. It soon built branches in the suburbs of Greendale, Hatfield,
Highlands, Mabelreign and Mount Pleasant. Effectively, the City of Salisbury
had two racially separated library systems: the Queen Victoria Memorial
Library and its satellite branches for whites, and a system of libraries for
blacks in the townships, run from the proceeds of Salisbury’s beer gardens.

″In 1982, the Queen Victoria Memorial Library and Museum separated, and the
library portion of it became Harare City Library with its five branches. It
still has only the five branches; there has been no expansion. Instead,
there has been decay. ″

The library wears the hardship of the past decade in every torn and broken
piece of furniture and in the mismatched curtains hanging askew at the
windows. The collection in some of the branch libraries seems made up
entirely of large-print books from the ’60s and ’70s. Some books have not
been taken out since 1978. It is not a library for the asthmatic – the dust
of years has settled into the books and all the fittings.

″Worst of all, the roof is leaking. Above the reference library at Rotten
Row are dirty splotches and what look like little white stalactites. There
is not a single computer for use in the entire library. An enterprising soul
has drilled a light bulb onto a fitting for fluorescent lamps. The telephone
has been cut because of a bill that has not been paid for two years. The
electricity bill too, has not been paid: like many institutions, the library
is making part-monthly payments to keep the lights on. ″

On the bright side, the electricity is working, and I suspect this is partly
because the library shares a grid with the headquarters of the ruling
ZANU-PF party – the president’s wailing motorcade occasionally silences the
traffic on Rotten Row. Indeed, the library exemplifies the extent to which
Harare, and Zimbabwe, has fallen in just 11 years, and the mammoth task
required just to get things barely running again. ″

The decline of the library is particularly shocking to me because it is
deeply associated with the happiest part of my childhood. When my family
moved from the township of Glen Norah to Mabelreign, a modest suburb, I
joined the Queen Victoria Memorial Library. Almost all my classmates at
Alfred Beit School were members. ″

There I gorged on Enid Blytons and Malcolm Savilles, on Agatha Christies and
on the Moses books by Barbara Kimenye. I became obsessed with exploration
and wanted to go to Antarctica. The world came alive for me through that
library, an experience that I shared with my friends and the many children
who swarmed in and out. Throw a stone into the northern suburbs of Harare
and you will hit an adult of 30-plus who was once a child member of the
Harare City Library.

″Its decline is thus not only a grievous wound to my memories, but also a
shocking reminder of how much ­today’s children are missing. I have decided
to do something about it. I am currently in Zimbabwe on sabbatical leave
from my job as a lawyer in Geneva. I have an office at the library because I
now chair the committee that runs it.

Harare City Library needs your support

If you can help by donating books, periodicals and magazines or money,
please contact the Harare City Library on: hararecitylibrary@gmail.com

To find out more about The Africa Report's campaign to help the library,
contact: campaigns@theafricareport.com

A New Way For Young People To Learn Shona And Focus On Homework

Job vacancies in Zimbabwe

http://www.kubatanablogs.net/kubatana/?p=5803

TOP del.icio.us

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.

Project Officer – People Up Project: Practical Action Southern Africa
Deadline: 6 May 2011

Practical Action Southern Africa is part of an international technology
development organisation headquartered in the United Kingdom, seeks to
recruit a Project Officer for the People up Project based in Harare.

Key performance areas will include inter alia:

-Conducting quality control management on the project activities being
undertaken.

-Participating in Monitoring and Evaluation of project progress against the
original intention and design.

-Facilitating relevant thematic workshops with internal and external
stakeholders.

-Producing monthly reports  to assist in project implementation so as to
ensure successful completion

-Producing material for publication and documentation, to inform all
stakeholders on progress and challenges.

-Conducting field research for the People Up project.

-Assisting in lobbying and advocacy activities to build the endorsement of
Practical Action.

-Recruiting beneficiaries with the assistance of the supervisor.

-Engaging in public relations and networking to identify synergies and
strengthen existing partnerships

-Participating in fundraising activities in support of Practical Action
opportunities’ so that Urban Services are met.

Person Specifications:

-Bachelors Degree or Higher National Diploma in Rural & Urban Planning,
Engineering, Development Studies or any related discipline.

-2 years NGO experience,

-Excellent interpersonal skills.

-Excellent computer skills

-Excellent communication skills a must i.e. both written and spoken

Send applications and detailed CVs to: Human Capital and Administration
Manager, Practical Action, 4 Ludlow Rd, Newlands, Harare or email to: hc
[at] practicalactionzw [dot] org

Four (4) vacancies: International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Deadline: 6 May 2011

Location: Mutare

IRC intends to implement a project to mitigate risks of water borne disease
outbreaks focusing on community adoption of households’ water treatment
practices.  The project will focus mainly on community behavior change
through social marketing of Point of Use (PoU) water treatment products,
promoting grassroots distribution systems of retail and kiosk owners in
remote rural areas and creating demand of the products through community
awareness raising. Four (4) positions have arisen and all will be based in
Mutare with job responsibilities covering Manicaland Province. The contract
is for a period of twelve (12) months

1. Project Manager  – WASH

The Project Manager WASH plays an important role in the International Rescue
Committee’s (IRC) field office management structure and is responsible for
the supervision of four officers.

Job Responsibilities

-Responsible for the overall management of the project which includes staff
and the design of appropriate tools to spearhead community education on PoU
water treatment techniques while working with the local authorities,
government departments, schools authorities and traditional leaders.

-Prepare timely work plans and promote quality in project deliverables.

-Represent IRC and collaborate, plan and liaise with key local government
officials, NGOs and community members in the implementation of project
activities.

-Monitoring and documenting achievement of project outputs and objectives.

-Prepare and submit timely quality internal and donor project reports on
field activities with indicators tracking.

-Participate in needs assessment activities.

-Manage project assets and budget management (Budget vs Actual expenditure
tracking).

-Represent IRC in WASH Cluster Provincial coordination meetings to foster
positive interaction and good working relations with all partners.

Skills and Qualifications

-Degree in Public Health, Health Education and Promotion or Social Studies
with a strong bias on community development in WASH.

-Two years of professional experience managing WASH programs and experience
in implementing OFDA funded projects is an added advantage.

-Strong understanding of Monitoring & Evaluation of WASH programs.

-Excellent interpersonal, organizational and time management skills.

-Capable of training staff and motivating community support.

-Operational knowledge of Microsoft Office software, knowledge of GIS
mapping a plus.

2. Social Marketing Officer (SMO) x 2

Job responsibilities

-Responsible for organizing the provincial, district and ward level
stakeholder inception/launch workshops/meetings.

-Identifying, assessing and listing down potential grassroots distributors
of household PoU water treatment products in remote areas.

-Training the identified grassroots distributors on social marketing,
business management and promotion of linkages with distributors and
transporters.

-Rebranding places like kiosks, retail shops with household PoU water
treatment products promotional materials and organize the grassroots
household PoU water treatment products distributors to form buying clusters.

-Carrying out community based educational sessions on promotion of household
PoU water treatment products at schools, business centers, market places
etc.

-Develop & implementing a monitoring system to measure residual chlorine
levels of treated water at household level.

-Monitoring and documenting achievement of use of PoU water treatment
products as a project output.

-Prepare and submit timely and quality internal project reports on
activities.

Skills and Qualifications

-Diploma in Marketing with a strong bias on community social marketing.

-Experience implementing WASH programs and experience in implementing
OFDA-funded projects is an added advantage.

-Strong understanding of Monitoring & Evaluation of WASH programs.

-Capable of training communities and motivating community support.

-Operational knowledge of Microsoft Office software, knowledge of GIS
mapping a plus.

3. Hygiene Promotion Officer (HPO)

Job responsibilities

-Responsible for identifying existing and establishing new school hygiene
clubs, supporting their functioning and roll out their plans as vehicle for
hygiene promotion.

-Carrying out training to School Hygiene Club Coordinators and community
hygiene club leaders.

-Support the setting up of a Healthy Corner at school events such as soccer
and athletics competitions.

-Spearheading community based educational sessions on promotion of behavior
change.

-Supporting District WASH commemoration events.

-Monitoring and documenting achievement of behavior change project output
and objective.

-Prepare and submit timely quality internal project reports and indicators
tracking.

-Represent IRC in WASH coordination meetings/forums at district level to
foster positive interaction and good working relations with all partners.

Qualifications

-Diploma in Environmental Health, Public Health Promotion with a strong bias
on community development in WASH.

-Two years experience implementing WASH programs and experience in
implementing OFDA funded projects is an added advantage.

-Strong understanding of Monitoring & Evaluation of WASH programs.

-Capable of training communities and motivating community support.

-Operational knowledge of Microsoft Office software, knowledge of GIS
mapping a plus.

Qualified candidates should send their detailed CVs and cover letters to
Zimbabwe [at] theirc [dot] org and write title of the position they are
applying for in the subject line.

Youth & Adolescent Development Specialist at NOC Level: United Nations
Children’s Fund
Deadline: 9 May 2011

Based in Harare, Zimbabwe (Fixed Term Post)

Vacancy Notice No. Zim/2011:08

UNICEF, the world’s leading children’s rights organization, has an opening
for passionate and committed professionals who want to make a lasting
difference for children in Zimbabwe. We are seeking people with a commitment
for women and children, high drive for results, demonstrable embracing of
diversity, integrity, demonstrable teamwork, good self-awareness and
self-regulation.

Purpose of the Job:

Under the general guidance of the Chief of Communications, provides support
in the conceptualization, planning, execution, monitoring and evaluation of
child and youth participation strategy to promote respect for children’s’
and women’s’ rights and support UNICEF’s mission in Zimbabwe with approx.

Major Tasks to be accomplished:

* Actively contributes to the development and implementation of a Government
of Zimbabwe/UNICEF child and youth participation strategy that will
accelerate the realization of children’s and young people’s rights in
Zimbabwe.

* Liaises and advocates with parliamentarians, civic society, private sector
and independent providers on the benefits of, and need for, children’s
participation as key stakeholders in social development and political
agenda. e.g. participation in the legislative and Constitutional reforms;
policies and programmes.

* Identifies and creates opportunities for child and young people’s
meaningful participation where children’s and young people’s views,
experiences and beliefs are heard, considered and acted upon. Explores the
use of regional communication platforms, such as “Speak Africa” – Speak
Zimbabwe to encourage dialogue and learning among children and young people.

* Provides technical support to strengthen the capacity of child and young
people’s national structures and representations in government, civil
society and children’s organizations e.g. child parliament, junior
councilors, child protection committees, child participation clubs and other
school based participation programmes.

* Works with children and young people to appreciate the regional and
international legal and policy instruments on children and young people.
These include the UNCRC; ACRWC; African Youth Charter; A call for
accelerated action on AFFC.

* Support operational research, documentation, information sharing and
dissemination of good practices on child and young people’s participation,
with government; civil society; young people and children, private sector
and other partners.

* Facilitate coordination of child and young people’s participation within
UNICEF country programme; UNCT and Government, civil society and other
partners.

* Contributes to fundraising strategies for overall communications and
advocacy, with special focus on child and young people’s participation.

* Draft relevant chapters for Annual Reviews; Reports on child and young
people’s participation.

Qualifications and Competencies:

* Advanced university degree in social/ political sciences, or equivalent
professional work experience in the child and young people’s participation
area, or in related field.

* At least five years progressively responsible professional work experience
in child and young people’s development and participation programmes, of
which two years should be in developing countries.

* Good analytical and organizational skills and ability to work in a
multicultural environment.

* General ability to express clearly and concisely ideas and concepts in
written and oral form, specific skills in writing policy briefs and position
papers on children’s rights, child and youth participation.

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 quoting vacancy notice
number to the following address:

HR Specialist

(Vacancy Notice No. Zim/2011:08)

UNICEF, 6 Fairbridge Avenue,

P O Box 1250

Belgravia, Harare

Or email: hararevacancies [at] gmail [dot] com

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Communication Officer at NOB Level
Deadline: 9 May 2011

Based in Harare, Zimbabwe (Fixed Term Post)

Vacancy Notice No. Zim/2011:09

Purpose of the Job:

Under the general guidance of the Chief of Communications, undertakes the
planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluating of an advocacy and
communication strategy to get children’s and women’s issues into the public
domain, strengthen donor and political will in support of UNICEF’s mission
and objectives in Zimbabwe, and enhance the organization’s credibility and
brand.  The Communications Officer also extends support to the co-ordination
and dissemination of communications message through the local and
international media and is responsible for the website of the Zimbabwe
country office.

Major Tasks to be accomplished:

* Works on the production of communication products, including the country
office website.

* Drafts background information, fact sheets, communication and other
promotional advocacy materials for briefing visits, media, Goodwill
Ambassadors and other special interest groups.

* Supports the development, drafting and maintenance of information and
relationships with journalists and media outlets

* Writes articles, speeches, press releases, other public information
materials and reports, as well as contributes to development of
communication messages and materials for the traditional and web based media
outlets

* Distribution and dissemination of advocacy materials from NY, Geneva, the
Regional Office and the country office to identified partners and other
target audiences. Helps to identify the need for additional
materials/activities, such as radio and television programmes, publications,
photographs, websites, etc., to advocate and promote organizational goals
within the country.

* Facilitates engagement with nationally known personalities and helps to
organize special events and activities to support country programme goals.
Generates public support for special events.

* Supports social mobilization and media through organizing community
participation of key players and through organising field visits and media
training events; photo coverage and TV Footage, using both the traditional
and web based media as appropriate.

Qualifications and Competencies:

* University degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations; or
equivalent professional work experience in the communication area, combined
with an advanced university degree in a related discipline

* At least five years progressively responsible professional work experience
in communication, print and broadcast media or interactive digital media, of
which two years should be in developing countries.

* General ability to express clearly and concisely ideas and concepts in
written and oral form; specific skills in writing press releases and
articles/stories for traditional, electronic and new media.

* Proven ability to conceptualize, plan and execute ideas, as well as impart
knowledge and teach 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 quoting vacancy notice
number to the following address:

HR Specialist

(Vacancy Notice No. Zim/2011:09)

UNICEF, 6 Fairbridge Avenue,

P O Box 1250

Belgravia, Harare

Or email: hararevacancies [at] gmail [dot] com

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
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This entry was posted on May 3rd, 2011 at 11:25 am by Bev Clark