This website will now be hosting news, updates, citizen feedback, our newsletter and job offerings, the NGO directory, and more. So if you want the latest from Kubatana, make sure to visit our main website: www.kubatana.net

Meanwhile, this blog will still be here “for posterity,” but we won’t be adding to it here – Look for our regularly updated content on www.kubatana.net instead.

And if you’re a researcher looking for our archive of Zimbabwean civil society reports and human rights documents from 2001 – 2013 it’s still there! Just visit archive.kubatana.net and you’ll find all 25,000 documents for your research pleasure.

Thanks!

Just a short note to say that we are discontinuing this blog so you won’t see any new posts on it. This isn’t because we’ve fallen asleep over our keyboards, it’s because we are hopefully going to be launching another platform soon that will keep some elements of this blog as well as adding some spice!

Change starts with us. Right?

Bye for now.

The report begins:

The later part of the year 2013 saw the government of Zimbabwe making lukewarm efforts to address challenges bedeviling the mining sector that civil society groups working in this sector have been highlighting relentlessly for years with very limited response from government. Despite the mining sector failing to achieve the projected growth of 17% in 2013 statistics from the ministry of mines indicate that mining has significantly contributed to Zimbabwe’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from an average of 10.2 percent in the 1990s to 19.9 percent in 2009 and 2013 surpassing agriculture. Similarly, figures from the Zimbabwe Investment Authority for 2013 also reveal an upward trend of the mining sector attracting 207 million out of the 660 million worth of investment with the remainder 460.30 million falling into other 5 sectors of the economy. Between 2009 and 2013 the mining industry became the leading export sector accounting for over 60% of Zimbabwe’s total export earnings. In spite of this growth, the mining sector’s contribution to fiscus has largely remained insignificant due to lack of transparency and accountability prevalent in the governance of the sector.

Download the full report here

Post: Social Worker/Case Management Officer
Type of Contact: Fixed term (one year) renewable

Christian Legal Society of Zimbabwe is a faith based non-profit making organization, which provides free legal assistance to vulnerable populations. The Organization is seeking a qualified professional to take up the position of Social Worker/Case Management Officer in Bulawayo. We seek an individual with an ability to
work independently with minimal supervision, motivation and passion for achieving best outcomes for children and tackling issues of children in contact with the law in Zimbabwe.

Key responsibilities
-Provide direct counseling/ therapeutic support to children who have come in contact with the law as well as their families
-Complete follow-ups on reports received of children, including home visits within the community
-Work in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, Police, Social Services Department and other relevant Government departments in ensuring children’s safety
-Work jointly with other stakeholders in the field of children’s services, making referrals and networking
-Assist in capacity development and training of community-based child protection structures
-Compile monthly reports of a high standard
-Maintain accurate case records and attend regular supervision
-Facilitating Meetings on awareness on child rights issues in the communities
-Work as part of a team towards achieving the organization’s objectives

Candidate skills and competence
-Possess a university degree in Social Work or post graduate diploma in Social Work
-Registration as a Social Worker in terms of the Social Workers Act (Chapter 27:21) and a current practicing certificate
-A certificate in counseling would be an added advantage
-At least two (2) years’ experience working with vulnerable groups, particularly children and in primary Social Work
-Ability to work with little or no supervision
-Results oriented and able to work under pressure and with strict deadlines
-Experience working with children, women, local community structures and government structures
-Computer Literate (able to use Excel)
-Excellent report writing skills
-Good analytical and problem solving skills
-Excellent communication skills as well as speak fluently in both Ndebele and Shona

To apply
Interested persons with the relevant experience are requested to submit their applications including a cover letter, CV and names of at least two contactable references. Only short listed candidates shall be contacted.

Applications to be delivered in hardcopy to:
The Executive Director
Christian Legal Society of Zimbabwe
Suite 5, Winchester House, Fife Street and 4th Avenue, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

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

The subject of the email should be ‘Application for Social Worker Position’ 

The Book of African Records (BAR) is a proudly African, innovative and growing organisation. We collect records about Africa and Africans and use these as a positive change agent against stereotypical coverage of Africa in the global media.

In 2015 and 2016, and in collaboration with tourism boards across Africa, BAR is organizing a promotional and world-wide road show to be known as the African Records World Expedition. This cultural diplomacy shall take participants across 41 countries over a distance of 52 000km by road, using expedition vehicles. If successful, this journey will be the first circumnavigation of the Earth’s surface by Africans.

The African Records World Expedition will be collaborating with an African satellite television that shall be documenting and broadcasting this historic journey as a reality show for popular consumption across Africa.

This is a call for interested individuals who would like to join the expedition as a participant. There are no specific personal qualifications as the final 12 participants shall be chosen through a 3-tier elimination process that shall test candidates’ fitness for travel, general health status, ability to mentally endure extreme conditions, command of foreign languages, Class 1/4 driving skills, among other things. Whilst the organization and sponsors shall meet costs of travel for the entire 14 months, successful candidates are required to contribute 15% towards own total cost of participation.

Successful candidates will also be expected to play an active role in the preparations for 11 months prior to departure day. There are no immediate material benefits to participation.

Positions available: 12 (this includes, among other things, photographers, videographers, rapporteurs, drivers, mechanics). Individuals with a multiplicity of skills will be given preference.

Duration of expedition: 14 months (Departure day is 1 January 2015)

Countries to be covered: Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, Egypt, Greece, Italy, France, United Kingdom, Holland, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Russia, Kazakhstan, China, India, Australia, Japan, Canada, USA, Mexico, Cuba, Jamaica,  Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, South Africa.

An introductory meeting for potential participants shall be held in Harare in the 1st week of January 2014.

For further details, interested individuals are kindly requested to email: expedition [at] bookofafricanrecords [dot] org

When: Saturday 14 December 2013, 8:30am – 7:30pm
Where: Raylton Sports Club, Harare (Behind Road Port – 5th Street / George Silundika)
Theme: Our Resources, Our Future

Programme includes theatre performances, plenary discussions, and autonomous sessions on themes like health, debt and trade, youth and students, democracy and rights, social service delivery, arts and culture, labour, gender, and natural resource management.

Find out more and download the full programme

Zimbabweans are never short of a plan

This year Robert has been making a range of imaginative Christmas tree decorations

There is something touchingly beautiful
about his recycled angels
the curse of our consumerism
reappearing as the messengers, warriors, guardians
a re-visitation of the wise ones
kitted out in the latest colours

Robert asked me to invite you to drop by
if any of you in Harare are on a hunt for Christmas tree decorations…