By Shadreck Zangairai

Organizational politics can speed one’s way to the top, but can also ruin one’s career if one is not careful. It’s a two edged sword that has to be handled very carefully lest it can bring bitterness in the organization. It is based on similar principles guiding political conduct or even war. At this point I will take a leaf from Neale Donald Walsch, Author of “Conversations with God’’. The view posits that a person on the mountain top did not get there by falling but had to climb and one cannot get there by climbing over others. It is about climbing with others, side by side and even pulling some others up with you. If you are willing to do this, when you get to your destination, others will be happy you are there-which is what will keep you there’. Quite often, people want to climb to the top by climbing over others. This is suicidal since it can cause one to fall down heavily in the event that those “others” refuse to be stepped upon or steps aside. That is why climbing with others is necessary so as to get support in times of need.
While it’s impossible to eradicate organizational politics, there are several steps that HR practitioners, managers, and leaders can take to minimize its negative impact:
Create an overarching goal. This is a goal that everyone in the organization shares and can be a single, qualitative, time-bound goal such as giving the best service to clients.
Create a set of ongoing operating objectives. This process can be done within each function of the organization to develop a series of high quality operating standards. These standards can be shared across organizational functions.
Create metrics and measure them. One of the most important parts of the process is measure whether the operating objectives are being met or not.
The Law of Power- The law of power postulates that never outshine the master. According to a book by Robert Green: The 48 Laws of Power, always make those above you feel comfortably superior. In your desire to please or impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents or you might accomplish the opposite-inspire fear and insecurity. Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the heights of power.
• Improve your people skills
• Communicate openly and honestly
• Put yourself in your employees’ shoes and understand the landscape
• Collaborate respectfully across departments
• Maintain positive working relationships with all colleagues
• Do not have favourites or give preferential treatment to anyone
• Change your approach if something is not working
• Ensure employees feel valued and noticed and know they have opportunities
• Monitor any issues you notice
• Encourage employees to reach out with concerns
• Step in when needed
• Set a positive example for your team to follow
Useful Rules
• Be friendly to everyone-and do not join issues you are not clear about.
• Do not burn your bridges as you climb up.
• Be patient.
• If your neighbor gets up early, get up earlier.
• Give help only when it profits you or your interest.
• If you go out of the formal rule book, do not get caught.
• If you make an example of any one, make sure everyone knows- (Punish one, teach a hundred).
• If you stumble, it will be on a stone and not a mountain.
• Do not let others see you ‘sleeping’ on duty.
• If the boss is out of the office, commit to working harder.
• It’s not about who is in charge but who takes charge.
• Control your story before others do.
• Shake hands when you are parting.
• Be a good team player.
• Avoid power tactics that tend to backfire (like coercion).
• Get to know your colleagues.
• Do not be afraid to take on unpopular projects: If you succeed, you are instantly a star- if you do not, no one thought it was possible.
• Do not think you do not have competitors. They will always be around you.

Who are the key players in any organization?

In the book, The Art of war, by SUN TZU, the following were given as examples;
The Boss: The person in charge.
The ‘Yes man’: Agrees with the boss even when he/she is wrong.
The Maverick: Non-conformist and a possible window to change.
The Traitor; Talks less and undermines people at their back.
The Vortex: Always pushing for their personal agenda.
The Empire builder: Getting more people into their debt and expanding their influence.
The Peace maker: Always concerned with harmony.
The Brain: Smart, data driven.
The Parrot: Steals ideas and parrots the right opinions of the day.

Disclaimer; Shadreck Zangairai is the Principal Human Resources Officer at Masvingo Provincial Hospital. He writes in his personal Capacity
(shadreckzanga@gmail.com)

Tinaani Nyabereka

Gweru- Ebenezzar Women Social Entrepreneurship Trust (EWSET) in partnership with SowHope has initiated a poverty alleviation project to help empower women in Gweru.
The project is expected to empower women to start income generating projects that include soap and vaseline making in order to create a brand and market the products.
The project is set to emancipate 100 women before expanding to other Midlands constituencies as women are struggling to take care of families due to prevailing economic hardships.
Speaking at the first phase of the training in Mkoba recently, EWSET director, Florence Guzha said a number of women were expected to benefit as the initiative is expected to give economic emancipation to women.
She said as an organisation they were going to sponsor the first phase of the project, beneficiaries were expected to sustain the project going forward and grow through working in clubs
“We thought of challenges women face in the modern society, remember a mother who is struggling to put food on the table as she doesn’t have any means of sourcing income. Who also face abuse as she is dependent on the men always,”
“We want that woman emancipated and equipped to use her hands for the benefit of her family and her community. So we want women to make vaseline and soap which they sell locally and internationally for their upkeep. We know they are capable because we have equipped them with the necessary information and ingredients to go about the production.
“We have the other resources and more will be availed in a few month time so that we put production at full force. So the project is running in groups of 20s where we saying we are going to have first 5 groups to do the production before we move to the next constituency.” She added.
Guzha said, young women were supposed to take centre stage as such initiatives would cut dependence syndrome which is stopping them from assuming leadership roles.
“As you can witness the project is being driven by a committee which has been made by women themselves. Among the Elderly we also have young women whom we are grooming to stir developmental committees. We are open to see other projects materializing in the future as we strive create jobs for youth’s particularly young girls.” She said
Financial advisor, Fungai Gamanya said in order to stir successful projects, there was need to teach women financial issues and effective money saving methods.
“As we are dealing with women in our communities, there is what I call social clubs in which people come together and form a saving club to sustain their project such as soaps and vaseline making.
“So these women have already established their saving club which is going to see them contributing U$2 as 20 members and in doing so, in their weekly contribution in the next three months the money will enable them to buy ingredients for soap and Vaseline making.
“Their committees are led by a Chairperson up to committee members and the moneys raised is going to be deposited in the bank as all operations are constitutionally guided. Once this project sustain itself we are going move to other constituencies and equip women financial methods of capacitating their initiatives.” She added.
One of the project beneficiary, Marian Banda of Mkoba 19, said the financial stability of women was key in growing every society.
“This project is very important as it is being driven by us the beneficiaries. We are the ones who are going to sustain it as a community for the benefit of the elderly, ourselves and our children.
“We are happy because we are going to make tangible products which are going to be branded and sold at the local and international market,”
“We have learnt that as women we should not be limited, we have to be financially stable to avert some of the challenges affecting us.” She said

Branton Matondo

Manicaland arts sector has lamented on impending isolation by government, a plight made worse by centralization of programmes in Harare and Bulawayo.
This came at a recently held artist’s status meeting held at Chancellor Primary School in Mutare graced by member associations from Nyanga, Mutare and various parts of Manicaland.
Seasoned artist and administrator Kiven Simomondo said decisions and activities to do with the arts sector are always made in Harare and Bulawayo, a disheartening feat that has led to other provinces feeling left out.
“The recognition of artists should benefit everyone, not only those in Harare and Bulawayo. We want equal opportunities because we all operate in the same country.” said Simomondo
He said government is failing to appreciate art’s welfare as competition rewards always come late and in most cases end up depleted by the ever rising inflation.
“Last year we went to Herbert Chitepo festival on the 18th of December. The parent Ministry, Ministry of Sport, arts and recreation was hosting the event. We were confident that payment was going to be given on the day of or maybe 3 days later but after winning the competition we had to wait for 6 months for payment of US$1,500. The money appeared last week in my account with December last year’s bankrate which was at RTGS$500 for US$1”,” said Simomondo
Adding to his grievances Simomondo said the ministry is abusing artists who invest and survive on arts.
Seasoned music artist Tendai Chari said the Ministry and the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) were sleeping on duty as there is no vibrant response to cases and grievances.
“It’s difficult for me to report issues of nonpayment by promoters to NACZ which is under the Ministry but it’s even more difficult when the Ministry which we are supposed to be reporting to is doing the same. I played at one of the biggest hotels in Zimbabwe and l went for a year without payment and I had nowhere to report because if you go and report you will be tossed from office to office.”
On the issue of centralization of programmes in Harare Chari said dissemination of information was the main challenge and the relationship between artists and NACZ was poor.
“There is a problem of poor communication, I was in for the longest time, you miss programmes and you only know of them when they are already past, the information does not get to the right people at the right time. The NACZ is there to oversee and promote the practice of arts in Zimbabwe. It’s like a parent to us as artists but the relationship between us and NACZ is not solid, there is a gap and it makes it difficult for the parent to know what is really going on.”
The meeting which was graced by members of NACZ board was a call out for artists to air out issues affecting their line of work.
Responding to issues raised by artist, NACZ Legal and Compliance Officer Alex Majachani said there were areas that needed attention to solve the challenges
“From the responses we got today it appears that there are two areas that need attention. The first one is the issue of contracts, maybe artists don’t appreciate what is needed to come up with contracts. The second one is the running of arts businesses because there are a lot of legalities that have to be done. Even if we are crafting our laws we have to take that into consideration.”
He said such status meetings were a deliberate effort by NACZ for the new board to meet and engage artists and understand what they are doing and where they are going.
“On our part, this is a deliberate arrangement because we are saying as a new body which is coming on board we have to meet the artist’s to understand the challenges they are facing. This will help in service delivery. As you are aware the role of NACZ in relation with NACZ Act is to foster and promote arts development. You cannot develop when you don’t know the problem.”

Brighton Chiseva

MASVINGO – Masvingo Association of Residential Care Facilities in partnership with the Reformed Church University (RCU) recently donated a special wheel chair to 17 year old Tinashe Mabika.
The donation came as a life saver to Mabika’s mother Edith Mugabe who endured the brunt of carrying his son for the past 17 years as the boy cannot do anything himself alone.
Speaking at the handover ceremony held at the university’s main campus, MARCFT, Director Zendakwaye Zendakwaye said as an organization, they heard about the boy’s plight, sought for help since he required a special wheelchair that resonates with his physical wellbeing.
“We appealed for help since Tinashe needed a special wheelchair which suit his stature, he had never had a wheelchair in his life and that limited his mother’s movement since he had to carry him and could not leave him for a long time,”
RCU provided the money needed for the special wheel chair. However, when we were looking for help, we managed to get another ordinary wheelchair and we are giving it to him to use as a spare,” said Zendakwaye
He went on to say they also got crutches from another organization and they were going to hand them to the needy members.
“Another organization which specializes on crutches s gave us 20 pairs, so we have a list of beneficiaries and some of them are here and some could not make it due to logistical challenges,” said Zendakwaye
Speaking at the same event, RCU Vice Chancellor Professor Emmanuel Dumbu said as an institution they felt urged by the old adage which says it takes a village to raise a child and saw it fit to donate.
“There is an old adage which says IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD’, and the question now is, what is that village? It’s simply the community, our community and yours. It’s me and you. As Reformed Church University, we contemplated and felt the urge to donate towards the physio-prescribed wheelchair for Tinashe Mabika.
The RCU is actively working hard to address issues that the people living with disabilities may face. As a university, we have various initiatives and support structures in place to ensure that those people living with disabilities get help for them to fit into the society,”
This is not the first time RCU doing such a philanthropic gesture. In 2021, one of the ECD students deployed at Chimedza Primary School sourced two wheelchairs with the help of the Inclusivity Directorate of the RCU. The wheelchairs were donated to the learners with disabilities at Chimedza School in Zaka,” said Professor Dumbu
He said the wheelchair allows for mobility and hence brings relief to the boy’s mother who had to carry him everywhere limiting her chances of working to provide for his family.
“The wheelchair is one of the most commonly used assistive devices to promote mobility and enhance quality of life for people who have difficulties in walking. Wheelchair mobility opens up opportunities for wheelchair users to study, work, and engage in social activities and access services such as healthcare. We saw the need, so we are here to hand over this wheelchair and help relieve Mrs. Mabika from carrying Tinashe everywhere,” he said
After being handed over the wheelchair, Mugabe failed to hold her tears back, she said she had been relieved a lot because she is now able to easily go around and do her menial jobs with his son whom he could not leave at home for a long time.
“I am happy now that I cannot endure the trouble of carrying my son as I have been doing from the past 17 years. I can now go anywhere I need with him and I can now easily do my work to feed him and his siblings,” said Mugabe
She went on to say her wish was to get some money to boost her poultry project so that she can put food on the table for her family and pay fees for other children.
“I need money so that I boost my small poultry project and stop looking for menial jobs because my son’s situation requires me to be close to him every time,” she said.
Tinashe has a rare condition which makes her look like a six or seven year old despite his age. He cannot talk, walk or feed on his own. He requires diapers despite his age, a situation that makes it hard for his mother to leave him for some time alone.
Mugabe can be contacted on 0771338140.

Branton Matondo

Mutare business meeting dubbed “An initiative to see businesses become brands” that was organized by Six Nine Construction for Mutare business community where they engaged for cross pollination of ideas on how to maximize brands amid an ever rising competitive market ended on a high note.
The event attracted members from various business ventures in Mutare and beyond.
Six Nine Construction Managing Director Cosmas Mudekwa told the gathering how his organization managed to fit in the ever changing competitive construction industry and said a number of strategies were periodically applied to compliment what already exists.
“We came up with different strategies that are meant to complement what other construction companies are doing, that is in terms of pricing, efficiency, and technological advancements. This is how we have approached the market. We discovered that we could not re-invent a wheel because it’s already there but what we can do is change the design to make it more suitable to our consumers.”
Award Winning Communication firm Esteem Communications Founder and Director Takemore Mazuruse said maximizing brands speaks to a house for all mantra pushed by government, a feat that has been adopted by the private sector.
“The idea speaks towards, housing for all mantra by government and private players as well. So what Six Nine Construction is doing is they are positioning themselves for more opportunities and the presence of tailor made services approaches to all Zimbabwean customers.”
Mazuruse added that business gatherings are a good platform for business to share ideas and they have proved to be pivotal amid a competitive market where you have to re-invent yourself.
“This allows for experience sharing and ideas exchange. Remember we all have different experiences in business, some are starting up, some are midway, and some have actually achieved. Coming together allows cross pollinating of ideas and we get to learn and inspire each to continue doing more. There are challenges along the way but as you learn from others you get the strength to continue going,” he said
Maximizing brands headlined the day’s proceedings. Life coach and award winning motivational speaker Rudo Nyamoto also graced the event and gave a presentation on” The Power of a Confident Brand”.
Discourse on brand positioning was presented by Tinashe Zinyemba while Rimbidzai Kuipa, an experienced caterer detailed the important part employees play in building a brand.