Yo, Sam, over here :)

This is the Salon forum, where its just friendly chatter.

So, what's it like there? You have cable? Indoor plumbing? All the modern conveniences? :)

No, we live in mud huts and wash in the nearby river ... but funnily enough I came across this Pentium pc in the local dump, wired it up and - hey presto!

Joking apart, the general standard of living here is deteriorating so fast, that in a few years' time, we'll be back in the middle ages. I mean - we use OXEN on the farm (because there's no fuel for tractors) - can you believe it? But that's a minor point.

I spent this morning helping someone get her digital camera working. She's in her mid-60's, lives alone on an isolated farm and every day has to put up with "war vets" (aka unemployed youths) threatening her with GBH unless she vacates her house, simply because "they" want it. To say that this woman is brave is an understatement - she deserves a medal.

Gosh, it's impossible to know where to start and I really don't want to bore anyone, but this gorgeous country is being torn to bits - it is totally heartbreaking. People disappearing in the night, never to be seen again, thugs smashing and burning houses, looting all the possessions they can lay their grubby little paws on and all the while the police STAND AND WATCH. When the police don't help, where do you turn?

At least I have a choice - I can leave. But for those millions of black Zimbabweans who live on the breadline anyway, there is no choice. Vote him out? And get stoned to death for it.

BUT - the sun shines here, in fact it's the most gorgeous day imaginable. I'm just about to take my kids swimming. We have lots of horses and nothing, but NOTHING, beats saddling up and taking off into the bush for a few hours!

So, you see, it's not ALL bad ....

Sam,

You paint a pretty dreary picture. But I'm glad you can find *something* good in this world of ours. Much of the time, that's about the only thing that can keep people going.

Ed

I saw a bit on the war vets on tv. Weren't they promised land as some sort of reward (but then someone else already owned the land)?

Loved that little story about finding your pc in the dump. Gave me a good laugh. :D
Sounds kind of scary but you seem to be calm enough in your own setting so I gather you are not directly affected by the trouble around you. Meaning that the threat to your home is not high.
I can't even imagine what it looks like there but I do love the sound of riding your horses out in the bush. Maybe sometime you could upload some pics of your homestead and surroundings. I would be treat to see what it's like there.
DJ

Sam,

You could never bore me with stories about Zimbabwe (or any other country you've lived in for that matter.) What brought you to Zimbabwe (and where are you originally from? I'm guessing you're not a native as you said you could leave if you wanted.)

I must admit I don't know much about that part of the world. My focus has mostly been on SE Asia. (I lived in Viet Nam for 6 months.) I love learning about other places. Can you point me to a place where I might learn more about the political situation there? I admit, I'm ignorant. :( Do you have a constant source of electricity? How hot is it there? Humid or dry? I agree with DJ, if you have any photos to share, I'd love to see them.


Jeanie

Hi all - sorry not to get back earlier.

Ed - yes, on re-reading it did sound rather awful - which it is in bits, of course - and as I say, it's not all bad - in fact there is so much about this country that is really wonderful, which is why I don't want to go.

Doug - the story is a very long and complex one, but basically this whole land thing is political. Robert Mugabe is terrified he's going to lose the next election (due April), so he's doing everything he can to win - beating up the opposition, vote rigging, blaming everyone but himself for the appalling state of the country etc. etc. etc. The land thing is just part of the overall strategy, but it's caused untold suffering and loss, not to mention a major food shortage. What's happened is that Mugabe has basically said to the 'war vets' - take whatever land you want from anyone with a white skin - they don't belong here. The truth is that, rightly on wrongly, white commercial farmers provide a large percentage of the country's food, foreign currency and employment, so suddenly booting them off their farms has produced economic collapse. And tens of thousands of black farmworkers are now homeless, in the name of appeasing a few thousand war vets.

DJ - Yes, I'll get round to finding some pics to put up. So far (fingers crossed) we haven't had the sort of hassles that some have - we had some war vets camped on the farm, but they pushed off, thankfully. We've been very, very lucky.

Jeaniesa - I came from Scotland originally, came to Zim on holiday, fell in love and got married! So here to stay, hopefully!

The most up-to-the-minute website on Zim news and stuff is http://www.zwnews.com - you'll find it all there in glorious gory technicolour!

Our electricity is patchy, especially in the summer (the wet season - November to March), but reasonably okay in the winter, when it's dry. It's pretty warm all year round, gets a bit chilly in July/August (even the occasional frost). I dread the wet season, because the phone doesn't work, my modem gets zapped, the roof leaks, etc. etc. But at least everything is green then and there's lots for the cattle to eat - not like now, when everything is brown, or burnt by bush fires.

I would go mad were it not for satellite t.v. and email - which is my precious source of connection with the outside world!!!

Zimbabwe's a great place to bring up small children, of which I have two - it's a good, healthy outdoor life. The kids here are very independent and resourceful.

Will go and dig out those photos!

Hey glad you found the salon Sam,

I have a very close friend who is working the oil field in Nigeria...he's been telling me about the problems over there and I just keep my fingers crossed he'll stay safe.

Very worrysome for his wife who is living here in the states.

With all the trouble and turmoil over there I know the gratifying thing is the beautiful country...I would love to get there someday just to take pictures..it is georgous.

Glad you can chit chat and work with the group on here as they are all good people and very diversified.

Welcome again to the group.

Thanks, Chris - what a great group it is too!

Okay, here's a couple of photos I've just put together, especially for you guys!!

Clockwise from top left: the house as it was a couple of weeks ago, before we started irrigating the lawn; house & pool (taken half an hour ago), a Jacaranda in bloom in the background; my kids riding a friend's elephants a few weeks ago; one of the ox teams, carting scrap tobacco (which is very useful as a mulch on the garden); the horse paddock, looking across the valley (also taken today - that paddock is knee-high in lush green grass during summer). Background pic of sunset also taken near the house here, last month.

Looks a bit like a real-estate brochure ... any buyers???

Actually, we thought of doing horse-riding safaris for a while here, but now that the tourist industry is all but dead ...

Has anyone else posted pics of where they live? How about you, Jeaniesa - any ones of Vietnam? Wow - what on earth were you doing there?

Very nice Sam,

I want to ride and elephant...:)

You have a good idea there about posting pics of where we all live...that's an excellent idea...I'm going to gather a few of my place and post them as well...maybe we should start a new thread called "Where I live"

Sam
You may have started something. Where I live photos. Great ideas. I loved the pictures you uploaded. What a beautiful place. No wonder why you don't want to leave. I would be worried about the war vets if I had a place like that. I hope things get straightened out in April but it looks like you have a dictator disquised as a democracy. Glad you gave us an insite to your wonderful homeland. Maybe if things change you can start that safari idea. Love to be one of your customers.
DJ

You're welcome to come over any time - give our poor old tourist industry a boost! The chum with the eles would also be happy to oblige - and he does canoe trips down the Zambezi too (I'm going on one in March, hopefully - can't wait!)

I'd love to post some pics of war vets, but they have a habit of snatching people's cameras if you try and take photos and, as I'm in love with my camera, I'm not ready to part with it - certainly not in that fashion! Maybe a long lens would do the trick ...

Here's another idea - posting arty photos? Or has that been done already ...?

I've seen a few posted but I can't remember where they are. Also Jeanie has posted alot of photos of Vietnam on this forum but I couldn't find them either. She will know what title they are under. They are really worth looking at.
DJ

wow sam, this is really exciting. thanks so much for posting the pix and info. it is beautiful.

hey chris i wonder if the elephants could even feel your spurs

i read a book by p.j.o'rourke once, an american rhodes scholar/humorist/political commentator/exhippie turned political conservative. can't remember the title, but it was a comparison of different country's economies, usa, hong kong, sweden, china, and a small african country whose name i cannot remember either. His conclusion was that free markets and capitalism work best :!:; but the thing that your posts have reminded me of are his descriptions of that african country and a poverty on a level i cannot imagine. i specifically remember him saying there just wasn't any "stuff" there; stuff americans blithely throw away, like a gum wrapper, would be swooped upon by some child who would reuse it, play with it, wonder at it. made me ashamed at how much i take for granted.

where is your wife from? how often do you travel outside of zimbabwe?

thanks for the window on your world.

thanks doug for starting the thread.

i just looked it up and that country was somalia and the book was eat the rich

Hee, hee - I had to giggle ...

Just to clear up a little confusion - I am Sam, as in Samantha, not as in Samuel!!! My *husband* Peter is a farmer!

Kathleen, you're right about the poverty - it's awful. In fact, I still haven't quite come to terms with it (and probably never will).

The point about capitalism vs. what we have in Africa (supposedly some form of socialism, but I just call it chaos) is so, so true. Every African is a capitalist at heart anyway. Mugabe's latest game is to apply price controls on everything, so now we're running out of basics like bread, meat, cooking oil, sugar - business was bad before, but now that's put the lid on it.

I used to go back to Scotland to see my family every year or so, but with things as they are now (financially) that's stopped for now. And why my email is so vital to me - at least I can keep in touch with everyone, even if I can't see them!

But next year, come election time, I'm outta here!

Just had to share with you this little gem I just picked up from today's news - it comes from the Financial Gazette, or main business paper:

"... the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Namibia are helping Zimbabwe circumvent an international arms embargo to buy huge quantities of guns and bullets for next year's ballot. "

Still want that ele ride, Chris?

sam

you aren't the first poster about whose gender i have made assumptions and later been :blush: shown in error. it's always startling, embarassing, amusing in turn.

bullet box vs ballot box?

post a lot before the rainy season gets here, ok?

Sam,

Read your posts with interest as regards the situation in Zimbabwe. The reporter who wrote for our 'Daily Telegraph' (UK) was deported a few weeks ago after a lively meeting with whoever does the kicking out but came out 'intact' Is Mugabe's support now a minority ?

Cheers

Sam or should I say Samantha :) you're not the only one to surprise the forum on your sex. DJ stands for Debbie and that blew a few people away too.

I have to laugh because I too thought Sam was a Samuel. I remember thinking you must have hired help for the farm if you could be online that often. I know farming is a sun up to sun down exhausting job.
DJ

It's easy to see from your photos why you would love it there (especially adding in your husband ;)).

I've always wanted to visit the African continent -- to see the wildlife, the vast expanses of natural habitat, but I'd rather watch out for dangerous wildlife than dangerous humans. Your courage and tenacity are to be admired.

Do the elephants help with the work, or are they companion animals?

Checked out your website (THANKS for the kind words about the Sept. 11 attack) - very nice photo restoration/retouch work in your examples, and your website design page is very clear and helpful. Looking at your rates almost made me faint :eek: I haven't looked up the exchange rate between US and Zimbabwe currency, but I'll hope that you get paid well for good work. Also hope your economy (and ours) will improve so you can expand.

Sam's a she? :D Thanks for such a great thread Sam. It's been very interesting to say the least. And I'm sure we all enjoyed the photos.

Ed (as in Edwina) (NOT!) :D

Sam-Thank you for sharing the pictures.The house looks like the styles we have here in South Florida! Nice giraffe looking at the elephants.How very small this world seems sometimes.Paulette

Friday morning (yawn! - how do you get the right smilie in your post? as opposed to at the top?) Gosh, what a lot of replies ... Thanks everyone.

Kathleen - No need for embarassment! (where do you get that blushing smilie?) I noticed that there was no slot in "profiles" for indicating one's gender!! Yeah, these guys like to boast that they have "degrees in violence". If you come to power through the barrel of gun, I guess you use it to stay there too.

Chris - I met your Telegraph reporter a couple of times - he was in hiding at the house of a friend of mine and for some time before he was kicked out, he was followed, had his phone bugged, etc. His reports were very good. Yes, I'd say Mugabe's supporters are in the minority, which is why he's behaving like a cornered animal.

CJ - the elephants are pets, but they are also used to make a bit of foreign currency - giving rides to tourists, etc. They are absolutely gorgeous, so gentle and intelligent.

Hope your fainting over my rates wasn't because they were high! The current "official" exchange rate is 55:1 (unofficial - 300:1!!). No-one can even get US$ over here these days - if you ask the bank for some, they just laugh at you!

I've got to whizz off now to a school open day - will be back later ...

Thanks again, everyone, for your kind comments and interest.

Cheers,

Sam

Sam,

There should be a bunch of smilies on your left side when you post a reply - at the bottom of the Smilies Chart, there is a link to [Get More] -- click that and there are a bunch to choose from. If you click on one of those (instead of the Smilies at the top of the page - they'll insert right where you are typing. If you want to insert one after you have finished writing BUT before you post your reply, it will be added at the end of your text -- just select it with your cursor and cut/paste to where you want it.

I don't see them on the left ... only at the top.

I've even tried pinching them from someone else's post, but that doesn't work either!

What browser are you using? Do you have Java enabled?

You should see a little display of the various smilies available to the left of the typing area when you reply. At the bottom of the box containing 15 smilies is a link marked 'Get More' that will display all 64 currently available smilies.

But if you're using an older browser, or a specialized browser, or don't have Java enabled, you might not see them.

You can add them manually if you know the typing code (they're replaced automatically). For instance, the traditional text smilie of a colon and right parenthesis will display this :) Typing a colon, the word 'cool' and another colon will display this :cool:

Feel free to experiment in the testing area off the main forums page.

I'm using IE 5 with Java enabled.

Not that it's of life-and-death importance ... I was just curious.

Has anyone started the "where I live" thread yet? Who's going to be first???

hey sam

how reliable is the snail mail.

i could send you u.s. dollar so you could be first on your block.

Well, to give you an idea, if I post something to my next door neighbour, he'd be lucky to get it within two weeks. If I post something to someone in South Africa, they might get it in six weeks. I suspect your US dollar would be held up to the light, then quietly slipped into someone's back pocket!!! Kind thought, though!

Hi Sam,

Catching up on e-mail from the past 4 days. Was on a short vacation to Canyonlands National Park - no computer there! ;)

I love the idea of posting pictures of where we live. I've been wanting to do that, but didn't want to bore people. Perhaps someone has already started a thread (I've only gotten through a third of the new posts so far.)

Last month there was a thread on what I've done in Viet Nam. You can read it here (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=579). I did post a link for photos there, but will repost here: album1 (http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?m=88674504203&n=267583945) and album2 (http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?m=90494504203&n=1474510596).

More later. Got lots to catch up on today - including developing photos of Canyonlands. :)

Jeanie

Hi Jeanie,

Thanks for those links. Wow - I am gobsmacked! Those photos are absolutely **stunning**!! And so good to see that a country can recover from war - they must be very positive people.

I can see why you adore it there. The colours, the clarity of the air (or so it seems from your pics), the amazing buildings, clothes, etc. and the SCENERY - breathtaking.

Thanks again - that was a real treat.

Sam

Hi Sam,

I'm glad you enjoyed the photos. Someday I'll have a "real" website, but until then the Ofoto site will have to do for my photos.

Yes, the VNese people are very positive - and incredibly hard working. At the same time, they're very "relaxed" about time. (In fact, the hardest thing for me to get used to upon returning home was using a daytimer. I really resisted it for as long as I could. The VNese prefer to look to the future and the promise it holds rather than the past which is such an awful history for them.

Re: the clarity of the air. I happened to be in Hanoi for five amazingly beautiful days a year ago when the humidity was low and the air was cool. It's hardly ever like that! Usually, the humidity is around 90% and HOT!! (Actually, in Hanoi, it gets downright cold in the winter; Ho Chi Minh City stays hot year round.) Add to the humidity the exhaust from thousands of motorbikes and the air really isn't that great (esp. in the cities).

But, there are plenty of other things to love aobut the country. :) I love the culture, the food is amazing and the people are so welcoming that I really do feel like I have a home away from home.

Jeanie

Just thought I'd post this pic, taken a couple of hours ago, of the new arrival on the farm. No name yet. Aaaahhhhh!!!!

Sam
He is soooooo precious!! I wish I could reach inside the photo and hug him. Do you do the training with the young horses or someone else? You will have to keep us up on his progress.
DJ

That'll be a long progress report! I used to do all the "breaking-in" but have now got to that stage in life where being thrown on the ground with great force no longer holds the attraction it used to. So some other kind (paid) person does that these days. My job is the next stage, which is the most interesting and rewarding - teaching them the job they'll have to do for the next 15 years or so. This little chap's got a few years of freedom, tho', before he has to consider his career options!

Sam, the colt is a handsome lil' guy!

He reminds me of a friend's Arab colt from many years ago who was named Samurai -- "Sam" for short! (Just in case you don't already have a name in mind, or a bunch of critters already named Sam)

Birth/life is such an amazing thing! Did you help during the labor Sam?

The little one is so cute! I love the beginning of summer around here when the baby deer come out from hiding. They are SO much fun to watch as the spring around the hillside! :D

Thanks so much for sharing the photo! -Jeanie

Cute little fellow. Bet it'll be a handful. Any bets on how long it will take the little guy to start lookin' for ways to get out of the corral? Congratulations on the new arrival. Tom

CJ - Samurai's a great name, without the shortening. Hmm, will think about that one - thanks!

Jeanie - no matter how many births you witness, I reckon it's still an amazing experience. This was the mare's second foal and she didn't need much help (she was in labour for about 10 minutes - lucky thing!), although it's always good to be on hand in case there are problems.

Tom - he's already a handful. Yesterday morning, he was weak and feeble and I could easily manoevre him around, e.g to show him where to find breakfast. But later in the afternoon, I couldn't get near him and he'd already learned to turn his butt on me and threaten to kick! Cute and cheeky at the same time.

Sounds like a normal healthy foal. How's the Mare doing? Tom

Just great!

I'm really excited because I've just discovered how to put those elusive smilies in my post, so here goes:-

Vampire (HAD to try that one): :vampire:
Clown: :clown:
Bandit: :bandit:

If this works, it'll be a double thumbs-up!

:bigthmb: !!!

Look out Sam found the Smilies!!!! I just love it when members discover the neat new toys. Now all you need's an avatar. (the little picture under your name) Maybe there's a horse one in the list.

Sounds like the little guy is going to be quite a handful if he's already practicin to be a bucking stallion. I've never broke a horse but I have fallen hard on my butt a few times so I can imagine that's not something you want to make a lifetime carreer out of. Time to sit back and watch others fly off. :D
DJ

What? Another elusive toy from RetouchPRO? Now, how do you get this "avatar" item? Where is this "list" you speak of and what other surprises/mysteries await??

Fascinated,
Zimbabwe

Sam, Click on the "user cp" button at the top of any of the RetouchPro forums pages. Then click on the "Edit Options" button on that page. Scroll down to the bottom the the Options page and the very last thing will be the avatar. I think it's fairly self explanatory from there (including the list DJ talked about.) -Jeanie

Just couldn't quite identify with the various Pokemons, Scooby-doo and Flintstone characters on offer (except perhaps Barney Rubble - his feet look a bit like mine), so let's see what this looks like.

It's been a veritable voyage of discovery this morning!!!

Loved seeing the photo of the colt. The little ones are so cute.It looks like you are having beautiful weather there-what are your temperatures there at this time of year?
We're geting somewhat anxious down here in Florida with a hurricane heading for Cuba and perhaps hitting the lower part of our state in a day or two. Couldn't sleep (it's 3:52AM here) and decided to take a look at the weather map on the computer.
Just notice that you got your reply from Jeanie about the avatar.

Jeanie if you are online I just wanted to mention a good book that I'm reading that takes place in Vietnam-It's" Lost Soldiers" by James Webb It's fiction but the author certainly seems to know the area.
Paulette:tired:

Hi Paulette,

Temps here around 30 degrees C. but getting humid now - first rains of the season expected any minute - and desperately needed.

Gee - if it's not terrorists learning to fly jumbos, or little packets of deadly viri (plural of virus???), you've got hurricanes to think of ... :eek: !!

Keeping fingers crossed it doesn't hit you ...

Paulette, Thanks for the tip on the book. I'll add it to my list of "books to read" (which is way longer than I'd like to admit.) One of my favorite books on VN is "House on Dream Street" about an American woman who lived in Hanoi in the early nineties. I know the city so well, I could "see" the streets she talks about - plus she has described the culture so well, I think. I highly recommend it!

Just heard about the strength of the hurricane on the radio this morning - sounds pretty bad. I hope it doesn't hit FL too hard - I immediately thought of you and DJ (and I know there's at least one other person down there from this forum, but can't remember who.)

Good job on the avatar Sam! I like it! :)

Jeanie

Sam,
I'm still in Viet Nam and the world news reports on Zimbabwe don't look too good. I keep thinking about you every time I hear something about Zimbabwe on the news, so thought I'd log on to see if there was any "news" from you. Are things as bad as the news reports say they are? And in particular, is the upheaval affecting you directly?
Jeanie

Jeanie - Great to hear from you! How's Viet Nam?

Thanks for your concern.

All I can say is that it's very tense here right now. There is a palpable fear in the air that I've never experienced before and yes, that is affecting everyone.

One of the biggest menaces at the moment is an organisation called the "youth brigade" which is a crowd of state-sponsored youngsters - mostly late teens/early 20's I suppose - who have been formally trained in the fine art of intimidation and let loose on the general population. What they are getting up to doesn't bear thinking about and I won't go into detail here, but let's just say it fits into the category of "anti-social". They tend to be at their most destructive when they've got stuck into the local brew and "mbanje" (cannabis) - so if you're walking down the road and a bunch of wild-eyed youngsters carrying lengths of chain and barbed wire is coming your way, it's time to change course. Quickly.

Mustn't say too much or I'll get arrested!!

Rumours are rife, though - one I heard yesterday was that Mugabe is keeping his private helicopter on standby 24 hrs a day, in case he has to run for it!

If only ...

Sam

Hang in there Sam.

The rumour floating around here is that mad bob has applied for Nigerian citizenship in case the opposition win the elections...

Lucky Nigeria!

I've just heard that 15 local opposition supporters have been arrested - one is the local photographer - all on trumped-up charges (of course). Wonder when our turn will be?

Originally posted by Sam
I've just heard that 15 local opposition supporters have been arrested - one is the local photographer - all on trumped-up charges (of course). Wonder when our turn will be? Geez Sam! I don't get the feeling that you're being facetious here. :aghast: I doubt there's a way to "lay low" - I imagine your every move is probably being watched pretty closely. Sounds pretty scary! Have you ever thought about leaving until things get better? Or would you feel like you were deserting people you care about? What a terrible situation!!

I'm trying to decide whether or not to visit my mother-in-law (whom I love dearly) in Manila with my husband in April and am sitting here watching a CNN report with thousands of protestors in the streets of Manila burning American flags with police in full riot gear. Doesn't sound promising. :(

I hope you keep checking in every day or so - I'm REALLY going to worry if you go silent!!

Jeanie

P.S. Viet Nam is fine - I'm just exhausted by how much I've been working! No time for "fun" these past two weeks (and no time to log in to retouchPro like I'd hoped. Oh well, I'm leaving in a couple of days and hope to return to my "normal" life soon. ;)

How about getting your mother-in-law to visit you instead?? Sounds like Manila could be a good place to avoid ...

... like Marondera (our nearest town) - they say talk of the devil and he will appear - well, we had a visitation today, thankfully not here on the farm, but at a business we have in town. Yep - the Youth Brigade came to say "hello"!! All the employees bombshelled out of the place, so none of them got hurt, thankfully. With two weeks or so before the election things are really hotting up. Yes, it would be a great idea to get out of here!!

Hope you've been taking more of those stunning photos in Viet Nam - that you'll post here for us to gawp at?!

Sam
We are all worried about you. It sounds very dangerous. Hope you guys stay safe. Keep us informed on what is going on. Not that we can do much to help you but we do care about your family's safety. Sounds like the next 2 weeks and beyond are going to be a rough ride for you guys. Doubt these elections are going to change anything soon unless the electeds have the backing of a large peace keeping army to clean up the unrest there.
DJ

I just picked up on this thread again. Sam, we want you to know that you and your loved ones are in our prayers. Hopefully, it won't be long before things quiet down for you.

Ed

DJ & Ed - thank you both for your kind thoughts. I will try and check in every day to say "howdy" and let you know we're still here!!

DJ - a peace-keeping army would be VERY welcome! I wonder how bad things have to get before the UN sends one in?

Sounds like they got their hands full with Afghanistan right now. I don't think Zimbabwe is even a consideration. Look how bad and for how long that country had to get before action was taken. It usually takes mass genocide to bring in the peace keepers.
No way you guys can get out before it comes to that?
DJ

Gee whizz, I hope it doesn't come to THAT ... although with Africa's history, anything's possible I suppose.

We're actually making evacuation plans right now - where we'll go and how, etc. if things get really sinister. Mozambique is starting to look like an attractive destination ...!

I would hate to think about leaving my home. I hope you don't have to leave your beautiful home, Sam.

It must be a difficult delemma for you Sam. I sure hope it doesn't come to that either. It's hard to imagine a situation like that having lived in the US all my life.
It's a shame, it's really a beautiful place. I recently saw a segment on TV about Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River. God that is just breathtaking. I would love to see that. Are you guys close to the Falls?
DJ

Nowhere near them, but I've seen them a few times and they really are stunningly spectacular. Must dig out my photos some time. Except that my photos aren't a patch on the real thing, of course!

Sam,

A little behind in posting, but I'm glad to hear you're making evacuation plans - though I certainly hope you don't have to put them into effect!!

My mother-in-law said five years ago that she was done traveling, so it's highly unlikely that we can get her to come visit us in the US. :( I told my husband last night that as much as I would like to go, I just don't think it would be one of my smarter decisions in life if I did go. After the Daniel Pearl incident (which admittedly was in Pakistan and not the Philippines), I have no desire to put myself in a higher risk situation.

I'm leaving Viet Nam today - just got out to take some photos of people exercising in the early morning around the lake in Hanoi. I didn't take as many photos as I'd hoped because I was working really hard while I was here. But I did shoot about 9 rolls, so hopefully I have some good shots that I can share.

Take care and stay alert. I with there were something more that I could do than just say "I'm sending good thoughts your way."

Jeanie

I with there were something more that I could do than just say "I'm sending good thoughts your way."

That's good enough for me, Jeanie! Good thoughts received, thank you!

9 rolls of film - my goodness. Now you've admitted to that, you're committed to sharing them with us!

Well, today's News From Zimbabwe IS:-

1. One of our tractor drivers has been abducted by "war vets". The police aren't interested.

2. Yesterday our farm was listed for compulsory acquisition by the government.

3. We have been told that we are to have a polling station on the farm for next weekend's election.

The tractor driver SHOULD be okay, because he's a supporter of the government. If he was an opposition supporter, we'd be really worried.


Otherwise, life's pretty dull here, really.

Okay, all's well - the police decided to pitch up after all, the driver's been released, unharmed.

(sigh of relief!)

Thanks for listening!

Thanks for checking in Sam - even though it wasn't the best of news. I kept checking in to see if there was news from you and I was starting to get worried. I'm glad to hear your tractor driver is OK - pretty scary stuff.

So what exactly does it mean when you say your "farm was listed for compulsory acquisition by the government?" How fast does "the government" move on such acquisitions? Or does the listing now "allow" rogue groups to acquire it without fear of retaliation? Does it just mean the government has the right to put a polling station on your farm or do they have the right to kick you off and seize all of your belongings? How dangerous is this "listing" for you?

Sorry for all of the questions, but I really do care about what's going on over there and am trying to understand what seems to be a pretty complex (and dangerous) situation. Do you have any "contacts" that can alert you in advance if you need to evacuate?

Stay safe - sending more good thoughts...

Jeanie

Wow Sam! That sounds very serious. Like Jeanie, I'm wondering just what that means to you. Have you even considered moving out of there even if things get better? It might be a beautiful place to live, but it would be really hard to put up with things like that if you don't have to.

Ed

Yes, sending good thoughts also, Sam. To you and your family.

Sharon

Sam
I guess you can tell we are all concerned here. Now that we have experienced how bad the world can get right in our own back yard, we are especially worried about you in a place without the protections of a good solid government and police force. Keep us informed and we will keep praying for you guys. :)
DJ

I've been reading the news about Zimbabwe in my local newspaper and on the net. (especially at a site I found - http://www.zimbabwesituation.com):shocked: yikes, it sounds awful there! stay safe Sam :) hope everything turns out well, especially for the election this coming week.

- David

It sounds like the government (if you can call it that) is doing every thing it can to bend the election in Mugabe's favor. Is it true that they are telling white citizens that they can't vote in the election? What about the opposition (MDC?) Are they any better than what is there now?

Hi all and thanks for your thoughts and concern.

Jeanie - you're right, it is a complex issue, so I won't go into it in great detail, for fear of boring/confusing anyone to death!!

The compulsory acquisition is a formal notification that the government intends to take our farm (no compensation, no nothing) and resettle it with "landless peasants" (i.e. government ministers' buddies/relations, more like). So it may give the green light to less-than-principled elements, such as the "war vets" (who are above the law) to invade the farm and try to persuade us to leave sooner than we would otherwise. As has happened to some of our neighbours.

The polling station thing is not a major issue, except that we may have violent flare-ups on the farm as a result of it, but that's temporary.

Ed - yes, we considered the option of my leaving, taking the children to safety and leaving my husband behind to look after the farm but decided it was best if we all stuck together. The trouble is that nobody knows exactly what will happen, so nobody knows what is the right thing to do. So we all have Plan A, Plan B etc. etc.

Oh well, at least I shall be an expert in strategic planning after all this is over!

Hi, Greg - sorry, I missed your post (was so busy scribbling my own!)

The government is doing everything possible to stop those who may vote for the opposition from voting, black and white. Plenty of people have been denied the right to vote thanks to totally unreasonable new laws which have just been brought in for that purpose.

Yes, the MDC is most certainly a better bet than what we've got now. But whether they too go down the same route after too many years in power remains to be seen. I doubt they will get that chance, though.

David, Great website - thanks for the link!

Sam, I admire your strength. I don't know that I could endure what you are going through. The situation in Zimbabwe is getting more and more news time here in the US and increasing numbers of people are starting to take notice of the injustices over there. I hope and pray that some day soon we'll get a message from you saying "good news!" Until that time, may you continue to find whatever strength and wisdom you need to make the best decisions for you and your family.

In solidarity, Jeanie

What a mess. I have been reading a bit about Zimbabwe after seeing this thread and I have to say, you and your family are far stronger and braver than I could ever be!

It sounds like, and correct me if I am wrong, that this government has run the economy into the ground and is using the land issue as a scapegoat for it's mess. I can fully understand why land needs to be divided more evenly but Mugabe seems more interested in lining his own pockets.

Spot-on, Greg.

Mugabe's wife, Grace, is fond of shopping sprees in Europe and a couple of years ago she broke the record for the most amount of money spent in one day at Harrods (in London) at UKP 8 million. When questioned about this, she ensured the interviewer that she earned her own money making clothes on her old Singer sewing machine!!!

Sounds like she learned her shopping habits at the Emelda Marcos school of shopping. :D

Sam, do you guys have some kind of back up plan if all goes the worst for you? Such as burying assets (valuables) somewhere, or putting money in an account outside of Zimbabwe? It sounds like they could just come to your house one day and take away everything you've ever worked for, leaving you with now way to start over.
DJ

...she broke the record for the most amount of money spent in one day at Harrods (in London) at UKP 8 million ... she earned her own money making clothes on her old Singer sewing machine!!!
gee Sam, at Z$100+ to the UKP, that's almost Z$1billion. That's an awful lot of dresses. The bearings on that old Singer must be dust by now.

Sorry to hear that your farm has been put up for grabs. Zim has been the main topic on our national news for the past 10 days, so the SA govt must be getting worried. Those thugs called "war vets" certainly look mean (and they're definitely too young to have been in the war).

Hey Sam, it's been a few days since we've heard from you in this thread. How are things going? Elections are really close, right?
Jeanie

Hi Jeanie,

Elections are today and tomorrow ... Watching TV last night, I can't believe the coverage it's all getting - even I was thinking "oh gosh, not Zimbabwe AGAIN!!" So anyone not connected/interested must be bored to death by now!!

Looks like we're in for a fairly quiet weekend - no violence expected during the voting as such, but when the results of the count start to come in (Tuesday at the earliest) - there might be trouble then, so we've taken all the precautions we can think of! But short of having Scotty on standby to beam us up, there's not a lot we can do other than wait and see ...

Hi Sam,

Yes, Zimbabwe is definitely still all over the news here too. I imagine it will continue until the election is over, the ballots counted and the violence back to "normal" (whatever that means), i.e. until there isn't any more "news."

Hope the voting station on your farm remains peaceful - and I really hope for everyone there that the violence remains at a minimum once the votes are tallied and the results announced.

Sending good thoughts your way,
Jeanie

There has been a lot of coverage on the BBC both external and internal. They have been using a lot of material shot on video cams inside Zimbabwe, and they were showing people in large numbers crossing into SA and Zambia.

Dear Sam,
Just another voice sending good thoughts your way.
Paulette

And I'll add mine also.

Very best wishes.

Paulette & Sharon - thanks so much!

Today and the next couple of days are going to be the crunch. There are already rumours of major rigging going on - like in one area where there were 36,000 people registered, 200,000 ballot papers have been counted ... ???

We're just hoping that the thousands who didn't manage to cast their votes in Harare don't start a riot ...

Sam - Good to hear from you - I was starting to worry!

Just how close to Harare are you anyway? That definitely seems to be the hottest of the hotbeds.

Jeanie

About 100km (what's that - 60 miles?). But trouble in the capital will probably spell trouble elsewhere. In fact, I hear that quite a few MDC guys, poll observers and others have been arrested, so goodness knows what's going on. Apart from the telephone and the radio network that covers the immediate farming area, our best source of news is satellite TV (BBC World News, CNN & SABC) - local media being government-owned - so if I'm not glued to the TV or internet today I'm pacing around waiting for the next bulletin!

Doesn't look good tho' - I think the government had the whole thing well stitched up long ago, so it's VERY unlikely the opposition will be announced as winners, although it's perfectly obvious to anyone on the ground that they were by far the most popular.

Doesn't sound very good does it? Hang in there Sam.
DJ

I think I would be pacing 24 hours a day - even while watching satellite TV. There seems to be so much uncertainty as to what's going to happen in the days to come and all of the possibilities don't look good.

How are your kids handling this? I'm under the impression that they're old enough to understand what's going on.

Please let us know if there's anything we can do to help. Meanwhile, see if you can feel the "good vibes" we're all sending your way.

Jeanie

How are your kids handling this? I'm under the impression that they're old enough to understand what's going on.

No, they're not really - 6 and 3 - so we have to be careful not to discuss anything potentially scary in front of them. They pick up on the vibes though - small children are amazingly sensitive to mood.


Meanwhile, see if you can feel the "good vibes" we're all sending your way.

Oh, they're definitely reaching here alright! They give me strength!

;)

Oh, oh, oh. I need all that strength & more now.

I don't know what to say, except that that was the WRONG result for Zimbabwe's future.

I might end up going back to live in the country of my birth sooner than I thought!!!

Gotta keep smiling, tho' :)

Oh Sam. What awful news. Take care. Sharon

Oh Sam, even though there was no doubt about the outcome, I am so sorry about what's happening in your country. I guess I just don't have the words to express how I feel about your situation.
It appears as if sanctions could be forthcoming from several of the Western countries due to the corupt outcome of the elections. Why do they leave a knowingly corupt person in control when they can see he has brought a prosperous country to it's knees? It's clearly not a democracy. The guy's a criminal and getting away with it.
Well, keep us informed Sam. We don't seem to get much news here in the US on the Zimbabwe situation due to our war on terrorism.
DJ

Dear Sam,

I'm so sorry to hear the news. I've been reading all I can on the website that David posted in this thread a few days ago. The anxiety and fear in the reports "from the ground" out of Zimbabwe is palpable. I can only imagine what you're going through right now. Even though you have the option to return to Scotland, I know that's far from a simple undertaking - not to mention the emotional turmoil of leaving the place that you now call home and all of the people you are close to who don't have that option. (I'm referring to native friends/workers - I assume your husband and of course your children can go to Scotland as well.)

On the African Tears website (http://africantears.netfirms.com/thisweek.htm), I found the following quote which seems applicable to so many situations in Zimbabwe today:

Morgan Tsvangirai [opposition cadidate], trying to placate exhausted, hungry and impatient voters said: "I know you are tired. I know you are scared and I know you are hungry. But have courage, people of Zimbabwe, the darkest hour is always before the dawn."

I hope with all my heart that there is a dawn that none of us can see yet.

Sending you wisdom and clarity for tough decisions, and strength to carry on in the face of adversity,
Jeanie

Sam,

I can't imagine that happening here, and I don't understand how people can cope with that sort of thing. There's really nothing to be said that hasn't already been said. Hopefully, there will be a brighter future. Just don't wait too long to get out if you have to.

Ed

I hope I don't bore anyone with this quote, but I find at times when I'm particularly affected by life events, I turn to my well-worn "Life Prayers" book, which is a collection of prayers, blessings and affirmations that cover the human journey. Certainly I have my favorites, but I find it amazing for each situation that a different quote speaks to me. In this case:

I want to know why
The rain is falling
I want to know why
There is a rainbow in the sky
I want to know why
The people are hungry
Why
Life in this country is at a standstill
Why
The days seem to grow longer
And life shorter
Why
The people are forced to tighten their belts
Watching their harvest
Being shipped off
Why
Children have no milk on their table
Neither rice to eat
I want to know why
Those children are singing
Why
There is a red moon sleeping in the sea
Why
Soldiers are trained to kill
To hate
To rage
To savage
To steal
Why darkness is coming
As darkness has
Reigned
For so long . . .
But above all
I want to wake up in the morning and hear
Everybody shouting
WHY? WHY? WHY?

- Helvecio Mendes

It sounds so much like what happened to Doc and Baby Doc Duvalier in Haiti and Ferdinand Marcos of the Phillipines. It may resolve itself finally when the masses have finally had enough and are at a point of having nothing left to loose. They will eventually revolt in a civil situation and oust him. But by then it will take many years to rebuilt the economy destroyed by the despot.
I am surprised that South Africa doesn't stand up against him since it seems that their economy is linked to Zimbabwe's and when one country fails so does the other suffer. At least that's what I have read. But South Africa seems to be turning a blind eye to the corruption in these elections. It seems like such a confusing situation. Wish there were some magic fixes.
DJ

The more I read on this subject, the worse it keeps sounding. Sam, do you think there's any chance at all that Mugabe could get thrown out of the government now or anything like that? I know it sounds pretty unlikely, but if they found any kind of solid undisputible evidence that the vote was rigged, then do you think theres even a slight chance of that happening? hope things get better soon:)

- David

DJ. Jeanie, Ed and David - thank you all for your words of concern and encouragement.

Jeanie - your poem/prayer was so touching and so incredibly relevant. Thank you.

DJ - I think the reason South Africa refuses to face the truth is that they were terrified that a win by the opposition would spark a military coup (which Mugabe had threatened) which would then destabilise the whole southern African region, of which S.A. is the "big boss", as it were. As if the region isn't destable already!

Then there is the African solidarity thing - which will always take precedence over truth, justice, democracy and all those other meaningless inventions of western society!

The more I think about it, the more I realise that poverty is the root cause of problems in the third world. Poor people are easy to manipulate, exploit, dupe, etc. Where there is poverty, you will always find evil people using it to their advantage. So that should be the No. 1 priority of the first world - to eradicate poverty. Just my humble opinion.

OK - speech over!

Think I'll go and do a bit of photo retouching now!!! :cool:

Cheers all!

Sam

Well Sam, we'll have to wait and see what mad bob does now.

All our newspapers are running stories about ballot boxes containing more papers than voters. Our "observer mission" says that everything was aboveboard and Mbeki says nothing. You're right about African solidarity.

I'm hoping against hope that you'll be OK now that mad bob can drive around in his Mercedes for another 8 years.

I think you said it right Sam. Poverty is the reason they are able to convince Muslims in the Middle East that the US and Isreal are the reason for all their problems. It's the situation in Germany that gave rise to Hitler who declared the Jews and their prosperity were the reason everybody else was suffering. I believe you hit the nail on the head. The most stable countries seem to be the ones where poverty is in the minority.
DJ

Hi Sam,

It sounds like the violence is growing over there - esp. against white farmers. Are you still OK? (We haven't heard from you in a couple of days.)

Jeanie

Hi Jeanie - yes, we're still here and okay. A friend who farms nearby was beaten up yesterday, but will live, unlike his (black) guard, who died. At least the police made some arrests, so that is a good sign - up until the election they were reluctant to react in cases like that.

Mad Bob (as Al so aptly calls him) was sworn in today and his speech was less than uplifting. We still don't know where we stand (when I say "we" I mean the white farming community as a whole) so it's difficult to make any decisions about the future.

If something does happen, find a way to let us know you're all ok Sam. With all that is going on there and Mugabe's promise to escalate the seizure of White owned farm land, we are worried every time you arn't online regularly. :) I can't even imagine what you must be going through.
DJ

Hi Sam,
Glad to hear that you're still OK. DJ's right - when we don't hear from you for a couple of days, I really start to worry. Of course, I'm very sorry to hear about your neighbor. Was he alone or does he have a family as well? I worry not only for you, but your husband and especially your children. Glad to hear the police have made some arrests, but it seems a bit like too little, too late. Do you think police action will have any effect on the violence of the youth brigade? Keep your wits about you and stay safe.
Sending good thoughts your way, Jeanie

If something does happen, find a way to let us know you're all ok Sam.

Okay, DJ - my knuckles have been suitably rapped!




Was he alone or does he have a family as well?

Jeanie - No, he wasn't - he's got a wife and 2 small daughters (one is 5 months old) but thankfully they managed to get to safety. Must have been terrifying for them though.

Do you think police action will have any effect on the violence of the youth brigade

I hope so! Otherwise, it's a case of Anarchy Rules.

Thanks for your concern, guys!! I'm really touched by that.

Sorry Sam, :) (no knuckle bashing involved) just worried about you guys. The news sounds so scary, it's sometimes hard to judge how widespread the trouble really is from their reports. Then when we hear about neighbors getting hurt it's easy to invision an army of rebels breaking down your door. I guess we let our imaginations run wild each time we think we haven't heard from you in awhile.

OK, I guess that means you will have to stay online 24 hours a day now. :D
DJ

Hi all,

I just read an interesting article in the Edmonton Journal ( the main newspaper in my city) about the voting fraud in Zimbabwe. Apparently the turnout at some of the voting polls exceeded 100% !!! :eek: I scanned and attached the article so all of you can read it.

- David

I know that the media tends to accentuate "bad" news, but when we get stories from you, Sam, that corroborate the horrors that we're hearing in the news over here, the news hits home much harder. I hope you're not taking our concern as something else that you have to worry about, but we really are concerned for your safety. The type of violence that is happening in Zimbabwe right now seems to be completely random - an acting out of frustration and anger - and apparently not something that can be reasoned with. That's one reason it's so dangerous. So of course, when we don't hear from you, we fear the worst. (But logically I know from experience in VN that it's just as possible you don't have any electricity. ;) )
Jeanie

Glad to hear you're Ok Sam. Heard the story about the farmer that got beaten up last Thurs, and was worried that it might have been your family.

The TV pay-channel down here was due to air a story about the elections last nite. It got a huge amount of publicity in the Sunday papers, but at air-time the anchors said a computer problem was preventing them from screening the story. I have a feeling that the SA govt muzzled them (African solidarity again).

There was also a story in the Sunday papers about some of the SA "election monitors" spending most of their time in pubs rather than monitoring.

Great :( Now in today's news there was a report of a white farmer being shot to death. I know he's not the first, but the first since the election. Doesn't bode well... :( Hope it wasn't anyone you know Sam. Sending strength to help you get through this, Jeanie

I saw a picture of that Jeanie off of Reuters. The guys poor dog was curled up next to the covered body. It's about one of the saddest images i have ever seen.

link (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/020318/170/19q2t.html)

That was a very moving photo to say the least. I just hope everything's okay with Sam and her family. It might be time to pick up and leave, even though it would be a very hard thing to do.

Ed

Hi all,

Sorry I haven't got back before, but we've had no power for 27 hours!

No, I didn't know that farmer, but heard all about what happened to him - really harrowing. I also heard that Mugabe's sister had personally threatened him some time back, because she wanted his farm. Makes you wonder, doesn't it.

There's a meeting going on in London about whether to kick Zimbabwe out of the Commonwealth - a lot hinges on the outcome of that, because if Zim IS kicked out, then chances are that Mugabe will kick all whites out of Zim. Or at least all Brits - and that includes me!

Will keep you posted ... power cuts permitting!

Thanks for the update Sam. Glad the problem was only a power outage. Not that that's nothing but you are safe.
Well, if the Commonwealth does kick him out he will be left with a country with mass starvation. Too bad he won't be the one starving. Goes to show absolute power corupts absolutely. He deserves a taste of the suffering he has brought his country.
DJ

Hi Sam, Glad to hear it was just a power outage - except that I know that also cuts you off from almost all forms of communication which can certainly raise your anxiety level when so much is happening around you. Do you have a battery powered radio? (That's one of the things that kept me sane during power outages in VN.)

I sure hope that if Mugabe decides to kick out the white farmers that he ensures a peaceful means for them to leave. Seems like you (and all the other white farmers) are in a very precarious position of possibly losing everything you own - house and the belongings inside, cars, etc. Is that true? And what would happen to the workers that you have on your farm?

Jeanie

Just heard that Zimbabwe has been kicked out of the Commonwealth for 12 months. I'm not sure that's a good idea, in my opinion it's better to have them in the Commonwealth so that maybe other members can exert some infulence on the government. But kicking them out is going to remove any positive influence other members of the Commonwealth may have. Hang in there Sam, please know we are all thinking of you.

here's a link to an article on CNN on it: http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/africa/03/19/zimbabwe.commonwealth/index.html
Sam, does this likely mean you'll have to leave now?? and if so do you have plans ready to be able to get out of there safely and fast? I find it hard to imagine how hard all this must be for you and your family :( good luck!

- David

Too bad he won't be the one starving

Too right, DJ - he is so out of touch with his people that I doubt he's even aware that they're starving.


Seems like you (and all the other white farmers) are in a very precarious position of possibly losing everything you own - house and the belongings inside, cars, etc. Is that true? And what would happen to the workers that you have on your farm?

Jeanie - the threat of losing the farm is obviously very real, in which case our workers would be kicked off as well, something they are naturally extremely worried about. One of the big problems for farm workers is that many of them are either Malawian or Mozambican, so in Mugabe's eyes have no rights whatsoever. They don't even qualify for farms under his resettlement scheme. As you can imagine, if we had to give up the farm, we'd rather it went to our farm workers (some of whom have worked for the family all their life) than some civil servants or army personnel posing as "landless peasants".


I'm not sure that's a good idea, in my opinion it's better to have them in the Commonwealth so that maybe other members can exert some infulence on the government

Sandra - in normal circumstances, I'd agree with you totally, but the trouble is, nobody's GOT any influence on Mad Bob. And principles should be stuck to, otherwise what's the point in having them? Poor John Howard - he had an unenviable role there. I'm glad it was temporary suspension, rather than full expulsion. Maybe not QUITE so ominous for us "palefaces"!


David - good link - thanks for that. Re getting out if we have to: well, a helicopter would certainly come in handy (if only ...) Otherwise, our options range from driving out (we're about 4 hours' drive from the Mozambique border) to riding out on horseback! Much as I love horses, I'm not so keen on the second option somehow!

Cheers all,

Sam

I hadn't realized your farm workers aren't Zimbabwean. Is that true for a lot of the other farms as well? This is another aspect of this whole situation that I didn't even know existed. Seems like if they've worked for the farm their entire life, the option of returning to their countries probably seems as bleak as staying in Zimbabwe. Is there a chance they would be beaten as well??

Re: driving out. Have there been any instances of random attacks on vehicles off of the farms? Just wondering how safe such a drive would be. My guess is not very safe (but it's gotta be safer than horseback!) :(

BTW, how many animals do you have on the farm?

May you and your family (and your workers) stay safe!

Jeanie

Jeanie - a lot of farm workers countrywide are from these places - I think job prospects were better here than in their homelands (once upon a time!) which is why so many came & of course they settled here, had families, so again there are quite a few youngsters who were born here, but still consider themselves Malawian, or whatever.

Re getting beaten - yes, they've already been beaten and worse. Last year, 70,000 workers + family members were left homeless after the war vets went on the rampage.

Driving out obviously carries risks and in an emergency situation one would avoid main roads if possible.

We run about 350 head of cattle and 26 horses, plus dogs and cats. Obviously, a major concern in the event of an evacuation would be their health & safety. I've heard ghastly tales of animals being abandoned, some without access to water. It's too awful.

I'm sure that the war vets thought (when they began invading farms) that all the farmers would just up sticks and run off in terror. That hasn't happened and what has really impressed me is that not one farmer in two years of intense intimidation and provocation has cracked under the strain and taken pot shots at the invaders. Given that most farmers own shotguns or firearms of some sort, that's not too far short of a miracle.

(Gosh, my posts are getting awfully lengthy these days ... better cut down!!)

Sam -- don't even think about "cutting down on the length of your posts" -- we want to hear MORE from you, not less!

If I recall correctly, you met your husband when you visited Zim -- is he a native? Does he have parents, siblings in Zim also? If so, I would imagine that the thought of leaving just gets harder and harder...

We're all thinking about you and your family, your workers, and the dogs, cats, horses, and cattle.

Sam, I'm with CJ - don't even THINK about cutting down the length of your posts! ;)

70,000 homeless!! And that was just last year! Where did they go? I'm having a difficult time comprehending the impact of that - on both the homeless themselves and the country as a whole. I've also been wondering - for those who have been beaten, do the hospitals admit them and treat them well, or are the hospitals run by the government and not motivated to serve the "opposition"?
We run about 350 head of cattle and 26 horses, plus dogs and cats. Obviously, a major concern in the event of an evacuation would be their health & safety. I've heard ghastly tales of animals being abandoned, some without access to water. It's too awful.
Oh! I can hardly stand to read this on top of what you wrote above. :( I'm sitting here trying to think of what to write and I'm just speechless. The more you describe the situation the more I see why it is so difficult for you to just up and leave (not to mention the emotional turmoil it would cause.)
what has really impressed me is that not one farmer in two years of intense intimidation and provocation has cracked under the strain and taken pot shots at the invaders. Given that most farmers own shotguns or firearms of some sort, that's not too far short of a miracle.
You aren't kidding!! Truly, the fact that not one farmer has taken pot shots is miraculous. I was going to ask if you owned a gun, but didn't even want to go there, because that begs the question of what would happen if you shot someone in self-defense - a defense widely recognized as acceptable here in the US, but probably not in Zimbabwe - esp. if it's a white farmer behind the gun. Not to mention the fact that it would probably just serve to escalate the violence against others in the future.

May you share in the strength and perseverance of the farmers around you, Jeanie

CJ - yes, Peter is a born-and-bred Zimbo ... his parents are no longer alive, but his elder brother farms next door. His younger brother has recently emigrated to Australia. I believe that if you throw a stone in Aussie or New Zealand these days, you're sure to hit a Zimbabwean!


Jeanie - I think that some of those farmworkers made homeless have now been able to return to those farms, but have had to rebuild their houses, most of which were burnt down by the invaders. Some have moved into shantytowns around Harare, crossed the border illegally into South Africa or returned to Malawi or Mozambique. There are probably quite a few still living on the side of the road in little shelters & shacks.

Re hospitals - our local government hospital was a highly efficient and well-run place ... once. Now it's a joke - except that it's not funny. With HIV/Aids rampant the hospitals are chock-a-bloc with people suffering from pneumonia, T.B. and other Aids-related diseases. They'll turn up there, wait all day in a queue, might get seen by some medical underling, who'll give them 2 aspirin, if they're lucky, & pack them off home having relieved them of a few hundred dollars. It's truly shocking. The small rural clinics are better run (many of which are located on white-owned farms, so are in danger of being shut down), but even so medicines are becoming hard to get. I haven't heard of anyone being turned down for treatment on account of his/her political leanings, although I wouldn't be surprised if that has happened somewhere.

On the subject of weapons, yes we do own a few, as Peter used to do a lot of hunting. It's not unknown for me to sleep with a shotgun under my bed when he's away!! I think, being a woman, I would get away with using a weapon for self-defence in my own house, but a (white) man would almost definitely be arrested, no matter what the circumstances ... there's also the danger that one's attackers (it's never just one) might get the guns & turn them on you.

OH! Must we talk about such sordid things??

Anyone reading this must be thinking what an awful place this must be! It's not, it's beautiful, but just going through a very painful stage.

Oops - I've overstepped the length limit again!!!

I say let's take a break from the sordid discussions and you can tell us again why you love Zimbabwe so much! ;) I know from your photos that it really is a beautiful place and it looks like your farm is really quite peaceful. You said you have 26 horses - that seems like a lot of horses to me! Are they all work horses? I know that you ride - but all 26? (Not being a horse person myself, I'm having a hard time imagining having 26 horses. :) )

Jeanie

Ah! A change of subject ... phew!

Peter and I both play polo - we also make a few bucks by selling ponies, so have always got some young ones coming up, plus a broodmare or two. 26 does seem rather a lot, doesn't it! I suppose when we're offered a nice sort of animal, we both find it difficult to resist! And a horse that's failed in its racing career can be picked up for a very reasonable price ... like the equivalent of about US$40!!!

Well, today's bit of excitement is that my brother-in-law's resident war-vets have kidnapped some of our cattle ... we even got a ransom note!!! Signed "The War Vets" (how imaginative).

Sorry to hear about that Sam. It sure doesn't sound good for you. It sounds as though there is little protection from the police as regards to what is happening there. Is there any hope that things will turn for the better, or is that too far fetched to imagine?

Ed

Well, Ed, we all hoped that things would improve once the elections were over, but they're getting worse, not better. So, I don't know what we do next, really.

Know anyone who wants to buy a farm in Africa?
;)

Considering what the news might be, this actually seems kind of mild. But just how many is "a few" cattle? I know that over here losing just a couple heads of cattle can be devastating for ranchers. What is the threat if you don't pay the ransom?

And what do you mean by your "brother-in-law's resident war-vets"? They live on his land? In his house? (But you said he was still there...)

The other day I was telling a friend that I wondered what a "normal life" is, but after reading your posts, I'm beginning to think that I my life is pretty "normal"!! In any case, I don't think I want to buy your farm - no matter how cheap you're selling it! ;)

I hope the cattle (and you and your family of course!!) don't come to any harm and I'm continuing to send good thoughts your way!

Jeanie

The "resident war-vets" are those who've assumed ownership of the farm and built their houses in the fields. In fact on that farm there is quite a village that's sprung up out of nothing. In that instance, they have not invaded my brother-in-law's own house, as yet, so he is still living in it.

You're right - it is mild compared with what could have happened ... What's a few head of cattle (8 in this instance) when it could have been us who were kidnapped??!

The "resident war-vets" are those who've assumed ownership of the farm and built their houses in the fields. In fact on that farm there is quite a village that's sprung up out of nothing. In that instance, they have not invaded my brother-in-law's own house, as yet, so he is still living in it.Very interesting - a twist I hadn't yet considered. So the war vets aren't necessarily violent all the time, just kind of "move in" and build houses? Is your BIL able to do any farming? If not, are the war-vets taking "care" of the farm and animals? (I assume he has/had animals like you.)
Jeanie

It's a strange scenario and one that is different on every farm. Some w-vs say they want "co-existence" while others just try and drive off the farmer and take over completely. On my BIL's place the war-vets have kind of got "their" area and he has his, so yes, he is able to carry on some sort of farming operation, although with the w-vs taking advantage of their current impunity in the eyes of the law, there is so much criminal activity going on (blatant theft & extortion, not to mention the nastier stuff) that normal farming is pretty much impossible.

Hmmm - interesting. The possible scenarios seem endless. I just can't imagine how hard it must be to make contingency plans when there are so many factors involved.

I was just reading a report that says some of the food shortages in Zimbabwe are due to the reduced output of the white farms being occupied by the w-vs (that in addition to the drought.) So it's obvious that Mugabe is exacerbating the food shortage situation by allowing the w-vs to run rampant.

You said that the w-vs have built a small "village" on your BIL's land. Do they do any farming themselves? How do they support themselves? Are they supported by the government?

I guess I'm trying to make sense of some of this using my "western logic" and it's not working too well. :(

Jeanie

It's quite sad that Zim used to be self-sufficient as far as food production was concerned (one of three or four countries in Africa). Now they rely almost totally on food aid (which I'm sure that Sam will confirm, is also manipulated by govt "agents").

It's much easier to sit under a tree and get food for free :(

Jeanie - most definitely the food shortages are exacerbated by the land invasions. Hundreds of farmers have been prevented from carrying out any farming activity at all. Given that many of these are large scale commercial producers, that's a big chunk out of the country's crop.

Africans, by tradition, farm at "subsistence" level, i.e. small, hand-tended crops with poor yields in comparison with commercial crops. That's fine if all they need to grow is enough food for their (extended) family plus a bit over to sell for cash, but not much good for filling the nation's grain stores. And what the war-vets are doing is turning highly productive farms over to this traditional, low-yielding agriculture. Hence the food shortage.

Added to that is the fact that the government hasn't supplied the seed & fertiliser that the warvets had been promised, so what crops they have planted are hopeless.


Al - I'm sure a lot of food aid has ended up in private bank accounts in Switzerland ... and thereafter spent at Harrods ...?!

So is famine in Zimbabwe a possibility or do surrounding countries have a surplus that Zimbabwe could use ? Of course thats only a short term solution if the agricultural infrastructure is wrecked and those with the knowledge departed to safer climes !

Famine in Zimbabwe is a reality, happening right now, although not on such a massive scale (yet) to be headline news. It's reckoned that nearly a million people are seriously starving right now - and several millions more going that way.

It doesn't look like we can scrounge any more grain from other countries, either - the neighbouring countries don't have enough to spare and if they did, Zim hasn't got enough money to pay for it.

And yet right up until very recently, this government was still exporting grain ... even when it was desperately needed here at home.

Famine in Zimbabwe is a reality, happening right now, although not on such a massive scale (yet) to be headline news. It's reckoned that nearly a million people are seriously starving right now - and several millions more going that way.
Zimbabwe dropped out of the running for headlines as soon as the election was over. :( It is a very sad statement of our times that nearly a million people starving isn't enough to make headlines. I guess when estimates range from 750 million to 1 billion people worldwide who do not have enough food to eat, 1 million people is "just" a tiny fraction and there's no real news story - unless of course the famine is caused by a natural disaster. :mad:

Sam, the news that I am able to find on Zimbabwe indicates that people are waiting in long lines to purchase food staples when they are available. Does this affect you at all?

Still thinking of you often and sending good thoughts,
Jeanie

hey Sam,

this thread has been pretty quiet lately, and I haven't really seen much in the news about Zimbabwe, so I was wondering whats been going on there lately?

- David

Hi David - "Nothing new" is the best answer I can think of to that question!

Nigeria and S.A. are trying to get talks going, but they've got an uphill battle on their hands!

I was hoping no news was good news on this front. Also the fact that you've been submitting challenges and chatting on the forum led me to believe things were quiet on your farm at least. Hope it stays that way.
DJ

yeah I've been reading a bit lately about S.A and MDC trying to get into talks but who knows how long it'll be until it happens or if it even ever will. good to hear that you're still there at your farm. good luck for being able to stay there in the future!

- David :)

DJ & David - thanks for your interest & good wishes. I'll surely let you guys know if anything dramatic happens!

Sam

Hi all, just thought I'd check-in to let you know I'm still here!

Haven't been contributing much lately, as we've got rather a lot going on here ... we've just heard that our farm is going to be "pegged", i.e. divided up into plots for "resettlement", next week. And when that happens, we're not allowed to move any of our machinery or equipment off the farm - it's got to stay put for the resettled masses to use ... We suspect that some senior police guys, who visited us last week, have their beady eyes on the place, which would be par for the course - a lot of these farms have been taken over by big shots in the police, army or government. So much for landless peasants!

So, I haven't forgotten you guys, really! It's just that other things are taking priority right now!

Wow Sam - thanks for checking in. I'm surprised you've even found the time to say that much! Given all you've told us in the past, I can't even imagine the logistics that you're having to work through - your animals, your belongings - and most importantly your safety!!

Sending good thoughts for your safety as well as a (relatively) "smooth" transition (since a "transition" seems inevitable at this point.)

Jeanie

Does this mean your family will have to leave soon? I'm so sorry about what's happening Sam. I really wish we could do something to stop this madness. It makes you feel so helpless. I guess we can pray for your safety at least. I had hoped that things had settled down a bit for you since this thread went dormant for a while. I should have known better.
DJ

Sam,

Also sending good thoughts for your safety. Hopeful thoughts for a positive resolution.

Let us know how you're doing when you are able.

Originally posted by Sam
Haven't been contributing much lately, as we've got rather a lot going on here ... we've just heard that our farm is going to be "pegged", i.e. divided up into plots for "resettlement", next week.
Hi Sam,
good to hear from you again, hope you're doing ok.
That's awful news about your land! are you going to be able to stay or is it more safe just to leave now?

So, I haven't forgotten you guys, really! It's just that other things are taking priority right now!
totally understandable, keep your focus on the most imprtant thing, staying safe. :) best wishes,

- David

Sam,

I really don't know what to say, except I'm sorry to hear that. Will you have time to sell your equipment? What happens to the livestock? Something like that is hard for most of us to understand. We all hope you and your loved ones will have the time to do what you need to do. Our thoughts are with you.

Ed

Jeanie, DJ, Carolyn, David and Ed - thanks so much for your good wishes.

We're going to ship as much as we can off the farm and out of the house, into "safekeeping" (if there is such a thing!) then just play it by ear. Will keep you posted!

Sam

Good for you Sam. Don't let the thieves get a penny more than you have to. Good luck and stay safe.
DJ

I don't suppose anyone has heard from Sam, have you? It's been over a week since we heard from her. I hope everything's okay with them.

Ed

The last I heard from Sam was this past Tuesday, 4/30. She was OK at that point, but still dealing with lots of uncertainty.
Jeanie

Thanks for putting our minds as ease Jeanie. I know even if Sam is ok she still is probably very busy protecting her assests and doesn't have the time to go online much so any news is a welcome relief.
DJ

thanks jeanie, I was just thinking about Sam and wondering how she was doing.

- David

Well that's about as good a news as can be expected, unfortunately. I know they are going through a very hard time. Jeanie, if you hear any more, let us know.

Ed

Hi all!!

My goodness, you guys are amazing - it's like having another family!!!

We're still here and I'm REALLY sorry not to keep in touch, it's just with things being what they are here ... you know, kinda stressful ... I'm sure you understand!

The warvets have just moved onto the farm, but no direct threat to ourselves as yet. It's coming, though, there's no doubt about that in anyone's mind. At this stage, it's a waiting game, I'm afraid!

Thanks again - Ed, David, Jeanie, DJ - to know that one isn't forgotten is kind of comforting!!

Cheers for now,

Sam

Sam,

I'm glad to hear that things could be worse. Are you considering leaving the country, and if so, are there risks to doing that? Take care, and yes, we do understand when you don't make your usual trip to the site. God bless.

ed

Well, of course we're you're extended family. :D It's nice to know you're safe for the time being. Don't worry about not getting in touch regularly, we understand your situation. Since no words we can say will change your that, we just want you to know we are there with you in spirit.
DJ

Hi Sam, It's REALLY good to hear from you. Sorry to hear about the latest development though. :( How are things going on your brother-in-law's farm? The warvets moved onto his land quite a while ago if I remember correctly. I know that you've made whatever plans you could think of to keep your family and your belongings as safe as possible. I'm amazed at your tenacity in this most stressful of situations. I continue to think of you and your family daily and send good thoughts your way whenever I can.
Jeanie

Adding my loving thoughts and wishes for safety, peace, and a reasonable resolution of an extremely difficult situation...

Sam, let us know what you can, when you can, and know that many hearts are skipping a beat when they think of you and your family.

Hi Sam,
great to hear from you again! have you been able to get much of you and your family's belongings away yet? what exactly do the war vets do when they move into a farm? that must be horrible just having to wait, not knowing whats going to happen next. you are handling this awful situation amazingly well! good luck and best wishes :)

- David

Ed - Believe me, I think every day about leaving the country!!! The only difficulty with that at this stage would be shipping our stuff out - customs would probably not allow it, but that's a minor issue. What I'm worried about is if we leave it too late and things really blow up (which is a definite possibility) then, yes, there could be problems on the roads, at border crossings, etc. The trouble is, nobody knows where we're headed at the moment - the government has been eerily silent about its intentions, but the evidence on the ground suggests they are intent on squashing every last vestige of opposition, both real and imagined.

DJ - Having a family in the States would come in very handy at a time like this!!! :D

Jeanie - my b.i.l. is still there, but there are definite signs his days on the farm are numbered. Which could be said for all of us!

Carolyn - thank you for your kind wishes & thoughts. I carry them with me!

David - we haven't managed to move much yet, as it has to be done very carefully - avoiding being followed, etc. It was bad enough not being allowed to remove any farm equipment, but now we hear stories of people who've had their personal belongings, including cars, confiscated by warvets, who claim the car (or whatever) belongs to the farm and as they now own the farm, they also own the car. African logic, I guess.

Re what warvets do - well, it varies from farm to farm. They turn up in large numbers, mark out whatever piece of land they reckon will do nicely (front lawns are popular), build pole & dagga (mud) huts on it, pretend to grow crops, steal fences, cut down trees, drink large quantities of Chibuku (an alcoholic concoction of the consistency of thick soup), beat drums and wail at the top of their voices all night. Those are the nice ones! The less desirable variety ... well, you saw what they did to that guy with the little dog, so I'm sure you can imagine.

But really, we farmers sit here and whinge about our problems, but they're nothing compared to what Mr. Average MDC supporter is going through. Added to which they reckon that the number of starving Zimbabweans is up to 2 million. Mostly in the south of the country, rather than near where we live.

Hello!!! Anyone still awake??? :)

That's terrible Sam and worse, it's allowed and even sanctioned by other African Nations. One man has taken a prosperous country and singlehandedly run it into the ground. Absolutely unbelievable. You don't hear anything about it on the news here either. It's so maddening that there's nothing you can do about it. God bless ya Sam, you sure need it about now.
DJ

Sam - I'm definitely still awake! Sitting on the edge of my seat is more like it. I've been trying to think of something to say all day, but I just can't think of any words to express what I'm feeling about the situation in Zimbabwe in general and your situation in particular. I know that you'll do whatever you can to reduce your risks and stay safe, so I'll just keep sending good thoughts your way and hope that in some small way they help.
Jeanie

I'm in the same position as jeanie - the situation is just so horrible I just can't think of anything to say. just hoping that you're still ok and that you don't get any of the "less desirable variety" of war vets on your property :(

- David

Sam, you have been in my thoughts lately. I hope it is some comfort to you to know that so many people care. Please be well.

Sharon

Thank you, Sharon. I really appreciate that! :)

Just wanted to bring this thread back up since we have not heard from Sam in a while...hopefully things are going ok and you and your family are safe.

On a related note, since we are a visual group, I found an interesting link to a "graphic commentary" on the Zimbabwe situation. http://www.agitnet.org/index.html
One of my favorite images is on this page (http://www.agitnet.org/truth_images.htm) ...down near the bottom is an image of a "zwiss" knife.

Wow - those are some very powerful images you found Greg!

I heard from Sam this past Wed (29th). She's hanging on at the farm with the "wovvits," though lots of people are still being thrown off their farms, so the situation is pretty much the same and definitely not stable.

Jeanie

link to a "graphic commentary" on the Zimbabwe situation

Greg - great find! Great graphic art with passionate beliefs.

Sam -- glad you're okay, have you decided about Canada, if there is a need to leave?

Hey Greg - thanks for that link ... I hadn't heard of that website before, but I have seen some of the graphics ... by a very talented ex-Zimbabwean (or rather exiled Zimbabwean!) called Chaz Maviyane-Davies. My guess is he had to leave on account of these pictures.

We're fine at the moment - thanks! Nothing too dramatic has happened lately - there seems to be a bit of a muddle going on at the highest levels - on the one hand they want to carry on with their loony ideas, but on the other they are just waking up to the fact that the country is falling into a desperate famine situation ... it's taken long enough for them to realise - let's hope they start to see sense now. One can but hope!

Sam

Thank God you're ok Sam. I was thinking it had been awhile since we heard from you so I, along with others were getting concerned. I'm so glad things are quiet for the time and you haven't been run off your land. Still praying for you guys though.

I was hoping someone in power would wake up to the situation in that country before it's too late. Now let's see if they can do something about it. As long as the greedy despot is milking his cash cow who knows. However, I think his cow is starting to dry up on him.
DJ

Sam,

I just started reading this thread a couple of days ago. I was so worried when I saw that your last post was on the 19th of May. I'm glad you and the family are OK. It's funny, I don't even know you and I have lost sleep over your situation. The apostle Paul wrote the following in 2 Corinthians. I thought it applied to you and your family.

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."

Take care of yourself friend. You have more people on your side than you will ever know.

Steve

Wow, Steve - that is SO touching. After reading this thread, you probably know me better than most people!!

DJ - your analogy with the cow is spot on! These guys have milked this country for so long (not just this country, either - the Congo being another rape victim) and shipped so much money out, that I really don't think they give a damn what they're doing to Zimbabwe, or what happens to its people.

Typically, as soon as I say something as foolhardy as "nothing dramatic has happened", something does ... another farmer was shot yesterday ... his farm had been allocated to some government official. I must learn to keep my mouth shut!

Sam

Hi Sam,

It's such a relief to hear from you again!! glad to hear you're still doing OK.
are the "war vets" staying to themselves on your land still? best wishes,

- David :)

No warvets at the moment, thankfully, David ... but we've had a few people coming round to look at the farm to see if they want a bit of it - all of them well-spoken, well-dressed people driving smart new cars! Mugabe says "Land for the People" ... which people, I wonder??!

Cheers,

Sam

That's scary Sam. I don't know how you guys cope with all that anarchy around you. I think I would be digging a hole and hiding in it. :)
DJ

:eek: yikes Sam!!Mugabe says "Land for the People" ... which people, I wonder??!
no kidding!!

DJ- I think I would be digging a hole and hiding in it.

Me too!!!

- David

Hey Sam, I saw on another thread you had your digicam stolen. One of your "tenants"?? Does this mean they're wandering thru' your house as well?

The wheels are starting to fall off down here too. At the funeral of an MP over the weekend, the mourners were chanting "kill the farmers"...

Oh my goodness, Al, that sounds AWFUL ... Mbeki is going to get himself into deep water with his so-called "softly softly" approach. We all reckon here that Mugabe rues the day he let the warvets do what they want - now when he wants to rein them in, he can't.

If all this horrible mess now happens in South Africa, it'll be 100 times worse.

I don't know what happened to the camera, but no, we haven't got any "tenants" wandering around ... if we did, I'd be outta here in a flash!!

Sam

Glad to hear you're still with us Sam. With all the turmoil in the middle east I hate to think of a major problem developing in South Africa as well. Sounds like the War Vets got a taste of power and have no intention of relinqishing it. Mugabe should understand that. It may be his downfall. Glad they are still letting you guys alone. I find myself looking for your challenge entries or other posts just to know you're doing ok and I'm always relieved to see your face behind the camera. :)
DJ

Keep hoping to see another post here from you, Sam. I've noticed several articles in our paper lately about the farmers in Zimbabwe.

Continued prayers and best wishes for you and your loved ones.

Sharon

Hi Sharon - and thanks for your kind words. I do pop into RTP from time to time to see what you guys are all up to!

Still here (just!) - every day we get people coming to look at the farm and yesterday this woman rocks up in a very smart new car and says she's taking over the part of the farm round the house and will be moving her cattle on in a few days. If nothing else, we are certainly having to hone up on our diplomacy skills ... what was on my face (a sweet smile!) and what came out of my mouth were quite the opposite of what I felt towards her!!!

The real crunch comes on 10th August ... on that date, about 3,000 farmers ("of European descent") have to be off their farms completely. What a disaster. This country has no wheat, no maize, no sugar, no cooking oil (etc etc) ... and with nobody growing anything, no prospect of any in the future either. We're all going to have to develop a taste for boiled leaf stew, stir-fried tree roots and roas