Salon - - The news from Zimbabwe - Page 13

d_kendal · #**181** 06-04-2002, 01:27 AM

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

Sam · #**182** 06-04-2002, 04:41 AM

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

DJ Dubovsky · #**183** 06-04-2002, 09:02 AM

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

d_kendal · #**184** 06-04-2002, 12:53 PM

yikes Sam!!

Quote:

Mugabe says "Land for the People" ... which people, I wonder??!

no kidding!!

DJ-

Quote:

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

Me too!!!

- David

BigAl · #**185** 06-19-2002, 11:49 AM

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"...

Sam · #**186** 06-19-2002, 11:41 PM

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

DJ Dubovsky · #**187** 06-20-2002, 10:39 AM

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

Sharon Brunson · #**188** 07-03-2002, 03:56 PM

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

Sam · #**189** 07-04-2002, 12:53 AM

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 roast mouse - mmmm, yum, yum. "Ethnic" food takes on a whole new meaning!!!

Sam

BigAl · #**190** 07-04-2002, 12:58 AM

Gee Sam, that's awful about 10 August. I hadn't heard that one yet.

Now, mad bob is really going to be smiling all the way to the bank with all the millions that the west is going to pump into Zim in the form of "food aid".

d_kendal · #**191** 07-04-2002, 02:42 AM

Sam -
I'm amazed you've been able to stay around there this long!! I can well imagine what you'd be saying to the "Lady in the smart new car" if you could!!! sounds like a really major crisis for food right now (obviously all mugabe's fault)

- David

DJ Dubovsky · #**192** 07-04-2002, 11:32 AM

I hope you guys have made some good plans for that time. I hate what's happening to you. It seems so unfair. I hope we don't pour money into that country but I can see we probably will. My opinion is let Mad Bob and those greedy war vets reap what they've sewn. I wish the people would get hungry and angry enough to roust him and his cronies out of power. Like what they did to Ferdinan and Imelda Marcos in the Phillapines and the Duvaliers in Haiti. That may just happen but I sure hope you guys are safely away from there when that time comes.
I don't know how you managed to keep from punching that lady in the face when she came up to you like that. I'm not sure I would have held my temper as well. We're still praying for you Sam.
DJ

Sam · #**193** 07-05-2002, 12:38 AM

There's a feeling that Zimbabweans have to get well out of their comfort zone before they'll actually take to the streets ... and that means getting REALLY hungry, which they aren't quite yet. There's also a feeling that the govt. are hoping the people WILL take to the streets, so that they can bring out all their big guns and teach them a "lesson". It's a scenario I don't particularly want to hang around for.

DJ Dubovsky · #**194** 07-05-2002, 09:30 AM

I don't blame you. I'd be running away as fast as I could too if things got that bad.
DJ

Ed_L · #**195** 07-05-2002, 04:07 PM

That's really sad Sam. I'm sorry you had to give us that kind of news. Please don't wait too long to find a new home, and keep us up to date. As always, our thoughts are with you and your loved ones.

Ed