The news from Zimbabwe

[Sam]

I would say that ALL the infrastructure dates from before 1980 ... Bob loves to bash the whites, but he enjoyed inheriting what they brought to the country ...

Just about all Harare's water comes from reservoirs, but sensible people living there drill boreholes in their gardens, just in case the municipal supply runs out - which is exactly what is happening at the moment - not because the water's not there, but because the government have run out of money to pump and distribute it.

A capital city with no water is a scary prospect ...

Sam

[chris h]

Ok on the water sources Sam, theres still plenty of water in the UK but the quality especially from underground sources is dropping all the time. Have to send raiding parties north of the border and carry off Loch Lomond to its rightful position in Lancashire!

[Sam]

You'd certainly inherit a profitable little tourism industry to go with it - but I'm not sure the song "I'll take the high road" would sound the same with the words "and I'll get tae Manchester before ye!"

Underground water here is definitely dodgy if the water course happens to run under a highly populated area. You can imagine the bugs that turn up in a water sample ...

Sam

[K. Johnstone]

This is a great thread, read the whole thing the other day and it stayed with me. I was hoping the whole time, checking the dates as I went, there would be a happy ending--but I guess there are no real endings in real life. The worst part, was your camera being stolen, Sam. That bothered me. Did you get another camera? I certainly hope so. I know it's silly, even trivial, compared to everything else, but dammit--they STOLE your CAMERA. It's just those early pictures of your farm, then everything happening, I say you need to document this evil nonsense with pictures.

So much greed, amazing how greed drives people to destroy so much and for what? We all have so little time on earth as it is, greed can be so destructive and misplaced.

Anyway keep writing really really really really long posts here and don't worry about it, because it's great to read. It made me wish I could do something. I guess all I can do is pray like everybody else.

[winwintoo]

You read the whole thread!! That's commendable. We are all concerned about Sam and her family and like you, we hope for a happy ending.

I am a little concerned about you though. Reading this thread is one thing, but if I find that you've been reading all of Chris's "regards from the UK" I'll have to call the authorities there in Gary and have them prepare a special room for you.

Margaret

[chris h]

Unfortunately he might find it dull reading as I've been unable to get Mad Bob to make a guest appearance on Regards ....

[chris h]

I've just culled this from a radio site Big Al sent me. High speed car theft in Zim!

http://www.swradioafrica.com/pages/cuckoo.htm

[Duv]

My daughter Sara has been studying in Windhoek, Namibia for the last 2 years. Please run over and give her a big hug for me.

Duv

[BigAl]

It's around 2000km by air between Harare and Windhoek, and more than 5000km by road (4x4 required) - which includes at least 2 border crossings. I'm not sure if Sam is fit enough to run that far!!!

[chris h]

I hear the Zim airforce offers a you and anybody elses car get you home service Al.

[Sam]

The latest wheeze of Zim's police force is to set up roadblocks, where they relieve passing motorists of all their cash. Great ploy for pulling in the tourists!

I enjoyed this item from the Guardian yesterday:

Come to Zimbabwe!
Er, no thanks.

But why not?
Oh, the famine, the widespread human rights abuses, the breakdown of law and order...

Do you like elephants? We have lots of elephants.
...the state-sponsored repression, the crippling fuel shortages...

These are lies! Zimbabwe remains a beautiful and hospitable place. Come to Docklands this week and see.
Docklands?

To the World Travel Market exhibition. Stop by the Zimbabwe Tourist Authority booth for a chat.
You're joking.

Not at all. We at the ZTA aim to position Zimbabwe as a world-class tourist destination. It's all in our vision statement.
I see. Do the people at the World Travel Market know you're coming?

Of course. They believe in encouraging, as they put it, "dialogue and understanding among all countries involved in travel and tourism".
And torture and murder?

Have you ever been to the Victoria Falls? It's so lovely this time of year.
Who are you? The minister for tourism?

No. Sadly he cannot make it because of prior commitments.
It's not because he's included in an EU-wide travel ban on members of Mugabe's government, is it?

You have been poisoned by lies! You must come to beautiful Zimbabwe and see for yourself.
OK, but I'll have to make sure I can get the time off first. It's a pretty busy time of year for us journalists.

Journalist? Did you say journalist?
British journalist, yes.

I'm afraid you can't come.
Why not?

No reason.
But I'm curious to see the situation first-hand.

Get out of the way, please. There is a queue of genuine tourists forming behind you.
No there isn't.

Visit Zimbabwe, Where Food Aid Distribution Is Never Manipulated For Political Ends.
I will.

Not you.

[Sam]

Howdy. Thought I'd just log in and let you know that I had a little girl on Saturday morning - called Lucy. Everything seems to be in the right place!

Sam

[chris h]

Congrats on the new baby Sam, are you going to stick it out in Zim or have you other plans?

[CJ Swartz]

Originally Posted by Sam

Howdy. Thought I'd just log in and let you know that I had a little girl on Saturday morning - called Lucy. Everything seems to be in the right place! Sam

Congratulations, Sam!! Job well done! So happy that she's healthy, and hope that you are doing well also.

[Ed_L]

Congratulations Sam. That's great! I just hope Lucy doesn't grow up with the same conditions you've had to endure.

Ed