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Zimbabwe

Bushdrums.com


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Zimbabwe

Link to this post 01 Nov 07

I am not sure how other countries view Zimbabwe & the political situation there but here in England the press reports are totally negative & off death,destruction & total mismanagement.
Our announcement that Zimbabwe was our next destination was met with horror & worry for our safety.

Everybody we met were warm & friendly. At no time did we feel threatened or ill at ease.
Yes there is a political problem in Zimbabwe & yes we were close to the Botswana or Zambian border but everybody treated us with the greatest respect no matter what colour or creed they were.

By going, were we supporting President Mugabe's government?
Yes I expect we were with taxes but we were also supporting the warm friendly local population.
There are shortages in the parks, inoperative water hole pumps needing spares. that sort of thing but the dedication of the staff
is amazing.
One ranger actually lived at a water hole trying to keep the bore hole pump going. That is dedication! It is reported that when the pump does stop he moves into the bush because the elephants mob his little dwelling.
If you want to see African wildlife & a warm friendly people than put Zim at the top of your list.

Link to this post 01 Nov 07

Kipper:

Glad you had a great time there and met some wonderfully dedicated people.

My concern with trying to sell Zim and encourage people to go there hinges on several things.

Safety - yes, you had good luck. But it could be different in other parts of the country from where you went.

That you left money there doesn't disturb me as much as if many people start going there, it will lead legitmacy
and encourage the leadership to continue their horrible practices. I have just seen a documentary here about two weeks ago showing hundreds of Zimbabweans climbing the fences to escape into South Africa. Hundreds of them are just living in S. African churches with no place to go, no money, no jobs and depending on others to feed them. It also showed the markets in Zimbabwe with NO food on the shelves. People were starving.

This is in stark contrast to the occasional letter you see in the Kenyan papers supporting Mugabe and his henchmen. I can't quite figure it all out. Perhaps they aren't seeing the same information that we are.

Just glad you are away from there safe and sound with no problems.

Link to this post 02 Nov 07

I do not believe that anything will alter the regimes attitude in Zimbabwe, for sure, not a few extra tourist.
By visiting Zimbabwe you can help the people by putting money into the local community & have the trip of a life time.
If the refugees could earn a living from tourism would they then need to be refugees?
The political situation is bad but from my small 10 day experience in the bush life goes on there happily but with many shortages! We visited no big towns & the people we met benefited from tourism even the police & officials were also very friendly & courteous.

I do not read newspapers & TV reports are watched with skepticism, the makers of the documentary you watched, Jan, could have also thrown a different light on the country by reporting the safari industry in a positive light.
The right? / wrong? producer or reporter picking out the ills of any country could turn that view into "Hell on Earth"
But also that same producer or reporter could make any country appear to be the "Land of Milk & Honey"
If you only read the negative reports here on Bushdrums about Kenya, would you really want to go there? Luckily we know different!

My original post was to show an alternative view of Zimbabwe then the world press gives.
If Zimbabwe offers you the trip you want do not let the political situation put you off!

Link to this post 02 Nov 07

Having just reread your post Jan, my understanding of Zimbabwe is thus. I am willing to be corrected on this as it is only how I see the situation.

Mugabe is seen as a hero in a number of African countries for his land reforms, giving back the land to the people.
But first! Who are the African people?

I believe this was politically motivated " Share the haves with the have nots" The problem is, I believe, he let racism get in the way!
He may have been right but totally cocked up. The "Haves" worked damned hard to "Have" where as the "Have nots" did little to become "Haves". The world has a lot more "Have nots" than "Haves!" So suck up to the "Have nots" & you have a majority.
If you are poorly educated & of one race it is easy to look at another wealthy race & say "Why have I not got what he has?"
Mugabe promised them that they could have it!
A number of countries see it that the Europeans stole the land from the Africans but at that time the land was not in use, would it have been in use today without the Europeans?

Is this not the story of Africa?...The meeker tribes settled in the poorer lands whereas The warrior nations took the better lands!
look at the homelands of the Zulu people, some of the most fertile land in Africa!

Link to this post 05 Nov 07

Hear hear... thumbs up to you Kipper! I like positive people and positive thinking!