I just read that Bob Vaughan-Evans Director of Zim's Commerical Farmers Union was found axed to death in his home in Gweru. He was in his late seventies. Not many details were available. Any Zim guys out there with more info?

Just a brief note at Zimbabwesituation.com.

RIP Bob. Family friend for many, many years. A true Zimbabwean, dedicated to the betterment of agriculture and one of the true gentlemen I have ever been privileged to know.

Sale kuhle Nkhosi.

Any more news on this cowardly attack?

I just read on the aforementioned website about more attacks on farms and farmers. You would think that it would be evident to the world that this is not good for the country of Zimbabwe and these brave farmers that are hanging on could get some help. Had a capacity to produce 400,000 bushels of wheat, now standing at 12,000. This is not white or black, simply common sense. Being removed from their propery by armed men who threaten to "eat their children" and they can't garner any support? Sickening.

typical black African politics. if the victim is white, he must have deserved it.

Where is the clamor for hate crime legislation now?

quote:

Where is the clamor for hate crime legislation now

Huh? Has Zim proposed hate crime legislation? The murder was in Zim, right?
"You would think that it would be evident to the world that this is not good for the country of Zimbabwe and these brave farmers that are hanging on could get some help."
What do you propose? Invasion? By whom? Sanctions?
Would the other African countries honor the sanctions? I doubt it. Mugabe would not survive but for the support of RSA and other countries like Namibia et al.
Peter

I'm afraid that with our present administration and the congress that we have here in the US that we are not too far behind Zim. Good luck to us all.

There will be no outcry for the whites. And els is exactly right.

Peter,
Fair questions. To be completely candid, I don't know exactly what I would propose. I really don't know what sort of aid the US is giving Zimbabwe so what sanctions there are to levy on the US part. That said I think it is disgusting that there is nothing being done. I look at landowners who have helped to build a nation and now are being persecuted and wonder if I am seeing the future here for future generations of my family and so many others. Personally do I think that someone should get rid of the corrupt people who have ruined Zimbabwe? Of course, frankly I would rather it still be Rhodesia. Unfortunately, I know that we can't even run our own country and could never get past the PC problems of opposing black leaders to help whites regardless of how just the cause. To say that it is a problem for the Africans to handle would also be fine with me. Since we stayed out of Apartheid, Rhodesia and don't send billions in handouts and aids care to..... Oh that's right. I know I'm going on, just from the outside looking in it is a real shame to see a wonderful country ruined taking some of her finest citizens with her.

Seven I agree with you! We feel we should do something but are not sure what. We see the Sudan, Rwanda, Zim etc. and just get frustrated. Maybe these are just "growing pains". Just look at the history of the US, UK and other European countries. One would think that the new countries would avoid those mistakes, but, perhaps they have to make them for themselves. My personal view is that democracy must grow from within, and when the price is paid in ones own blood, then one learns. That is why I do not believe that democracy will succeed in Iraq and Afganistan (in the short term). Tribal and theocratic tendencies are perhaps too ingrained. Of course, I hope otherwise. Having said that, it wasn't that long ago that many Americans would not vote for a Roman Catholic for President! One thinks that there should be a better way!
Peter.

Good point about Iraq and Iran. Regardless of if we like the idea of going to war with them or not (which I happened to be for) it seems very logical to me that true democracy or anything resembling it has to happen organically and can't be imposed. That is what makes this so challenging. I think we afforded them the opportunity by intervening, now the course they take really is up to them, unless of course one plans on being a police state over there to impose one's will.

That said, it is shocking to me how this recieves NO coverage in the news here in the states. If there were some sort of action that could be taken to help Ziimbabwe and especially the farmers, I would be all for it. I just wish that I thought someone was actually trying to come up with something.

Mugabe is trying to prove a point, 70 odd commercial farmers took them to court ( SADC Tribunal) and they won their case, needless to say Mugabe was peed off. Zim have now pulled out from the SADC Tribunal claiming they weren't following the correct rules and laws.

Everybody is wondering about the sudden silence of the MDC

This may be a can of worms but....... since sanctions and somebody doing something is raised in several of the above posts, but one would wonder if the hunting community might not be a part of the solution or a part of the problem?

According to the Zim treasury report, tourism is the number 3 commodity in Zimbabwe. There was a downturn in tourism immediately after the land grab started. But now things are turning around and a huge rebound is projected.

Re; http://www.zimtreasury.org/downloads/284.pdf

The below report says a lot about who and why the rebound may be occurring;

"Biological Conservation Economic and conservation significance ...
In addition, the hunting industry is also generally more resilient to political
Instability than tourism; with the onset of land redistribution in Zimbabwe, ...
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii


I recall The US State department issuing numerous warnings against traveling to Zim only to be countered by numerous hunt brokers saying; "it was bunk" and touting "bargains to be had"!

I suppose there flip side of the argument it that hunters $ are some of the few still available to Farmers and land owners and if we pull out then wildlife and farmers will suffer more.

But then I'd suppose the various world governments all tender flip side arguments as well.

So with no easy solution the murders and travesties continue.....! One old tale comes to mind regarding a fellow that climbed a tree to shake out a coon only to find the hounds had treed a lynx, which he described as a "supped up bobcat!" A ruckus ensued and the fellow called down for the ground crew to shoot! They responded with concerns about hitting their friend who promptly responded "shoot anyway, one of us needs some relief!!!"

So the discussion goes on regarding action or in action both potentially causing suffering and harm. Meanwhile a third option might be to create a funding mechanism to purchase the services of a more surgical shooter!

Best regards
Mike O

The administration's position is that if you are over 70, you are no longer a person.

quote:

Originally posted by Russ Gould:
The administration's position is that if you are over 70, you are no longer a person.

Sorry Russ, that went over my head. Canyou explain?