Fox news is running a ticker tape claiming Mugabe's henchmen have taken over the hunting areas? Anyone have any details?

Zimbabwe resort targeted by Mugabe militants



HARARE, Zimbabwe – As Zimbabwe tried to spruce up its tourism image, militants of President Robert Mugabe's party launched raids at boating clubs and tourism lodges on the shores of the capital's main fishing and leisure area, tour operators said Sunday.

A safari lodge about 18 miles (30 kilometers) west of Harare reopened after being sealed off by more than 200 militants since Friday, said owner Gary Stafford. The seven-chalet Kuimba Shiri lodge is a popular getaway for locals, foreign visitors, diplomats and U.N. staff.

Militants told witnesses more than 20 clubs and holiday facilities were being targeted on the shores and hinterland of Lake Chivero, a dam five miles (8 kilometers) in length — bordered by a wildlife preserve — that serves as Harare's main water supply reservoir.

Incidents began Friday, coinciding with the launch of a new campaign by Tourism and Hospitality Minister Walter Mzembi who branded Zimbabwe as "the world of wonders," during a convention in Spain.

After collapsing during a decade of political and economic turmoil, tourist visits have crept upward since 2009 when a coalition government between Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, the former opposition leader, abandoned the hyperinflationary local currency and adopted the U.S. dollar as legal tender.

Tourists had been kept away from the famed Victoria Falls in northwestern Zimbabwe and the country's animal reserves because of recurring political violence and acute shortages of gasoline and the most basic goods during the nation's economic meltdown. Victoria Falls is seen as one of the world's natural wonders.

The change to hard currency saw gas stations and empty store shelves replenished — with foodstuffs and luxuries still being mainly imported from neighboring South Africa as once self-sufficient local industries battled to resume production.

After years of neglect, tourist services, the third largest hard currency earner after agricultural exports and mining a decade ago, were being revamped too, and advertising promotions were mounted at several international travel fairs.

The raids at Lake Chivero follow similar incidents in the mountainous northeastern trout fishing and hiking district of Nyanga. There, holiday cottages were searched by militants and visitors reported being forced to show identification documents by rag-tag groups not in official police or security service uniforms. In some areas, the militants also manned makeshift road blocks.

Calls for elections this year by Mugabe to end the shaky power sharing deal have heightened political tensions and spurred fresh demands for the implementation of Mugabe's policy of empowerment that calls for 51 percent ownership of businesses by blacks.

Stafford said the leaders of the militants took an inventory of his lodge's belongings and "there was no violence or looting." They told him they were taking stock and evaluating lakeside properties under the empowerment program.

One visiting couple was holed up in the lodge for a day and "we weren't allowed any guests," Stafford said.

Boating clubs and a mobile home park were also visited by militants, some armed with sticks and chanting slogans of Mugabe's party.

Property owners said they called the tourism and environment ministries to seek their intervention.

Witnesses said militants occupied a mobile home at one Lake Chivero campsite after saying it could stay open as long as no property or utensils were removed. The militants, who took nothing and bought their own food from a nearby store, completed an inventory of items at the site and told workers they wanted impoverished nearby communities to have a share in the lake's leisure assets.

In 2000, Mugabe ordered the seizure of thousands of white-owned farms for handing over to blacks to correct what he called unfair colonial era ownership. The often-violent seizures of white-owned farms disrupted the agriculture-based economy in the former regional breadbasket and have continued in recent months, leaving just 300 whites in farming areas.

Critics of Mugabe say the those seizures and proposed business takeovers were a ploy all along to shore up the flagging support of his ZANU-PF among the nation's voters.

Thanks Alan. That infamous Mugabe creature will go down in history as the single worse disaster of Rhodesia/Zimbabwe. IMHO I believe the man is the epitome of evil.

Mad Bob is at it again.

Zimbabwe land invaders hold blind man


Pretoria - A blind caretaker at a tourist facility in Zimbabwe was detained for hours by riotous Zanu-PF members amid a fresh wave of land invasions.

Over 20 tourist facilities were invaded over the past week in the Chivero Lake National Park, 37km southwest of Harare, and staff and visitors were prevented from leaving the area.

According to a statement by the organisation Zimbabwe Democracy Now, the invasions started last week at the Kumba Shiri resort, which is owned by a South African.

Gary Stafford is the owner of the resort, which boasts a bird reserve and rehabilitation centre, as well as an educational centre.

Zimbabwe Democracy Now said the invasions are making a mockery of the agreement reached in May last year between the South African and Zimbabwean governments, according to which South African investments in Zimbabwe would be protected against invasions.

The agreement was ratified in November and is known as the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (Bippa).

Letter to government

The Zimbabwean government said at the time that the agreement is aimed at protecting individual investments and building prosperity in both countries through mutual investment.

In the latest invasions, an unruly crowd dressed in Zanu-PF clothes invaded the facilities and changed the locks on the gates. Police arrived at the lake late on Friday afternoon but did not force the invaders to leave.

Visitors and guests were trapped on the properties, which are leased or owned according to agreements with the national parks board.

Earlier this month Aaron Mazvi, the leader of the group, sent a letter to the Zimbabwean government warning that they were about to seize the properties.

He suggests in the letter that the land should be distributed among the local residents, with some being reserved for ministers, senators, members of parliament and traditional leaders.

And the heartbreak continues...

And the evil continues. . . . . .

Russell Caldecott has shut down his lodge and laid off his staff after being jailed overnight, and harrassed by the Zim IRS.

Do these people have any grasp of reality? Or any common sense at all? Or are they blinded by racial hatred? I am sure glad I did not go through with my plan to invest some money in Zim.

One senses that the Zimbabwe PH's are going to be offering some serious Safaris discounts next week...

Rich
and requesting large deposits.

Typical Rich reply! You're a prick Rich.

Does anyone have current info on Russell and the status of his Ultimate Lodge? My wife and I stayed there in 2007 and had a fantastic time.

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
One senses that the Zimbabwe PH's are going to be offering some serious Safaris discounts next week...

Rich
and requesting large deposits.

Once again, pure class.

Russell is using the lodge as his home and is not operating as a lodge. Why? Here's my guess: Tax harrassment; municipal harrassment; labor dept harrassment; police harrassment; and oh, by the way, we want 51% of your business.

He has formed a charitable "NGO" to distribute aid to the physically handicapped of Zim. He is working with international charities to funnel aid to those in Zim that are physically handicapped.

quote:

Originally posted by Russ Gould:
Russell is using the lodge as his home and is not operating as a lodge. Why? Here's my guess: Tax harrassment; municipal harrassment; labor dept harrassment; police harrassment; and oh, by the way, we want 51% of your business.

He has formed a charitable "NGO" to distribute aid to the physically handicapped of Zim. He is working with international charities to funnel aid to those in Zim that are physically handicapped.

This really sucks. My family, wife and two sons, stayed there in August 09 after our hunting in the SAVE. Russell went out of his way to show us a good timewith the BBQ, local dancers etc. What a shame such a grand country and it's people are being subjected to such lunacy.

Clark

Ah the joys of Black African Culture. Hell Zimbabwe is almost getting as bad as Chicago politically but not quite as violent as the Amexican border.

I sure hope that hunting stays open. If not I'm glad I went when I did. My heart sure goes out to the remaining whites who continue to try to live under the racist oppression in their country while they support the people around them.

quote:

Or are they blinded by racial hatred?

I think this may be the case.
The guys in power drive their Merc's and BMWs to and from their lovely homes and don't quite seem to care what is happening to their home land and fellow Zimbabweans so long as the "evil" white cockroaches leave (as one lovely piece of work says).

quote:

Originally posted by ozhunter:

quote:

Or are they blinded by racial hatred?

I think this may be the case.
The guys in power drive their Merc's and BMWs to and from their lovely homes and don't quite seem to care what is happening to their home land and fellow Zimbabweans so long as the "evil" white cockroaches leave (as one lovely piece of work says).

And south of the Limpopo, the pot simmers, the heat increasing, the lid is still on but the pressure is building.

quote:

Originally posted by ozhunter:

quote:

Or are they blinded by racial hatred?

I think this may be the case.
The guys in power drive their Merc's and BMWs to and from their lovely homes and don't quite seem to care what is happening to their home land and fellow Zimbabweans so long as the "evil" white cockroaches leave (as one lovely piece of work says).

Is it racial hatred or a great deal of simple greed and hunger for power? I am sure race plays a part but the ones in charge dont seem very altruistic towards their own race either? Seems the only ones that get taken care of are the thugs that keep them in power. This seems to apply in Africa, South America, the Middle East, the balkans --I am afraid its all to common. Vladimr Putin weres good suits but I am not sure he is much differnt.

SSR

quote:

Tax harrassment; municipal harrassment; labor dept harrassment; police harrassment; and oh, by the way, we want 51% of your business.

wow, I never saw the similarities in Zim and the US until that statement.

e-mail from Nigel Theisen last night:

Hi Lane
I am in Harare now and certainly not seeing anything alarming. I am sure that there is something going on but not nearly as bad as the press reports. I have just been with an operator who has the Chirundu concession and is able to hunt in Nyakasanga this season – all Zambezi Valley. He says that the conservancies have just been reminded that they need to have 51% black ownership/participation. This has been a threat for some years now and possibly they are going to enforce it.

I will be driving back to Bulawayo tomorrow.

Cheers

Nigel

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ledvm:
e-mail from Nigel Theisen last night:
Lane,

"I am in Harare now and certainly not seeing anything alarming.

I am sure that there is something going on but not nearly as bad as the press reports.

This has been a threat for some years now and possibly they are going to enforce it."

Not exactly a glowing report for a such a volatile place.

quote:

Originally posted by fujotupu:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by ledvm:
e-mail from Nigel Theisen last night:
Lane,

"I am in Harare now and certainly not seeing anything alarming.

I am sure that there is something going on but not nearly as bad as the press reports.

This has been a threat for some years now and possibly they are going to enforce it."

Not exactly a glowing report for a such a volatile place.

Fujo,
You know Nigel as well as I.

Just for everyones information - Russel are still booking very good fishing trips and photo safaris to Botswans/Zambia/Zimbabwe so dont hesitate to contact him if you are going to Vic Falls and Zimbabwe.

quote:

Originally posted by dyker:
Typical Rich reply! You're a prick Rich.

surely you are not surprised, dyker. same bullshit, different day. as to the topic, i can only pray for my friends in Zimbabwe- my prayer being that uncle Bob and half a dozen of his closet friends catch AIDS and quickly succumb.

The Invasion of the aforementioned Lodges took place just outside Harare near lake Chivero. I had a chat with a friend who runs one of the boating Clubs out there who also had hassles and it seems that this has been an issue which has been ongoing for quite some time ,rather than the sudden surprise invasion it was reported as. It seems that Local War Vets are keen on certain properties around the Lake after several of them were evicted from a Ministers Farm several years ago and promised properties along the Lake shore in return. Not sure of the accuracy of the story.....but it has a familiar ring to it.

> ZIMBABWE: INVASION TOURISM FACILITIES NEAR HARARE
>
> =========================================
>
> On Sunday afternoon, 48 hours after the commencement of illegal invasion
> activities at Lake Chivero Recreational Park, JOMIC personnel intervened
> to uphold the rule of law and have the invaders removed. The situation
> this morning is reported as having "returned to normal".
>
> THE JAG TEAM

quote:

my prayer being that uncle Bob and half a dozen of his closet friends catch AIDS

surely those nasty bastards already have it, maybe we will luck out and they will be given the placebo meds.

thanks dyker. You've probably handled enough to know. Although, my considered opinion is that (if you're white) you may not be around much longer the way things are going.

You take care now, and don't answer the door at night...

Rich

quote:

Originally posted by 505 gibbs:

surely those nasty bastards already have it, maybe we will luck out and they will be given the placebo meds.[/QUOTE]

Lead Pills would be faster

quote:

Originally posted by Cross L:

Is it racial hatred or a great deal of simple greed and hunger for power? I am sure race plays a part but the ones in charge dont seem very altruistic towards their own race either?
SSR

Financial and political.

Blacks hate poorer blacks a lot more than they hate whites anyway.Whites are hated well down the list, no.3 or 4 behind rival rich blacks, as mentioned poorer blacks, and blacks from other tribes/ethnicities probably at the top. Notice when these guys get started at each other it can end with 100,000 being slaughtered with machetes in a country, whereas a white community worse case is generally just ''forced to flee'', or loses his land in a takeover etc.

Keep in mind africa is 50 countries with 1 billion people and there are many cities there supporting upmarket suburbs where large expat communities live alongside blacks no problems.

Whites only get put up the hate list as an election promise to the very poor- who are happy to hate anyone richer if prodded. As mad bob does.

quote:

Whites only get put up the hate list as an election promise to the very poor- who are happy to hate anyone richer if prodded. As mad bob does.

Amen!!!

Zimbabwe: Invasion of tourism facilities near Harare


Monday, 24 January 2011 06:11

In what looks to be the start of the next phase of state-sponsored property heists in Zimbabwe, over 20 tourism facilities have been invaded in Lake Chivero Recreational Park (formerly Lake Mcllwaine), 37 km south west of Harare.

The lake is Harare’s main water supply and the surrounding land was declared a national park shortly after construction was completed in 1952. The game park, currently home to some of the last white rhino in Zimbabwe, was opened in 1962.

The invasion was reported on Friday (January 21) when a mob of about 150 people arrived without warning on Kumba Shiri resort, where the renowned Larvon Bird Gardens are situated.

Larvon Bird Gardens has aviaries housing approximately 120 species of birds and, as well as being Zimbabwe’s bird orphanage, is also an education centre.

The invaders, wearing Zanu-PF regalia, put their own padlocks on the gates and residents in the 30 homesteads on the property were prevented from leaving. They were also not allowed to arrange the removal of any of their movable property.

All of the workers in the bird gardens were also locked in, as well as a number of visitors.

Police from Marimba eventually arrived at Lake Chivero late Friday afternoon but no action has as yet been taken against the forced take-over.

All along the lake shore approximately 20 clubs and other tourist facilities with either freehold title or leasehold from National Parks have been similarly invaded with their gates locked.

Viv Baxter from Wingate went over by boat to check on the caretaker at Jacana Yacht Club, Des Fenner, who is blind. He was taken hostage and only managed to return after several hours.

On Saturday afternoon National Parks personnel came out but the invaders have so far been allowed to continue their program.

The owners of the tourist facilities have been warned by the invaders that this is the start of a countrywide indigenisation campaign that will initially target all tourist resorts where white people are involved.

Kumba Shiri resort is owned by a South African investor, Gary Stafford.

BIPPA with South Africa

On May 15 last year, South Africa and Zimbabwe finally ratified a Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) that was signed by Zimbabwe’s Economic Planning Minister Elton Mangoma and South Africa’s Trade Minister Rob Davies in Harare in November 2009.

“The purpose of the agreement is to stimulate individual business initiatives and increase prosperity in both countries through the creation of favorable conditions for investment by South African investors in Zimbabwe and Zimbabwean investors in South Africa," the ministry said in a statement.

Negotiations for the deal started in 2002 as South African companies - the largest African investors in Zimbabwe – required reassurance that President Mugabe’s government would abide by international norms regarding property rights following the violent land invasions.

Aaron Mazvi, leader of the invasion, is district chairman of the war veterans in the Zvimba community west of Harare, President Mugabe’s rural home.

In Mazvi’s memo of January 6, 2011 to Minister Herbert Murerwa on “the take-over of properties along the lower and upper reaches of Lake Chivero”, Mazvi states the following on behalf of the “Zvimba community at large”:

“… In view of the government requisite that blacks should be empowered through the attainment of 51 percent shareholdings in foreign funded operations, I do hereby propose that the clubs be occupied and redistributed amongst community members and some be reserved for Ministers, top government officials, senators, Members of Parliament, Chiefs and those in the hierarchy of traditional leadership.”

Previous Invasions

Aaron Mazvi has played a leading role in violent farm invasions in the Mashonaland West area, including the property next door, RB Ranches, where he currently resides. The first farm invasion in Mashonaland took place in 2000 on Saffron Waldon farm close by.

The murder of two well-known white farmers in the district occurred during the early years of the invasions, notably the high profile beating and then shooting of commercial farmer Terry Ford (51) on Gowrie farm at Norton in 2002.

Don Stewart, a 68-year-old dairy farmer from Norton, was beaten and burnt to death in November 2005. Several of the farms in the area were taken over by the Mugabe family.

Numerous cases of violence against farm workers were also recorded. Although in many cases the perpetrators are known, there is no record of any having been convicted.

Landmark SADC torture ruling

This month, in a landmark ruling that exposed Harare’s flagrant disregard for the rule of law, the Namibian-based SADC Tribunal ordered the Zimbabwean government to pay damages to nine torture victims who had successfully claimed compensation in the High Court of Zimbabwe.

The government had neglected or refused to pay compensation to the victims.

Commentators said the ruling could open the floodgates for other victims of armed forces brutality who have failed to get fair hearings in Zimbabwe’s partisan courts.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Lake Chivero Recreational Park

Lake Chivero Recreational Park was opened in 1962 and holds a variety of game, most of which had originally been brought in from Lake Kariba during the internationally acclaimed game rescue operation known as “Operation Noah”.

Game includes rhinoceros, zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, kudu, eland, waterbuck, tsessebe, bush pig, porcupine, pangolin and ant bear.

The park was originally known as Lake Mcllwaine Recreational Park in memory of the late Sir Robert McIlwaine, a former judge of the High Court and founder of Zimbabwe’s Soil and Water Conservation Movement.

A popular destination for local and international birdwatchers, Lake Chivero has a wide variety of bird life, including African open bills, barbets, bee-eaters, buzzards, coots, cormorants, hamerkops, jacanas, kingfishers, grey herons, darters, Goliath herons, fish eagles, glossy starlings and lilac-breasted rollers.

Several of the kopjies (rocky outcrops) have San (Bushman) paintings on their sheltered surfaces.

Cholera

Despite Lake Chivero being Harare’s main water supply source, it was reported in August 2007 that the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) had dumped raw sewage into the lake. Public clinics reported they were treating about 900 cases of diarrhoea daily.

On 4 December 2008, the Zimbabwean government declared the cholera outbreak a national emergency and called for international assistance.

In September 2010 it was reported that raw sewage was being pumped directly into the Mukuvisi River, a tributary of Lake Chivero, and the situation was described as a “health time bomb”.

quote:

Originally posted by Karl:
Whites only get put up the hate list as an election promise to the very poor- who are happy to hate anyone richer if prodded.

Are we still talking about Zim and/or Africa?

quote:

Originally posted by Karl:

Financial and political.

Blacks hate poorer blacks a lot more than they hate whites anyway.Whites are hated well down the list, no.3 or 4 behind rival rich blacks, as mentioned poorer blacks, and blacks from other tribes/ethnicities probably at the top. Notice when these guys get started at each other it can end with 100,000 being slaughtered with machetes in a country, whereas a white community worse case is generally just ''forced to flee'', or loses his land in a takeover etc.

Keep in mind africa is 50 countries with 1 billion people and there are many cities there supporting upmarket suburbs where large expat communities live alongside blacks no problems.

Whites only get put up the hate list as an election promise to the very poor- who are happy to hate anyone richer if prodded. As mad bob does.

Just because they don't get "slaughtered" doesn't mean they are preferred over other blacks.

True the people they actually prefer are cut up into small peices , shot with AK-47's, used in sex pens or turned into child soldiers. Give me some of the drugs you are on

Seriously I can't deny whites are disliked. Anyone richer in a poor country is. But the hatred that wipes people out is a long way up the scale.Black African lunatic leaders just can't seem to stay away from doing it to their own kind.

When they get really stupid they also direct at it at whites and then watch their economy crumble.

Karl,
While its true that they can treat other tribes of the same race with horrific experiences while often the world community turns a blind eye, but
perhaps the fact that most powerful economy's are run by whites is what protects the white people from such cruelty?

To all my dear Friends, Colleagues, Clients and Agents
 
I am sure you all know or might have heard that I regretfully decided to close the doors of Ultimate Lodge at the end of January this year 2011. This may seem like a drastic action but lately the unrealistic increases in tax rates, permit fees, staff costs and municipal services have left me no choice. Please be reassured that the services of Ultimate Africa Safaris will not be terminated.

While it is no longer cost effective for me to continue running the lodge, I will turn all my focus to booking more exciting experiences for my clients. So, if you are looking to book a photographic, fishing or hunting safari, and just general site seeing and shopping around Victoria Falls, I am definitely still your man! You know I have the know-how to create a holiday to be remembered!

I will be arranging great accommodation deals at various hotels in Vic Falls for you. Every month I am going to send out updates on the country, weather and what to do when – I look forward to being able to dedicate my time to your wishes and logistics on the ground in Zimbabwe and surrounding areas to Victoria Falls.
 
At the end of the day, nothing much is changing – so don’t worry please. Only the accommodation at Ultimate Lodge will no longer feature in my services. I will still arrange your private transport and activities in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana – your stay just won’t be at the lodge anymore, but at any of the great accommodation options I will be providing you with.
 
Look out for my monthly news, get in touch with me for anything you need and I will see you next time you are in Africa!

Feel free to contact me on Skype (Russell Caldecott crazyhorse393) and talk to me live or alternatively e-mail on russcaldecott@gmail.com
 
So long, and Ultimately yours
Russ

quote:

Originally posted by ozhunter:
Karl,
While its true that they can treat other tribes of the same race with horrific experiences while often the world community turns a blind eye, but
perhaps the fact that most powerful economy's are run by whites is what protects the white people from such cruelty?

Partly.
But the mechanism for that protection is what?
Upper and middle class blacks living in nice suburbs, and their police, and workers etc protecting thier own interests by living alongside and doing business with whites

For Sale-Cheap, Take over payments.
No wait...Just Take Over!

To fix this problem you would have to turn the clock back 150 years!
There is all the if only stories of what if Zim had oil? Well that hasn't worked in Iraq or Afghanistan either although Mugabe would not have the level of dedicated fanatics found in the sandpits.
He has got many layers of corrupt cruel followers ready to step into his shoes however.
The 'white"farms have eneded up in fewer hands now than before - Zanu PF bigwigs.
But the world press avoids these facts and RSA is following along the same path.
The Mugabe crowd personally took over the Vic Falls area from Zim Parks late last year because it was earning $3K USD hard cash per day.
These pricks and anyone who makes excuses for them should spend eternity in a place far worse than hell!!!