I really feel so bad for these operators. What is doubly bad is that Zimbabwe in general seems like such a tragedy for so many good people, but this is the only place I see the stories. Shocking that this gets NO coverage.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
When will it all STOP?

Not only with a change in leadership, but a change in how the country is governed.

Wow!!! Sorry to those in the Save!!!

Brett

And now we realize that, even if we patronize the safari companies, the money goes into Mugabe's cronies' pockets.
Reading here from others, I thought it might be OK to hunt there next year. Now, I will not even consider it.

I wonder how, if at all, Shaangan has been affected.

Truly sad, I am booked to hunt in the Save next year. It is easy enough for me to change my plans, however the operators that have spent years investing in and managing their areas... I do not have words to describe my disdain and anger.

I am supposed to leave Sept 29 for a 21 day hunt in the SAVE with Zambezi Hunters. This hasn't made my Monday any better.

This a difficult one. I have been thinking about it all morning. As some of you know I am closely connected with the Save and the people there. After all that place has gone through the last 9 years, this is such a cruel blow. Does anyone have more details? Has this horses ass of a deal actually been concluded? Why I say that this is a difficult one is where does one draw the line? I have witnessed a lot of what has taken place in the Save since all this began, and everyone there (owners and workers) have done an incredible job keeping productive against all odds, but is this not the time to draw the line? Is now not the time to down tools completely and tell these fellows to take over, find the clients, conserve the wildlife and make all the 'lucrative' profits they have missed out on since 1890? I would sure like to see how these 'chefs' go about managing the conservancy. What a fiasco that would be. The question is, of course, can one who has been entrusted with the care of such a special corner of the earth and all that wildlife actually bring himself to draw the line? Whatever the cost? I like to think that this would be the time I drew a clearly defined line, if I were a land owner in the conservancy. There is actually huge change in the air, albeit all the negative press, and the new 'owners'/'operators will come down like lead balloons if left to their own devices. But again, one has to ask, how long will it take for all the rhino to be wiped out, the elephant bulls..... There is always the flip side.... One thing I know for certain is that the gamescouts whom I have worked with in that area will have nothing to do with the new owners. Wonder who would do their anti-poaching work for them if all the real land owners turned down the deal and walked away? Nobody would, main reason being they would never be paid. We have seen it time and again, have we not..... I don't know what I am trying to say here, just upset about this. I'm sorry I have no constructive ideas or answers, just questions and confusion. As Saeed's link says 'When will it all stop?'. Is there no end to how low people with power can go?

Hope you are all having a good day,

David, from Matusadona National Park - better enjoy my time here because some kingpin will probably make it his farm soon!

How much of the Save attracts foreign investment ? Does anyone have an accurate figure ?

Mugabe cannot live forever.

Alistair Pole, a director of Zambezi Hunters asked that I post this for him.
Alistair

'I would urge everyone not to get excited about this article. The members of the Save Valley Conservancy have had Government officials threatening to impose partners on them since the land acquisitions started in 2000. The members, through their chairman and vice chairman have had on-going discussions with the Government and are confident that there will not be a situation enforced upon the Save Conservancy. The assurances come from the President via the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister himself as well as his deputy Prime Minister and several members of Cabinet. Further, an attack at this stage of the inclusive Government would seriously undermine the willingness of the EU and the USA to assist Zimbabwe with rescue packages, a risk Zimbabwe can ill afford to take. Remember, this same issue was raised on this forum due to another newspaper article in July of this year. Nothing has changed since then. Should anything change that will affect the position of people hunting in the Save, we will certainly let you know. The Save Conservancy continues to be an exceptional and high profile conservation project that provides some of the best hunting opportunities in Africa. Rest assured that your hunting experience with us will remain uninterrupted by politics.'

Alistair Pole PhD
19 Rolf Avenue
Ballantyne Park
Harare, Zimbabwe
Office: +263.4.882211
Fax: +263.4.882201
Cell: +263.912.287388

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
Mugabe cannot live forever.

But neither can we. Nor can the unfortunate people of Zimbabwe, especially with Mugabe at the helm.

In my way of thinking which I admit is just a personal view and probably worth little. If you choose to not hunt in Zimbabwe due to the political climate there and the fact that Mugabe's government will undoubtly get a large percentage of the monies spent. You also doom those honest and dedicated operators by your actions. If you honestly believe the situation would be improved by not hunting there then of course follow your conscience. If all hunting stopped tomorrow in Zimbabwe the only thing that would happen is the devistation of the wildlife would only be accelerated thru poaching and government destruction. You would have also doomed the few remaining honest outfitters and PH's to instant loss of their livlihood. Again I say follow your conscience but do it in a manner that also considers the reality of the situation. I have many good friends in Zimbabwe who are mostly outfitters and PH's and have spent quite a few months with them and seen the hardships they function under. For a person who has not been there it would be hard for the average American to understand why they even try.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
Mugabe cannot live forever.

"The evil that men do lives after them....."

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
Mugabe cannot live forever.

That's what I've been saying for ten years. It appears that he can.

We are considering booking in the Save. I'm torn between supporting a white outfitter and contributing to Mugabe's distatorship. Mugabe is obviously mad as the proverbial hatter. I would hate to put a large deposit down and then find out I'm hunting with a bunch of murderous scumbags, as well as an outiftter with a sterling reputation.

We'll see...

I hope to be in the Save early next season. We shall see; and I wish all success for the good, honest operators.

As for the article, more evidence of what a stellar and forthright organization the UN is! We should all capitulate and let the UN solve all of our problems, since they have such altruistic folks running things.

What a terrible thing. I made my first trip to Zim this year in August, and a finer bunch of hardworking, gracious, people I have never met, black and white alike. It is a travesty to see these fine people treated like they are. They deserve much better.

Do I think they will ever get it? No. And it saddens me deeply.

We need to quit wasting our dollars on the UN!

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

Video of a farmer being attacked.

quote:

Originally posted by Kathi:
http://www.swradioafrica.com/

Video of a farmer being attacked.

I clearly don't understand the politics or repercussions for defending oneself in a situation such as this.

I understand that the attackers are swinging sticks and not pointing firearms, but a strike in the head at the right spot can leave a man with an intracranial bleed and dead in just minutes. Therefore, I personally would deem these attacks as life threatening. If I were in the same situation and attempted to retreat but was unable to safely, I would have no other choice than to respond using deadly force.

What keeps a man like this from firing a few well placed shots in self defense? I have some thoughts as to the likely reasoning, but I would rather hear from those of you that know rather than interject my own speculations.

In my opinion, this is not a simple schoolyard scuffle.

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me hot lead will leave you dead."

Kenati- If you shoot Malitia sent and escorted by police they will do you for Murder.

When Martin Olds was Murdered the police had set up road blocks on all roads into the farm and succeded in holding off all help until the malitia had killed martin (3hrs). Stephens went to the police station after being attacked. He was handcuffed and handed over to the malitia who beat him anxd then shot him against the back wall of the police station (with a rifle supplied by the police).

There is a world of difference between defending oneself against 'criminal' attacks (the police are only too happy if you shoot a crook) and defending oneself against 'political' attacks (however criminal they might be). If you are going to be a 'political activist' in countries such as Zim you have no 'rights' (very sad,but true).

I've made the following statement in a posting about the situation in Zimbabwe in December 2008: I stand by it now!

quote:

I make the plea to all hunters who can possibly go to Africa to very seriously consider Zimbabwe as destination. BUT make doubly sure that you book with one of the many "good guys". It is quite true that some of the $ you pay will land up in Bob's coffers. IMHO there is no arguing that point. But most of the money that you spend with one of the "good guys" will help to maintain L-E-G-A-L hunting tourism and the people involved in such legal hunting activities. IMHO the good that your money does very far outweighs the bit of unintended and unavoidable support it actually gives to Mugabe.

I am ashamed of the South African Government's actions as well as lack of action about the whole Zimbabwean situation.[Note: I do not use the words "my government's action .......]

Like David Hulme, I do not quite know what to say? I'm just frustrated and angry!

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

Here a snippet of information that may now be regarded as useless: But with Jacob Zuma as the President in South Africa we may very soon also need to now the names of large figures to express our inflation rate.

quote:

Zimbabwe, once known as "the bread-basket of Africa", now has an annual inflation rate af about 6.5 quindecillion novemdecillion per cent – 65 followed by 107 zeros.

[Quoted from: http://www.independent.co.uk/n...be-off-1786870.html]


That is 6.5x10^108 This figure makes me think and try to remember a figure that I once knew (very approximately only): How many atoms are in the whole universe? I recall a number 10^79, but now not sure if that is just the number of atoms in our solar system?

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

It is with great sadness that I read the latest developments within the hunting industry in Zim. However please bear in mind that this is an isolated incident, albeit one that us hunters do not enjoy hearing about !
For those planning to hunt in Zim. - dont allow this to put you off - it is still a great country to hunt - and still the best value for money for big game hunting.
Read my article I wrote on this very topic in the previous issues of African Hunter and African Sporting Gazette.

quote:

Originally posted by Ganyana:
Kenati- If you shoot Malitia sent and escorted by police they will do you for Murder.

My post wreaks of naivety regarding the political climate and players involved. I had no idea those were militia men armed with crooked sticks. ...a different world indeed.

Best of luck to you and others who struggle to keep what is rightfully yours.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
When will it all STOP?

Not before Mugabe is dead.

South Africa alone can't afford to invade Zimbabwe.
What would the end state be?
Who should be put in Power when Mugabe had been sent to trail and hanged like Saddam Hussein... -Tsvangirai?

Is he the good guy?

I doubt that.

It's so bloody sad.

As Zimbabwe is sinking deeper and deeper, the only thing one can do (besides supporting our friends there) is to celebrate the Unilateral Declarance of Independence every 11th of November and pray that a new Ian Smith will come and save Zimbabwe!


Toast Rhodesia

Even if the population of Rhodesia wasn't equal in every term, they where at least less unequal than the people of Zimbabwe are to day after 30 years of African Socialism...

Swedish Prime Minister Ingvar Karlsson with Robert Mugabe in 1982...

I must give credit to Mugabe for one thing, that asshole hasn`t aged a day for almost 30 years....

How much of the Save attracts foreign investment ? Does anyone have an accurate figure ?

I spent $30K there last year.

We are seriously considering a Save booking for 2011. We'll be keeping a close eye on government activities there during the interim.

Secret paper sanctions invasion
Sunday Times (SA)
Date posted:Sun 20-Sep-2009
Date published:Sun 20-Sep-2009



Terrifying new wave of farm invasions is the result of a directive from the top echelons of Mugabe's government

By Rob Rose and Simpiwe Piliso

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's government plans to ratchet up the land grab on white-owned farms as a terrifying new wave of farm seizures has erupted in the strife-torn country. This "recommendation" is contained in a closely guarded government document prepared by minister of lands Herbert Murerwa and presented exclusively to Mugabe's cabinet on August 27. It is in the Sunday Times's possession. It seems to contradict the power-sharing agreement signed last year by Mugabe and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, which committed the country to "ensure security of tenure for all land holders" and said that land should be given "irrespective of race". Instead, Murerwa said the "government should continue to acquire land" from white farmers and the "prosecution of farmers resisting to move off the acquired land should be expedited". "The refusal by these former farm owners to vacate gazetted farms has disadvantaged 251 (beneficiaries of the land grab) who hold offer letters," he said.

The document appears to confirm speculation that the new wave of farm invasions is the result of a directive from the top echelons of Mugabe's government. Deon Theron, head of Zimbabwe's Commercial Farmers' Union, said: "Things have definitely got worse in the last few days. It seems that instructions have gone out from the top and we're now being hammered." The latest developments include: Reserve Bank deputy governor Edward Mashiringwani forced South African farmer Louis Fick off his pig and crocodile farm last week, putting livestock worth US$255000 at risk; Tobacco farmer Murray Pott was savagely assaulted on Tuesday when he tried to prevent a "war veteran" from taking over his land and charged with "public violence"; Cattle farmer Mark Surtees was convicted on Friday for "failing to vacate" his farm after a court battle that has cost him US$8000 and left him broke; and; t least 223 cash-strapped farmers are being prosecuted for "failing to vacate" their farms and are battling to foot the US$1.5-million legal bill.

In the cabinet document, Murerwa said "no foreigner should be allowed to own rural agricultural land", which "should be excluded from the protection afforded by the bilateral investment promotion and protection agreements". South Africa is currently trying to thrash out such a trade agreement with Zimbabwe, but it has deadlocked over the land issue. The Sunday Times visited a number of once-thriving farms this week that have been taken over by Zanu PF officials. These farms now lie fallow and swamped in weeds, and infrastructure such as electricity towers and irrigation pipes have been stripped of steel and iron. Doug Taylor-Freeme, who farms tobacco and barley, said: "The world believes things got better for farmers after the government of national unity was created last year. But, in fact, it has just got worse." Taylor-Freeme has already lost 3000ha in farm grabs to the government and is now fighting a claim on his last remaining 750ha. In a bizarre twist, the local magistrate who seeks to grab his farm will adjudicate on Taylor-Freeme's prosecution for "failing to vacate" the land.

The cabinet document says Zimbabwe must continue "acquiring" land because "stopping the programme now will be construed as a reversal of the land reform programme, (which) can ignite further and more violent protests, disturbing (the) peace and tranquility currently prevailing in the country". This revelation comes after Mugabe implored investors to plough cash into the country at this week's mining indaba, saying "the sanctity of property rights and the rule of law in all its dimensions are fully respected". During a closed-door meeting with about 20 investors, Mugabe related how he had "negotiated" to get land from the Oppenheimer family, saying: "We're not that rough and racist as some people regard us." But the latest farm invasions threaten to derail the much trumpeted economic recovery in Zimbabwe, where the average salary is US$150 a month. The catalyst seems to have been Mugabe's speech to the Zanu PF Youth Congress last week in which he spoke of the "bloody whites", told farmers "please don't resist" and threatened "I'm saying 'please, please' but that will stop". The farmers union believes with too few farmers and a Southern African drought imminent, Zimbabwe is at risk of starving next year.

WOw the African version of Acorn and the democrap party! jorge

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
Alistair Pole, a director of Zambezi Hunters asked that I post this for him.
Alistair

'I would urge everyone not to get excited about this article. The members of the Save Valley Conservancy have had Government officials threatening to impose partners on them since the land acquisitions started in 2000. The members, through their chairman and vice chairman have had on-going discussions with the Government and are confident that there will not be a situation enforced upon the Save Conservancy. The assurances come from the President via the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister himself as well as his deputy Prime Minister and several members of Cabinet. Further, an attack at this stage of the inclusive Government would seriously undermine the willingness of the EU and the USA to assist Zimbabwe with rescue packages, a risk Zimbabwe can ill afford to take. Remember, this same issue was raised on this forum due to another newspaper article in July of this year. Nothing has changed since then. Should anything change that will affect the position of people hunting in the Save, we will certainly let you know. The Save Conservancy continues to be an exceptional and high profile conservation project that provides some of the best hunting opportunities in Africa. Rest assured that your hunting experience with us will remain uninterrupted by politics.'

Alistair Pole PhD
19 Rolf Avenue
Ballantyne Park
Harare, Zimbabwe
Office: +263.4.882211
Fax: +263.4.882201
Cell: +263.912.287388

I hope all stays well for them. New information is hard to get and unreliable at best. Alistair is good at keeping clients up to date on what is happening but things appear to be deteriorating for private land owners since this email was posted.

crl

Mugabe Interview with CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/....amanpour/index.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0MSmwdKPr0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...CK9c&feature=channel

Mugabe 33 years ago
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnGaSbA0aIk

If you are so inclined, you can view "Bob" Mugabe make his case before the UN tomorrow.
He has been given no relief from the EU and it's sanctions and in fact they are imposing far more stringent measures against Zimbabwe. Early estimates of his "presentation" will focus on "colonialism, western civilization evils," etc. and of course efforts by Britain and the U.S. to eliminate the present government.
With the very dim future/conditions of the people of Zimbabwe being what they are, Mugabes wife while in London recently struck a newsperson/cameraman w/ a bag of diamonds she had purchased!! Any money spent in Zimbabwe is without question going to end up in the hands of the current corrupt government one way or the other.
Since he is long in years and looking forward to the same end we all face, he will most likely squeeze all he can his remaining time and most likely fade away into the night and land in some other friendly capital who values money over "the right thing..." There are many options available to him in that part of the world as former head of Uganda found. I believe it was S. Arabia.

Grace Mugabe, her 'stolen' farm and how she supplies Zimbawean milk to Nestle food giant

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Robert Mugabe's wife, Grace, who has taken over at least six of Zimbabwe's most valuable white-owned farms since 2002, sells up to a million litres of milk a year to Nestlé, The Sunday Telegraph can disclose.

By Pete Thornycroft in Harare and Sebastien Berger, Southern Africa Correspondent
Published: 9:00PM BST 26 Sep 2009


Mr Mugabe, the president of Zimbabwe, his wife and a number of other figures linked to his administration are the subject of European Union and US sanctions as a result of their controversial 29-year rule over the once-prosperous country.

Nestlé, the multinational food company which is the biggest customer of Mrs Mugabe's dairy farm, is not obliged to comply with those sanctions as its headquarters are in Switzerland, but the country has its own set of measures, including against Mrs Mugabe, among which it "is forbidden to make funds available to persons mentioned, or put them, directly or indirectly, at their disposition". Nestlé denies that it has violated Swiss law.

Mr Mugabe, The Daily Telegraph disclosed yesterday, has built a secret personal farming empire comprising at least five white-owned farms from which the owners were forced out during his regime's evictions of about 4,000 commercial farmers.

Mrs Mugabe's properties total about 12,000 acres, but her most important is Gushungo Dairy Estate, formerly known as Foyle Farm. It is in Mazowe, about 30 miles north of the capital Harare.

Other dairy farmers, who have also been forced off their land, said that the previous white owner of Foyle faced a campaign of violence over several months in 2003 until he was forced to sell his property to the state's Agricultural Rural Development Authority (Arda). The price was set at about a quarter of independent estimates, they say, and the former owner received only 40 per cent of that amount.

Mrs Mugabe became a regular visitor as soon as the previous owner departed. Workers at the 2,400-acre property say it is now her farm, managed by Russell Goreraza, her son from her first marriage. She married Mr Mugabe in 1996, after his first wife died.

She visits the farm several times a week, according to workers at the dairy. Under her occupation, the farm has become one of the few in the country to benefit from investment in recent years and has been lauded in The Herald, the state-controlled newspaper.

Mrs Mugabe has built a new residence on the farm, remodelled the original farmhouse and constructed an office block, workers said. The dairy produces 6,500 litres of milk a day, The Herald has said, which is only about 35 per cent of its output under the previous owner, who produced 6.5 million litres a year, more than any other dairy in Zimbabwe.

Her biggest customer, according to her staff and other industry insiders, is Nestlé Zimbabwe, the local subsidiary of the Swiss company. The plant, in an industrial area in Msasa on the outskirts of the capital, manufactures powdered milk and cereals for the local market and for export to East African countries.

Mrs Mugabe uses an unmarked £100,000 tanker and trailer combination dedicated for her use to deliver milk three times a week to Nestlé's plant on an industrial estate on the outskirts of Harare, according to workers at the plant.

The dairy's only other customers, according to farm staff, are personal callers at the premises, and when The Sunday Telegraph visited, the milk cost $1 (62p) per litre. The Sunday Telegraph was unable to locate any documentation for the tanker – registration number AAF 2381 – at Zimbabwe's central vehicle registry.

It has a capacity of 30,000 litres, but sources in the dairy industry and Nestlé itself say that it carries only 6,500 litres per delivery, which would amount to about one million litres a year in sales.

A spokesman at Nestlé's global headquarters in Switzerland was unable to confirm a precise figure, but said that the estimate was "reasonable".

He said: "At the end of last year we found ourselves operating in a market where eight of our 16 contractual suppliers had gone out of business.

"As a result, in early 2009 the company started purchasing milk on the open market from various suppliers on a strictly non-contractual basis. In certain instances the milk available in the market would be from Gushungo Dairy Estate." Such milk would be bought on a "cash on delivery" basis, he said, adding: "Nestlé has no direct engagement whatsoever with this estate." But when asked to clarify whether it was bought directly or through a third party, he said: "We bought Gushungo Dairy Estate's milk through Dorkin Dairies until that firm collapsed last February, then we bought the milk directly."

Nestlé has spent years protecting its reputation amid other scandals, particularly allegations over the improper promotion of formula milk to nursing mothers in the Third World, which it denies, but which have led to consumer boycotts in the West.

American and European officials said that if Nestlé was subject to their rules it would be committing a criminal offence by trading with Mrs Mugabe.

Mrs Mugabe is one of a number of people individually targeted by international sanctions.

In July 2002, she was first included on an EU list, and she has been on Washington's list since it was created in 2003. On the Swiss list she is described as "spouse of the head of government and as such engaged in activities that seriously undermine democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law".

A spokesman for Nestlé said it had “absolutely not” broken Swiss law.

“The legislation is internal to Switzerland,” he said. “In any case, Nestlé Zimbabwe and any commercial transactions it engages in within Zimbabwe are subject to Zimbabwean law.”

Asked if it thought that it was doing anything wrong by doing business with Mrs Mugabe's operation, Nestlé said: "During the recent crisis Nestlé has not considered moving its operations out of the country. By providing basic food products to Zimbabwean consumers, Nestlé aims to meet the needs of the local population, many of whom are vulnerable and disadvantaged."

The company's code of conduct, according to its website, states: "We condemn any form of bribery and corruption." It also says that Nestlé "supports and respects the protection of international human rights", and adds that its suppliers should also adhere to its code.

Asked to explain its dealings with Mrs Mugabe in that context, it said: "Nestlé does not provide any support, financial or otherwise, to the Gushungo Dairy Estate or to any political party in Zimbabwe.

"Nestlé is a truly global company which operates in almost all countries in the world, and therefore its products are found in widely diverse political settings."

No response has been received to The Sunday Telegraph's requests for comment from Mrs Mugabe at State House or through her husband's spokesman, nor from the agriculture ministry.

Pay and conditions for workers at the dairy are meagre. A 25-year-old worker, with a child to care for, said she could not afford to buy the milk at $1 (62p) a litre.

"Do we ever get enough money? No, I get $40 (£25) a month, yet we sell lots and lots of milk," she said.

"We do get cabbages returned from the market and 25kg of maize meal twice a month, but there is no electricity in our houses, only for office staff and managers. Mrs Mugabe is here a lot, but doesn't talk to us, just the managers."

Many Zimbabweans blame Mrs Mugabe for her husband's descent into misrule and fixation on financial gain. Mr Mugabe's first wife, Sally, a Ghanaian, died of renal failure in 1992 and four years later, aged 72, he married his former typist Grace, 40 years his junior.

The couple had begun their relationship and had two children even before Sally's death, with a third child born in 1997.

With a penchant for lurid dresses, often from expensive European designers, and matching head gear, Mrs Mugabe is famous for her extravagant shopping trips abroad – during one of which, in February, she was approached by a press photographer outside a hotel in Hong Kong, and responded by smashing her jewel-encrusted fist into his face. Gushungo Dairy Estate is not the only farm controlled by Mrs Mugabe.

In 2002, she personally ordered John and Eva Matthews, both in their seventies, out of their 29-room house on the nearby 2,500-acre Iron Mask Estate, giving them 48 hours to leave.

Farmers in the area said that she had also taken over Sigaro farm from Joe Kennedy, a major seed producer who has now left Zimbabwe and did not want to comment.

Sources said that last year she took over the neighbouring property, Gwebi Wood, which had been bought by Washington Matsaire, the chief executive of Standard Chartered Bank's Zimbabwe subsidiary, in 2001.

He did not want to comment, but neighbours said the farm was now "a mess".

Mrs Mugabe also has properties in Banket, about 50 miles north of Harare.

In December last year, Ben Hlatshwayo, a high court judge who had evicted Vernon Nicolle from the 1,445-acre Gwina farm in the area, was in turn forced out by alleged "unlawful conduct" on Mrs Mugabe's part, according to court papers he reportedly filed.

His legal action was later abandoned, however, and when asked about the events he would not comment.

According to Mr Nicolle, who has emigrated to Australia, Mrs Mugabe has also taken over the nearby 1,740-acre Leverdale farm, which used to be owned by his brother Piers until he was forced out by Arda in 2002.

Last month Mr Nicolle visited both properties.

"Anything that could be vandalised and sold has been destroyed," he said.

He added that some of his former workers found him during his visit. "It was very emotional," he said. "They thought I was returning to take the farm back and were disappointed when I said I was just visiting."

Mrs Mugabe's farm management is, nonetheless, celebrated in The Herald newspaper.

At a ceremony at the Gushungo Dairy in June, Mr Mugabe referred to the dairy repeatedly as Mrs Mugabe's "project", saying she had invested "determination and dedication" to it. "It's now her project," he said. "I would like to congratulate her. Today you see this monument. It is a result of her efforts and time."

Mrs Mugabe herself told The Herald: "Today has been a wonderful day for me. When we came here it was in a bad state. I had to work hard to transform it to what it is today. I went into dairy farming because he [Mr Mugabe] wanted it. I did it especially for him."

Bitch.

If only Swordfish were a reality... I think the Mugabes would qualify for the list.

Perhaps the ruling Mafia in Zimbabwe are taking note that Kenya has done rather well these past decades without sport hunting -and has solicited a "tourist" trade instead -by convincing people that they will get a real "Africa" experience by staying at lodges and going on "viewing and camera" trips by truck to view "game". Let's face it. The environmentalists are winning. Hunting is wrong,wrong,wrong! is the message of today. I'm just glad that I got to hunt in Zimbabwe for buff in 1993.