I've been emailing and PM'ing with Richard Harland the past few weeks. For those of you who might not know, Richard is one of the true 'living legends' in Zimbabwe elephant hunting, and a darn good great author as well. If you haven't read his three books, "The Hunting Imperative", "African Epic", and his latest, "Ndlovu - The Art of Hunting the African Elephant", you should pick up copies and enjoy them. They are available through Rowland Ward and other sellers. There's currently a thread in the 'Books and Videos of Interest' section here on AR.

His family bought, improved, farmed and has lived on their farm in the Lowveld since 1930. Here's part of the text of the last email I received (this morning):

"Barring intervention by the highest government authorities, the eviction is now a certainty and rather than have the strong possibility of violence and losing all our personal possessions, we are ready to start packing. Sure, it is damn hard to back away from this gross injustice, but no doubt our 'mudzimus' (family spirits - most of the family are buried here) will exact suitable revenge on the evildoers, as is the way in Africa!!! (You can quote me on AR if you like!)

"Raymond Finaughty, his wife Loraine and their three sons (aged 10, 14 and 16) have the most to lose. Since I sold the farm business to Ray twelve years ago, he has put an enormous amount of capital, time and effort into the farm. The boys love their vacations from boarding school, and live for the fishing, shooting and motorbiking on the farm and will be devastated to become 'townies'. Maybe Ray will find another farm to lease - we hope so. He is a brilliant guy and had done very well financially here. Incidentally, he is the great grandson of the William Finaughty who wrote 'The Recollections of an Elephant Hunter' and Ray's dad, also William, hunts for Humani Safaris (Roger Whittal's outfit in south-east Zimbabwe)."

While this heartbreaking activity has happened to many settlers besides Richard, this really brings it home to me. His efforts on the part of Parks in elephant management apparently don't, at the end of the day, count for what they should. Let's pause a moment to think of Richard's and Raymond's families in this time. His strong spirit will prevail and I feel he is an example to us all.

Dennis

Richard, family and friends... No one can say what a raw deal you have been dealt... But to hold ones head high and my prayers to all..

Dennis, Thank you...

Mike

Heart breaking, absolutely heart breaking. This is unadulterated racism of the purest and most distilled form. Of course is it being exacted on white people so it is perfectly ok from the stand point of the totally amoral stand point of our leftist elites and the pitifully ignorant idiots that politically support them.

I just got back from Zimbabwe and as hard as I try to not get emotionally involved, because it will not change anything, it is still infuriating to watch a beautiful country and it's people of all colors be destroyed.

Well Africa will be Africa and history shows us with absolute clarity what will happen as Western culture and influence is driven from the area. There will be a terrible revenge. It is already well on its way now and is very easy to see in the faces of the very hungry people in the country. It is just too bad that Mugabe and every Western politician and every one that voted for those politicians can't go to bed hungry tonight too.

Very sad and made all the sadder by virtue of the fact that Richard is such a decent, unassuming gentleman. They say that what does not kill you makes you stronger. If that is true then the folks in Zimbabwe like Richard have got to be some damn strong folks. To put up with what they have to endure day in and day out, to see their country being driven to bankruptcy, to see once fertile fields fallow and wasting and yet to keep their sense of humor and optimism, they are role models for the rest of us.

Very sad deal. I can't imagine what he and his family are going through.

I own and still ranch the land my great grandfather settled in about 1893. I am not sure what I would do if the government decreed that I had to give it up to "squatters".

Good luck to Richard and his family.

BUREAUCRATS !!! May they "reap what they sow..."

The victims of racism again and again pay so dearly.

I am not confident that it will ever change.

May the thugs that run Zimbabwe and the bleeding hearts who caused Africa to deteriorate to this point rot in hell.

Please accept my sympathy.

We've exchanged pm's on a couple topics, hunting and the like, which pale in comparison to this issue. He mentioned nothing of it. I said we all hoped things there would improve soon, again me knowing nothing of this. Do they just have to give up their land and move into a house?

There is little we can do over there for them. But maybe some should come this way, west, if it's best for their kids. I don't know what we could do to help. Anything?

Everytime I look back thru history and see horrible events such as these, I always wonder, didn't these people see this looming just over the horizon? The mass murders by the Nazis starting in 1940 were foretold by the seizure of land and property. Einstein and others must have anticipated what was to occur and grabbed a hat out of Europe. After the U.S. and Britain led the U.N. in the crusade against Rhodesia and Mugabe and that pack of idiots took over, I would have thought people would have sold out for what they could get and go some place where the rule of law applied. My heart breaks for this these folks and I will include them in my prayers.

I knew this was probably coming as like some of the others I had corresponded with Richard about this and other things.

It's not over until it's over...especially in Africa...but my thoughts have been with my friends in Zim all year. The election is next year so we will see where all of this goes.

Sorry to hear this my friend. Hit me on the email when you get time.

I know how Richard feels its something you will never get over my great grandfather bought our farm in the 1800's over 30 members of the family are buried there and now's its just a decrepit shadow of what it used to be.The ironic thing though is that the people that suffer the most are workers and villagers the people Mugabe is supposed to be empowering many farmers provided schools and medical facilities on their farms all this now gone.The only positive thing is that 99% of our workers stood by us.Richard we wish you all the best and hope all goes well for you.

Very sorry to hear of this. I hope all goes as well as it can and without violence.

And I hope the future may bring your farm back to you in one way or another.

JPK

I am very sad to hear this and I hope that Richard and his family will remain safe and healthy.

Rhodesias are the bravest warriors in the world and they were cheated by the english -like theydid with genarl Pinochet-and the leftist clown called Jimmy Carter ,they never lost a battle but they lost the country perhaps in the future we can figth for them again against the tyran MUGABE.Juan

I had to think about what I wanted to say concerning this. My parents fled from Communists in the 40's to live in a free country where you didn't have to be "re-educated" in order to have a good life. My grandmother was beaten and jailed by them because she was a "landlord" and therefore an enemy of the "people." To this day I HATE Communists to my dying breath and as long as Communist China props up Zimbobway, Monkeyman and his cohorts will always stay in control. As long as gutless western leaders won't do anything about it, he and his henchmen will destroy the country by forcefully taking over all the white owned farms and business. RH, I feel for you.

A PH that I respect that lives in Zim and whose farm was also taken away was asked about what he thought about America largely staying away from the deteroriating Zim situation. He said that he used to be angry about the US not getting more involved but he now believes that unless the majority of the Zim population (99% black) becomes upset with the current rule then there will be no lasting change. In other words, we can't truly be helped by outsiders until we help ourselves.

This is horrible!

As i said numerous times the only good commies are the death ones RICHARD HARLAND you have my respects and if you came to ARGENTINA someday you will be my guest .Juan

This is racism. This is oppression. The world will turn a deaf ear to Zim as it would be politically "unpopular" to stand up for the victimized minority in this situation.

Once Mugabe and his henchmen are gone, and the atrocities fully revealed, the world will be aghast at the evil perpetrated on these people.

McCray, I shudder to think what times your grandchilderen will have to face with the socialistic trends this country is headed toward, this will be even truer if the leftist like Hillery etc take control of this country. God Bless America, and we must all pray and work for our freedom because everyone knows freedom is NOT free.

I had the good fortune of meeting Richard at SCI last year. What a gentleman! Something's got to give eventually - though I don't know how or when. I think it's too much to ever hope these displaced whites might be reinstated on their lands. The right to life, liberty and property should not exclusive to those in western cultures. I think that's why it's so difficult, as someone enjoying constitutional protections, for me to conceive of a government brazenly evicting people off land that's been owned and paid for for generations.

Good luck Richard and family. We're thinking of you.

Richard will do what white Africans have done for years when adversity strikes, He, like the Vincents and many others before them, will take up a couple of notches in their belts and carry on. They won't whine, have a fit, or go on welfare, or carry protest signs, or march on the capital, ask for help or beg for food, they will get on with life and do what they have to do to better the situation, and when they get knocked down, they will get back up..

I only wish I could see more of that in my own country. We have become an entitlement nation I fear.

Ray,

The problem around here is that those who have whined, gone on welfare, carried protest signs, and marched on the capitol, have been rewarded.

I am sorry to hear of the trouble the Harlands are facing.

A bit more history ... I hunted with William Finnaughty in '92 (sheeshhh .. but time flies) .. He was telling me of the bush war and his participation. You know the stories .. sleep in a different room every night ... always slept with your FN ... big sign at a nearby butchery .. ' We're coming to get you, William Finnaughty'...by the end of the war he was the only white guy in the area that hadn't been killed or had moved out ... The gov't then took away his tobacco farm .. gave him a pittance for it to be paid by them in Zim dollars at their convenience .. William is a hell of a man (I met his brother who farmed near Harare .. not sure if he is still around ??? Another really fine man) but it sure looks like history repeats itself ... I have nothing but the highest respect for the Rhodesians (Zimbabweans) who have fought the good fight .. The people (both white and black) who supported/support Mugabe - well they can all go to hell .. which I am sure a majority of them probably dread the likely possibility ...

I too hunted on Humani in 1998 and got to know William quite well. I heard the same stories as you and was simply amazed. I have said it before, these Rhodesians are the toughest and greatest bunch of people(men and women) I have ever met! I think of William, Roger and their families often and wish I could do something to help them. My heart and prayers go out to all of them.
What pisses me off the most is OUR frigging president, Jimmy Carter and Henry Kissinger are the primary reason that Mugabe is in power. This country needs to know the truth about what happened over there!
Hang in there all my Rhodesian friends!!!!!!!

Black majority rule, and black big man rule, were inevitable in Zim and elsewhere throughout Africa.

No amount of white or black resistance could ever have changed that. On the other hand, black rulers have not been everywhere stupid, despotic and ultimately self-destructive.

That part has not been inevitable, except in certain circumstances, among which, the Congo and Zim are prime examples.

Good people, black and white, have suffered as a result. But because blacks are everywhere the majority, it is the test of their patience, and their willingness and ability to endure the bloodiest of tyrannies, that will determine when this will end.

It's true, Namibia is doing well and Botswana in particluar is a jewel as far as domestic, regional and international politics are concerned.

I plan to get to Namibia and would go to Bots (particularly for ele) but I just can't afford it! That's where Zim comes in and where I've met some great guys.

quote:

Originally posted by Showbart:
It's true, Namibia is doing well and Botswana in particluar is a jewel as far as domestic, regional and international politics are concerned.

Namibia, like South Africa, is engaged in "land reform" -- just not to the scale or without compensation as in Zimbabwe.

Having said that, I found Namibia a friendly place to visit and hunt, as I did Zimbabwe. The economy was certainly much better in Namibia when I was there in 2005 than Zimbabwe this year.

"Friends, Romans, Countrymen.
You've come to praise us, not to bury us!" (Apologies to William Shakespeare).

Yes indeed, although we have been stabbed in the back, at the eleventh hour, we will not allow this to get the better of us. To do so would be conceding defeat to that tiny handful of evil humanity who engineer these events.

You all, you wonderful fraternity of hunters and outdoors men and women, have our deepest appreciation and gratitude for the kind messages. Truly, this support genuinely raises our spirits - and to think that most of you have not even met us!! Brita and I say a very big "Thank You."

We will be relocating to Harare where we have a small apartment in a very nice area, close to Barrie Duckworth's house, Roger Whitall's house, Chifuti Safaris offices, Buzz Charlton, Graham Hingeston (HHK Safaris) and so on - lots of good pals, pisscats the lot of 'em!

quote:

Originally posted by Harland:
pisscats the lot of 'em!

Ain't that the truth! At least you will be available to us sometimes. I imagine you could stay pretty busy getting taken out to dinner as we travel through!

Ain't that the truth! At least you will be available to us sometimes. I imagine you could stay pretty busy getting taken out to dinner as we travel through![/QUOTE]

Just can't wait for that, Bryan. Better still, tell Charlton, McCallum and Shearing you won't pay the bill unless RH can visit the safari camp for coupla days! Will even bring own beer.

Take care.
Richard.

Richard, you just need to start doing a little hunting for Buzz and Myles, now that would be too cool.

I enquired about a hunt for a friend and myself and Myles specifically said that he could speak to RH about guiding my friend. We never followed through on that but I would like to do it someday. I have requested that RH be in camp at some point in the future but you keep whining about helping Boddington with some junky elephant DVD.

I like how he said "Charlton McCallum and Shearing"...that has a nice ring to it.

Mr Harland i have a great admiration to your country the great Rhodesia ,your countrymen,and your armed SPECIAL FORCES were studied in all the WAR SChOOLS of the world ,a your bravery is incredibly even this evil time ,i hope in the future you wil prevail ,and i repeat anything i can do for a Rhodesian ill do .Drjuan Pablo Pozzi

Sad story and my heartfelt wishes and comfort go to the family and friends.

My brother Alan although not a hunting outfitter and/or game land owner within Zimbabwe had the forsight in 1981 just post Mugabe coming to power to PACK HIS BAGS and move to South Africa where he after some deliberation and time passing set up his private Balla-Balla Safaris outfitting operation in the early 90's.

Things were progressing nicely until recent years when the (Land Claim appropriations) started within SA with the result being ONE of the TWO game farms Alan owned has now been finalsed for selling back to the government to redress past land issues. We are still operating on the second ranch which I also believe has a gazetted land claim to churn through the system. At least in SA (so far) there is compensation to a degree for the land and some improvements BUT not at a going market rate of course.

Anyhow to cut a long story short .... Alan had in 1997 purchased a PRIME ranch area within Zambia which was duly game fenced and has been operating that commercially since. More recently he purchased TWO MORE smaller private ranches in Zambia which will/are being developed for game conseravtion and other. At this time in history there DONT APPEAR to be land issues per se or any shortage of land within Zambia

The moral of the story is (as Ray Atkinson rightly says) no matter how the chips fall DONT LET ADVERSITY wear you down as (opportunities do sometimes present themselves) especially when you can muster the will power and strength to move forward

My thoughts are with all those facing this menace of land seizure

Cheers, Peter

Richard, my prayers to you and your family. Certainly one of those times that try mens' souls.

Richard, dont forget, it ain't over till its over, as we yanks like to say. I am booking with Buzz & Myles for next year, and I am bringing my 14 year old son, cause I dont think the old guy is going to be around next year. We hope to meet you then!