When I spoke of the danger signs in Zim earlier this year, this is the sort of thing that I was talking about. These are the kinds of things that can ignite a bush war in the more unstable places of the world. I've seen it before and that is why my warning antenna was alerted while I was there. Lets just hope that it doesn't happen.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,461324,00.html

Graphic images of bodies stacked in the bathrooms of crumbling Zimbabwean hospitals and of hundreds of cholera-stricken victims fleeing across the border for medical treatment in South Africa have sparked fears that the epidemic in Zimbabwe is spinning out of control.

FOX News' sister network, SKY News, has obtained disturbing video showing just how bad it is: bodies of cholera victims piled up in a bathroom in the nation's capital, Harare, and makeshift hospitals on the border of South Africa treating patients who are close to death.

“There are cholera victims leaving Zimbabwe for South Africa and Mozambique,†Gregory Hartl, spokesman for Epidemic Diseases at the World Health Organization told FOXNews.com. He spoke after it was announced that a team of six to eight WHO specialists will fly to Zimbabwe this week with supplies and equipment to further assess the situation.
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Hartl said the team will include epidemiologists, specialists in waterborne diseases, and experts in cholera surveillance who will track the parts of the country where the disease is originating.

Zimbabwe’s Health Minister, David Parirenyatwa, met with United Nations officials and non-governmental organization health workers in Harare Wednesday for the first time since the outbreak was reported in August. He admitted: “We need help.â€

According to official WHO figures, 565 people have died from cholera and more than 12,546 are infected. And unofficial estimates indicate the toll could be much higher.

The disease, spread through contaminated water, poor sanitation and unclean food, causes diarrhea and vomiting that, if untreated, can lead to death.

Conditions in Harare are perfect for the spread of the disease. Sewage flows in the suburban streets, children play in cesspools of stagnant water, and there is no clean drinking water, since the country has run out of chemicals to treat its water-supply system. The city’s water authority cut off the taps early this week as a result of the lack of chlorine.

In what was seen by many Zimbabweans as a sick joke, a public service announcement by the Zimbabwe government Monday encouraged people to boil water to make sure it was clean. But there is little electricity in Zimbabwe to power kettles, since the country’s power grid has collapsed, and there is a shortage of firewood.

“It’s really disturbing; the death toll is going up every day,†says Stephanie Bunker, spokeswoman for the United Nations’ Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs. “What you have seen in the last two months is the collapse of the education system, the health system, huge problems with clean and running water, and lack of any medial supplies to treat diseases.â€

At a hospital in South Africa’s northern border province of Limpopo, beds are overflowing, ailing patients spill out onto the grounds, and overworked nurses and doctors struggle to keep up with new arrivals.

“People have no services [on] that side,†a hospital worker told SKY News. “They have to come here to save their lives.â€

According to one Zimbabwean refugee in Limpopo, 362 people had died from cholera in one provincial hospital in the remote rural district of Chiredzi, in southeastern Zimbabwe.

The WHO says it is working with the South African government to establish rehydration centers along the border to assist new arrivals. “It’s just that there is really no government in Zimbabwe,†said an official, who requested anonymity.

The cholera outbreak is just the latest crisis in a country that has experienced a decade of political and economic turmoil.

President Robert Mugabe, who has ruled for 28 years, refused to leave office following disputed elections in March, while a power-sharing deal with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change party has been deadlocked for weeks after Mugabe refused to share the most powerful cabinet posts. At 230 million percent, Zimbabwe has the second-highest inflation rate in history, and there are estimates that more than 3 million people — one quarter of the population — have fled the country.

In a sign that the cholera epidemic is only the beginning of the fallout from the collapse of the health system, Save the Children warned this week that an outbreak of anthrax in livestock in northern Zimbabwe has already killed three people who ate infected meat.

You can bet the white people of Zim are probably just fine (the few that are left) as they have the resources and education to mitigate this on a personal level. But the trackers, game scouts, drivers, skinners, etc... are another matter. They and there families are probably at great risk.

This is such a shame.


John

John

Zim's been circling the drain for years. Things like this are bound to happen, and look for it to get worse.

Geez, I just saw the report on FOX news about 30 minutes ago. It looks real bad. I was thinking of going back to Zim in 2010, however, this puts doubt in my mind. Hope the best for these people.

Any reputable outfit will keep you out of harms way. I wouldn't be too concerned at this point.

What a crying shame, the gentle, good people of Zimbabwe deserve better.

But yes, as a visiting hunter one will likely not see any of this, and certainly not in the rural villages and bush.

Yes, I too have been following it and it is a sad situation for the great people of Zimbabwe. It is hard to imagine how they can continue to survive and still "make a plan" while under the hands of one of the most brutal dictators in the history of this planet. Zimbabwe's current inflation rate of 231 million percent (most likely much higher) is reported to be the second largest in the history of mankind. My heart aches for all of my friends there.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill C:
What a crying shame, the gentle, good people of Zimbabwe deserve better.

But yes, as a visiting hunter one will likely not see any of this, and certainly not in the rural villages and bush.

Good thing then. You can pretend it's not happening and enjoy your vacation while your money helps perpetuate the troubles.

How far can you push a populace before they push back?

You don't want to be there the day it happens.

What is Mugabe waiting for?? The UN?? Why can't his government do something, anything for these people?

Why won't the people rise up and do something about this?

quote:

Originally posted by Gator1:

quote:

Originally posted by Bill C:
What a crying shame, the gentle, good people of Zimbabwe deserve better.

But yes, as a visiting hunter one will likely not see any of this, and certainly not in the rural villages and bush.

Good thing then. You can pretend it's not happening and enjoy your vacation while your money helps perpetuate the troubles.

Or, through one's daily rate and tips help ameliorate the situation for at least a few good Zimbabweans, black and white.

JPK

BBC & Sky News have been reporting (for the last 24 hours) that the army are sporadically rioting, looting and fighting the police in Harare and a few other areas. That of course might well be the media trying to whip up a bit of a gossip frenzy, however, we don't seem to have heard much from our Zim based members over the last few days...... so let's all keep our fingers crossed they're all safe and healthy.

well from the humanitarian side of things it is a disaster, no matter what they say now or how much they do not like the state that they are in, they cheered and danced in the streets when the white man was kicked out of Zimbabwe like dogs and they have ruined what was the bread basket of Afrika. It is evident where a country that was once governed by rules that worked was taken over by people who didnt have a cooking clue as to how to do things, the first thing is the general lawlessness - ie, rules of the road, people overtaking on solid lines, not stopping at robots, trying to squeeze three cars next to each other in a two car lane, if the small rules of a land cannot be adhered to that is why the bigger picture is so out of focus. - SOunds like Mogodishu - might just go the same way, when millions are dead and dying from starvation only then will the world step in and ineffectively try and deal with a problem

Hell Africans are so afraid to tell Mugabe to Fuck off and die because they will be seen as shooting down a "Liberator" who freed the masses and has now gone crazy, and even in his crazy state he is loved because he often lifts his arse and shits in the face of the UK and USA

The new splinter party from the ANC(ruling party in South Africa), the COPE says that it is time for Mugabe to go, and they support any efforts even if it means by force, they are not a small party and in next years elections might just take the cake. So we might yet see some action being taken against that chimp.

well let me get off of my soap box... rant over

quote:

we don't seem to have heard much from our Zim based members over the last few days...... so let's all keep our fingers crossed they're all safe and healthy.

Ditto Steve

Last month there was story's of Police keeping people from entering some Lowvelt hospitals as they had no more room .

Thanks for the update, Surestrike. You've given me plenty of reason to stay away from Zimbabwe. It is such a shame because there are such good, fun-loving local people there. By the way, in November when I was hunting there I was told that the "unofficial" inflation rate passed 1 Billion percent. It was also noted that the inflation rate is progressing at the rate of 7% per second.

quote:

Originally posted by JPK:
..............................

Or, through one's daily rate and tips help ameliorate the situation for at least a few good Zimbabweans, black and white.

JPK

That is my view too!

The trouble at the root of it all was undue interference way back in history in the 1960's and 1970's. That established Mugabe as the "liberator" who subsequently liberated the people of evrything they had. He also made billionaires of every Zimbabwean!

How could the world at large have remained quiet and kept on supporting Mbeki's failing "quiet diplomacy" BS when it was abundantly clear that Mugabe out and out LOST a reasonably run election. Here is a good one that many may have seen before.



But the trouble will only end once the world at large TELLS Mugabe to admit to loosing the election, and quit. He lost the election and the collective 'they' should stop this BS of a Power Sharing deal.

Please world governments, please promise massive and immediate help as soon as Mugabe has admitted loosing and quit.

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

quote:

Originally posted by Andrew McLaren:
Please world governments, please promise massive and immediate help as soon as Mugabe has admitted loosing and quit. Andrew McLaren

Andrew,

They've already made that offer just before the last TWO elections but Mad Bob just did what he always does........... which is bugger all!

If it wasn't so shockingly vicious and so pitiful, it'd make a hysterically funny screenplay!

next comes the rest of the dreaded diseases

What the hell. We just voted here in the good old US for the same kind of "change" here. Doesn't "Democratic Socialism" work great? My heart goes out to the good people of Zim. I love that country and her people, but when the people of any country are determined to destroy themselves whether here or there you just can't stop them.

At the last African summit of African presidents Mugabe was cheerfully welcomed and congratulated by the other presidents. No pressures from his fellow presidents.

I just read that China is right now shipping 500 K $ of anti choleric vaccines to Zimbabwe, that's 5 million doses.
In fact Mugabe is backed up by China and dubious allies like Iran that provided a new TV broadcasting facility.

I really wonder how can we force Mugabe to resign?

Concerning anti choleric vaccine, it could be useful that You offer some to Your PHs and friends in Zimbabwe. Not sure that the gov would put them high on their priority list???

For those who plan to go to Zimbabwe, it'd be wise to be vaccinned.

I know it is sometimes necessary but I do not care witness culling operations. Must be my disney upbringing.

quote:

Originally posted by SG Olds:
I know it is sometimes necessary but I do not care witness culling operations. Must be my disney upbringing.

Then you don't want to ever become a UN Peacekeeper.

quote:

Originally posted by JPK:

quote:

Originally posted by Gator1:

quote:

Originally posted by Bill C:
What a crying shame, the gentle, good people of Zimbabwe deserve better.

But yes, as a visiting hunter one will likely not see any of this, and certainly not in the rural villages and bush.

Good thing then. You can pretend it's not happening and enjoy your vacation while your money helps perpetuate the troubles.

Or, through one's daily rate and tips help ameliorate the situation for at least a few good Zimbabweans, black and white.

JPK

I just saw this (Gator1 is on my Ignore List)...yes JPK I feel the same way, adding it also helps maintain the wildlife and habitat that still remain. Hopefully this surviving infrastructure will help the rebuild when Zim comes out the other end. This topic has been argued many times on the forum, and will continue to be, and one must decide for themselves. And if anybody thinks revenue from the safari business is propping up the evil empire, they are naive. And do we ever really know where our money goes (do we stop buying gas/oil as a portion of it indirectly supports terrorism, what about goods made in China thereby supporting a Communist country which in turn is now for sure propping up the Zimbabwe government, the list goes on and on).

When old Mad Bob sent the first "war vets" to take the white farms, they murdered 6 farmers. This was not at random as the media would have you believe. They killed Martin in front of his family. I had shared a beer on one safari and a cuppa on another with him, as he was a close friend of my Zim PH and had saved Georges life when a croc got him by the knee up at Lake Kariba once upon a time. Martin had been a member of the Selous Scouts during the Rhodesian War and was a hard man, which is why he was targeted. At my invitation, his son Angus, 10 or 12 years at the time, had accompanied me one day on a wart hog hunt and he was fascinated by my .44mag revolver. I let him shoot it and then gave him the empty shell casing as a keepsake. He told me he would take it to school to show all his buds. He was very excited and it has proven to be a memory I'll never forget. Martins wife took the two kids and returned to England after the killing. I hope they have done well.

I have not returned to Zim since that first incident and those 6 killings which old Mad Bob sanctioned. Most of my Zim friends are gone now. I resent the attitude that we should support the hunting in Zim to provide for those in the industry. Mad Bob always gets his cut, don't fool yourself. I knew then that we would reach this point where people are dieing from disease and starvation if Mad Bob was allowed to remain in power. He who controls the military in Africa gets to make all the rules.

So for those of you who have and still do advocate going to Zim to support the HO and PHs, I say you are wrong. Terribly wrong. I could call names of some of you who have continued to advocate on Zims behalf over the years, and who, by your advocacy, have helped perpetuate Mad Bobs rule and the consequent ruination and death of good people. But in the interest of my own stress level I will not. Besides, you know who you are and have to live with your decisions.

It is said that Hitler made the trains in Germany run on schedule. Some folks supported him too.

I'd go back to Zimbabwe tomorrow if I had the money. No worries at all.

Edit: My family and I drove ourselves around southern Zim four weeks ago and the only problem we couldn't overcome was the vehicle we borrowed fron SA !!

Edit II: Where white people visiting Africa have problems is when they beleive they have 'Rights'. In Zim there are no rights only power. Power from Influence, the Gun or Forex.

Lion Hunter

Right on. It is a shame that so many hunters put there own self interest and desire for entertainment ahead of a Country and the people who live there.

All of the excuse making and justification for hunting and spending thousands of Yankee Dollars in Zim are just a thin veneer of self centeredness and a lack of any understanding of Africa or Africans. These would be the same people who beg for more aid and want to prolong the end for as long as they can so that they can continue to be entertained on their vacations.

Zim will not make a rebound until it hits the bottom. Prolonging the inevitable will only cost more lives and more destruction. If Hunters and other outside forces would have said NO when the whole land seizure issue started then Mugabe would have fallen years ago and thousands that are now dead and thousands that will be dead would still be alive.

Using the excuse that "we are helping the Good Zimbabwe citizens' is self serving and prolongs what will happen anyway while only increasing the cost.

It is the old Missionary mentality about saving one life, even if it costs 100 lives in the end.

"If wishes were fishes we'd all live in the Sea."

There is a whole entrenched network of international do-gooders who are invested in doing good with someone else's money. They have a very personal financial interest in proclaiming the crisis of the week to keep the money flowing.

1500 dead bodies if they really exist out of 14 million people is hardly the crisis as it is portrayed.

You talk the talk of a hard man Will. Have you ever tried to dispose of 1500 rotting human bodies?

quote:

Originally posted by Will:
There is a whole entrenched network of international do-gooders who are invested in doing good with someone else's money. They have a very personal financial interest in proclaiming the crisis of the week to keep the money flowing.

1500 dead bodies if they really exist out of 14 million people is hardly the crisis as it is portrayed.

so you don't think the cholera epidemic is real? even though the health minster is swallowing his pride and asking for international help? interesting viewpoint.

Lionhunter: Martin Olds was not killed in front of his family. He had already moved them into Bulawayo, probably having an idea of what was to come. He was a man.

For those of you who continue to support us in the Zim hunting industry, you are not making a terrible mistake, you are keeping us afloat. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your enduring faith. If it weren't for you guys, so many thousands more would be starving, dying and dead, and we would have packed it in long ago. We know that, with your continued support, we shall make it through these difficult times.

Dave

David,

Hope you're all OK up there and not affected by the cholera etc?

Steve,

To my knowledge, no cholera outbreak in the lowveld yet. It seems to be going crazy in the cities, which makes sense. Thank God for the efforts of South Africa and others.

I keep procrastinating about 'the other issue', but I am just checking out a couple of things and promise to PM you soon. All I can say at this point is, fantastic!!!

Dave

Thanks buddy!

SA Hospitals near the border are getting an overflow of cholera victims now but they seem to be coping reasonably well for the time being. As far as I know the lowveld here is OK.

Just caught the tail end of the story, but SABC TV news had a bit about US Secretary of State basically saying "It is time for Bob to Go!" Goodie!

David, just in case there is any doubt at all: 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.

As shakari said on another posting: "How's that for nailing my colors to the masthead?" [Or something similar?]

Until the likes of LionHead come up with a very well written point-by-point argument, which I will read with due attention and an open mind, that will convince me otherwise I will continue to advocate support for the L-E-G-A-L hunting in Zimbabwe.

Ganyana, David and all the other good guys tiding this terrible storm there, please hang on! We as South Africans need some stability in Zimbabwe. You are in my prayers!

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

quote:

Originally posted by surestrike:
You talk the talk of a hard man Will. Have you ever tried to dispose of 1500 rotting human bodies?

Not so difficult under normal circumstances. But without fuel to run trucks to transport the bodies? Without fuel to run the back-acters to dig graves? Without physical notes - never mind the actual international value of the notes - simply no paper notes to pay manual labor grave diggers? With many of the potential manual labor grave diggers sick with cholera or AIDS? Without electricity to run refrigeration machines the keep the bodies from rotting further? Yuck! Disposing of 1500 rotting human bodies can be quite a problem in today's Zimbabwe!

Andrew McLaren

Gator1 and Lion hunter those are big words comming from your ivory tower.
If it were you trying to make aliving as a PH and support you family, I bet your attitude would be quite different.

I used to think, just as some do who have posted above, that hunting in Zimbabwe was morally questionable because some of the money spent by foreign hunters helped to prop up Mugabe.

Mugabe gets his cut of hunting money as he does of all other foreign exchange. That is undoubtedly true. But so what? Mugabe and his ilk would get along quite well without any income derived from hunting.

A boycott of Zimbabwe by foreign hunters would have no influence whatsoever in bringing down the current regime. None.

The only ones who would suffer would be the people on the front lines in the industry, white and black alike, who depend on hunting for their livelihoods.

And of course the wildlife would suffer too, possibly to the point of no return.

But ZANU PF would remain in power, make no mistake about that.

Dave

I have no problem supporting you, your brother or others like you. My problem is with those that dont give a damn and support those outfits that are hunting on the confiscated lands and are actively in bed with those that are perpetuating the denegration of Zimbabwe.

A postive step is the ruling last month by SADC tribunal in favor of the farmers, which includes Woodlands Estates. No justice can be found in Zim but this ruling should allow Larry to seek justice in courts outside of Zimbabwe. If anything anyone hunting on Woodlands would be subject to prosecution and any trophies from hunts on Woodlands would be confiscated, this here and in the EU.

This ruling should also enforce that foregin owned farms are off limits for takeover, as are some of the conservancies.

John