I got this e-mail from friends in Harare. Seems like everybody continues to do as the Zimbos do. Grind ahead...


Hi Mark,
Hope you are well. We are fine this side thanks. It is pretty quiet in town while they wait and see if the results are ever going to be announced. The few farmers left are taking strain but we have been there and done that! I suppose one thing about having already been kicked off is at least we don't have to go through it again.
We will see what happens once the results are out but hopefully it will stay quiet.

Take care and send our love to the family.

spoke with my PHs boss in BULAWAYO, he said everything is okay ,and expects every thing to remain so , he said if anything happens it will happen in the capital...Harare
Daniel

I can't help but think this is all talk. You didn't see all this news out of Rwanda before they got down to it. The first real talk in Rwanda occurred after the bodys damned up a major river.

If the bullets and Pangas were out and about I do not think many Zimbots would have free time to chat on this forum?

Zimbabwe, another valuable lesson for us all on what happens when you lose.

JPK,

Thanks again for the good advice.

PS The 350gr WL solids work great in my rifle. I ordered the replacement bullets for you yesterday.

PSS Midway wants $96 a box for the WL 350gr. solids!!!

Best regards;
Brett

Cartoon making the rounds in Zim...

Bill

That is too funny and right on the mark.

Just want to report that all is quite on the south-eastern front

Dave

That is an awesome cartoon! Thanks Bill.

quote:

Originally posted by Brett:
JPK,

Thanks again for the good advice.

PS The 350gr WL solids work great in my rifle. I ordered the replacement bullets for you yesterday.

PSS Midway wants $96 a box for the WL 350gr. solids!!!

Best regards;
Brett

Brett,

Glad they work well in your rifle. I figured the price might go up

The shipping cost of the two boxes I sent are on me since no one in my office can figure out what the costs were until we get an invoice and they certainly followed my direction to get them to you soonest! We get billed by FedEx monthly. If you put them to good use, that is compensation enough.

Best,

JPK

I just don't know guys. Mugabe is not going to go quietly into the night. Speaking for myself, there is no way I would venture into Zimbabwe right now. Zim. is a powderkeg, with numerous people trying to light the fuse. Way too close to the edge. In the past, it was pretty business as usual when it came to Zimbabwe politics, but this is uncharted territory. I sincerly hope I am wrong, but I fear Zimbabwe is headed the way Rwanda, Sierra Leonne, ect. have gone-bloody civil war. Also, to those who are thinking about taking wives, girlfriends, daughters, PLEASE reconsider. Rape is a batlefield tactic widely used in Africa against the civilian population. Once again, I hope I am wrong, but it doesn't seem to be heading in the right direction.

quote:

Originally posted by Tembo:
Zim. is a powderkeg, with numerous people trying to light the fuse. Way too close to the edge . . . I sincerly hope I am wrong, but I fear Zimbabwe is headed the way Rwanda, Sierra Leonne, ect. have gone-bloody civil war. Also, to those who are thinking about taking wives, girlfriends, daughters, PLEASE reconsider. Rape is a batlefield tactic widely used in Africa against the civilian population.

I know that everyone is entitled to their view and mine is no more informed or "right" than another, but I have to say the statement above feels way over the top in terms of being needlessly alarmist. For example, in Rwanda, it was tribal violence and upwards of a million people were killed. Again, that just feels to me to be a flawed comparision to the present situation in Zim. My $0.02.

Just to play the devils advocate for a moment:

If Mugabe is gone, how will Morgan solve the food shortages? How will he solve the financial crisis? How will he establish law and order with a military largely loyal to Mugabe?

I'm afraid Morgan is in a no-win situation, and the people will have high expectations for a quick recovery and even if the West dumps a billion in immediate relief, I don't think they have the infrastructure to handle it.

I feel for those who have lost their farms (and lives) and are struggling, but those sticking it out, know what they are doing, and most have a Plan B, Plan C etc..

My guess is, we'll just see another four years of the same ol same old. FWIW

quote:

Originally posted by N'gagi:
Just to play the devils advocate for a moment:

If Mugabe is gone, how will Morgan solve the food shortages?

He can actually let the U.N. distribute food aid instead of having the Zim government do it.

quote:

How will he solve the financial crisis?

Step 1: Dump the Zimbuck in favor of the Euro, Rand, whatever.

Step 2: Eliminate all foreign currency controls.

Step 3: Eliminate all import/export restrictions except for a reasonable tariff.

Step 4: Reinstate laws protecting property rights so that people will have the courage to invest.

quote:

How will he establish law and order with a military largely loyal to Mugabe?

Per Saeed's post in another thread, the high ranking officers want Mugabe out.


[/QUOTE]

Lets not lose our heads.

Are we sure that saving people will benefit wildlife long term?

A nice enormous area that is unpopulated would become an acceptable Rhino conservancy.

If a large number of people dont need food anymore that should cut down on the poaching both short and long term.

As I read this I am not sure I can stand to be so pro wildlife.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:

quote:

Originally posted by Tembo:
Zim. is a powderkeg, with numerous people trying to light the fuse. Way too close to the edge . . . I sincerly hope I am wrong, but I fear Zimbabwe is headed the way Rwanda, Sierra Leonne, ect. have gone-bloody civil war. Also, to those who are thinking about taking wives, girlfriends, daughters, PLEASE reconsider. Rape is a batlefield tactic widely used in Africa against the civilian population.

I know that everyone is entitled to their view and mine is no more informed or "right" than another, but I have to say the statement above feels way over the top in terms of being needlessly alarmist. For example, in Rwanda, it was tribal violence and upwards of a million people were killed. Again, that just feels to me to be a flawed comparision to the present situation in Zim. My $0.02.

Mike, As I said, I hope I am wrong BUT.... IMHO, it is better to be safe than sorry. One thing about Africans-They know how to have a war. Nothing is off limits-mass civilian killings, torture, maimings, ect.

quote:

One thing about Africans-They know how to have a war. Nothing is off limits-mass civilian killings, torture, maimings, ect.

Not like us Europeans! Oops, if it's not organ failure then it's not torture. Sorry, I forgot!
Peter.

quote:

Originally posted by Tembo:
...this is uncharted territory. I sincerly hope I am wrong, but I fear Zimbabwe is headed the way Rwanda, Sierra Leonne, ect. have gone-bloody civil war. Also, to those who are thinking about taking wives, girlfriends, daughters, PLEASE reconsider...

I'm just curious what you're basing these statements on? At this time, the guys on the ground (including the embassies) and the State Dept. are allowing travel without restriction beyond basic precautions. No one I have talked to on the ground is saying anything approaching your comments, including Ganyana.

quote:

Originally posted by Kwan:
Hello guys

OK, this is a invite too all that are going to Zimbabwe in this year, I have a hunting camp on the Northern border with Mozambique, in the Tete province , south of Cahorra Bassa,

If you have any !@!@#$#@ coming your way, and you are north of Harare, there is a Mozambique border post called Laqissoni, at 16 00 04.04 S & 31 15 19.06 E, this border post is flexible read USD , and is about 60 km from my camp on Cahorra, Sable Hills Safaris camp, at 15 43 51.44S & 31 21 06.93 E.

If and when the @## hits a fan, and you and your PH are stumped, hop over We will have beer, and beds ,

I know this is the worst idea, but I have family buried in Zim, and I can remember vivd descriptions from my cousins in PATU, and Scouts,my first girlfrien was a survivor of a ambush in the old days, so please take this info and if needed you are more than welcome.

Meant to post earlier,

Kwan,

Thank you for this thoughtful, generous and kind offer. Lets all hope no one has to take you up on it.

Best,

JPK

I missed that too. Thanks Kwan. Very kind to put your info out there for all.

quote:

Originally posted by yukon delta:

quote:

Originally posted by Tembo:
...this is uncharted territory. I sincerly hope I am wrong, but I fear Zimbabwe is headed the way Rwanda, Sierra Leonne, ect. have gone-bloody civil war. Also, to those who are thinking about taking wives, girlfriends, daughters, PLEASE reconsider...

I'm just curious what you're basing these statements on? At this time, the guys on the ground (including the embassies) and the State Dept. are allowing travel without restriction beyond basic precautions. No one I have talked to on the ground is saying anything approaching your comments, including Ganyana.

Just a gut feeling from reading the news which seems to get worse by the day. You don't really believe that Mugabe is going to peacefully walk away, do you????? As soon as he voids the election results, all Hell is going to break loose. I think he is delaying the announcement that he "won" to get his thugs in place.

Well, I don't propose to know what his intentions are. He's proven to be a bad guy for sure but at some point, the resolve weakens as your friends turn on you and society in general. May or may not be on this go around.

I just don't think the Shona tribe is going to come apart like you say...many reasons why that is so.

I have just travelled through the country side from Harare to Beit Bridge and returned yesterday 9 April 2008. I had a very smooth uneventful trip and when I was stopped at routine road blocks the Police were extremely friendly and polite. There were no problems whatsoever. I talked with Buzz Charlton and reiterated that he had recently come from Vic Falls with the same report.

My personal advice to anyone coming to Zim is not to panic and cancel your trips but keep in comms with your Safari Operator/PH and get information from them rather than CNN or Safari Club. We are on the ground here and can give you first hand news on what we are experiencing.

Good Hunting!!

Excellent report and thanks for sharing. Would you report back in from time to time? Much appreciated. As for telling people that you hang out with Buzz...well, you're on your own!

I have a hunt booked with Buzz for 'Oct and have been corresponding frequently.His latest e-mail I received last night and backs up what Muvhimi has posted

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I honestly do not know how all the panic got into this, as Ganyana's post never suggested anyone cancel their hunt!

His advice was it is prudent to fly to your concession rather than drive. Which I think is very sound indeed!

Saeed I agree, as I will be travellinf through Zim too Moz area next week, I am also keeping an eye on all things,

But, guys I do not care who says it or who thinks it, I was in Southern Rwanda durin the genocide, it takes one screaming witch and the crowd turns ugly,really ugly, I saw the bodies flostng in the river, and the Medicines Le Frontiers that drove with me south too Malawi agreed , Africa know how too kill and murder people by the millions, Stalin and Mao as well but never so swift or hands on.

The situation North of me looks calm, but it would be unwise too become complacent and claims there are no possibilties,

If Tsvangirai dies tommorrow, do you think his followers will take it ? lying down.

Africa has shown itself too be prepared too die to get out from White rule, it will be prepared too die too get out of dictatorships as well, that I can promise you,

my guys in Moz are all Shona, and they are convinced Mugabe is going too be out politically or physically this year.

Nobody's panicing, Saeed. But like Kwan says, when things go bad in Africa, they go bad almost instantly, and the butchery I've seen in several places would make Hitler and Uncle Joe turn green with envy. It only takes a small spark to start a big fire...

quote:

Originally posted by jetdrvr:
Nobody's panicking, Saeed. But like Kwan says, when things go bad in Africa, they go bad almost instantly, and the butchery I've seen in several places would make Hitler and Uncle Joe turn green with envy. It only takes a small spark to start a big fire...

Yes, go, but be prepared with a back up plan. LUCK = PREPERATION + OPPORTUNITY

BAD LUCK = NO PREPERATION

JPK

quote:

Originally posted by jetdrvr:
Nobody's panicking, Saeed. But like Kwan says, when things go bad in Africa, they go bad almost instantly, and the butchery I've seen in several places would make Hitler and Uncle Joe turn green with envy. It only takes a small spark to start a big fire...

My point exactly.

Per CNN, the opposition now says that it will refuse to participate in a run off. They claim that they won the first election and shouldn't have to do it again.
The pressure keeps mounting, I just hope there is a release valve.

TerryR

Does that mean a coup d’état if he doesn't step down?

Just who will execute the coup d'etat? Without the army no one can, and I am not sure that the army is not part of the problem. Certainly the "vets" seem to be. It seems to me that we are getting closer to the views expressed by the much maligned Don Causey ( he said ducking)! Perhaps because of the (possible) overreaction to Ganyana's original email we seem to have forgotten the outrage on these very pages. I understand there will be a meeeting in RSA this Saturday. If the other leaders can bribe ol' Bob to leave the stage things will start to change, but as has been pointed out already, the underlying problems still remain to be solved. The only difference is that the West, and the African nations will want to deal with him rather than Robert.
Peter.

Might want to harken back to Uganda some 30 years or so ago. E. Amin, believe he left the country with several train car loads of gold, jewels, art, etc. and moved in with this friends in S. Arabia. Not sure if he is still alive or not, believe he went the way all of us go in due time- someone once wrote, "the grandest couch of all...."

As for dear ol' Bob and Zimbabwe, not a very good picture no matter which way you turn it and specualte as to the outcome. Not, I repeat not, the place to be for a while anyway unless you just really want the adventure and can't forego the urge to hunt. If that is the case, so be it, but might want to think about those not hunting with you or those who depend on you for whatever. As others have mentioned, Africa is still very much tribal in nature, brutal, not civlized and will be that way for many decades to come, and having seen some of the butchery performed several years ago, no civil uprising should be taken lightly and being in the bush as they say, is no protection from such actions. Again, I have no plans on going to Zimbabwe ever, do plan on hunting South Africa in couple years, but God Speed to those who do elect to hunt in Zimbabwe at this time.

quote:

Originally posted by dsiteman:
Again, I have no plans on going to Zimbabwe ever, do plan on hunting South Africa in couple years, but God Speed to those who do elect to hunt in Zimbabwe at this time.

Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:

Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers.

I'm cursing you because you are going back before me!!

I'm cursing the both of you, cause I haven't been there at all, yet. Soon to be resolved. Good luck Mike, and Lee, you as well. Watch your backs and bring back a good hunt report and lots of pictures.

David

Mike has a string of good luck going that we can all envy. Bill C. needs to break his one time run of no ele. Don't make it 2 in a row Bill! You could ask Buzz if he really knows how to hunt ele? Maybe we all need to take Norbert with us on our hunts.

Lee isn't headed to Zim this year...me either but Caprivi in '09!

quote:

As others have mentioned, Africa is still very much tribal in nature, brutal, not civlized and will be that way for many decades to come, and having seen some of the butchery performed several years ago, no civil uprising should be taken lightly and being in the bush as they say, is no protection from such actions.

Thank God Africa hasn't evolved to the point that it rivals New Jersey, South Phily or DC in civility.

If you are in the bush where there are no people, who is going to be there to give you trouble? No reason for the Army, the politicos or anyone else to cause mischief if there is no one around. I've heard of PH's who act like asses and mistreat their trackers, drivers or other employees, but I've never met one and wouldn't hunt with one even if I did.

JPK

Your comparison of some of the U.S. cities to Africa is useless and a very old argument used some 30 years ago in trying to make people feel "warm and fuzzy" about visiting/hunting Africa when the brutalities were taking place.
Don't work anymore, plain and simple. Go to Zimbabwe if you wish, but please do not attempt to propagandize the situation for neither you nor I or others claiming to have first hand knowledge of the situation on the ground actually know anything about what is happening or going to happen. The conditions are subject to instant change and that can be for the good or not so good. To advise people that it is fine in Zimbabwe under the present political upheaval does not exhibit good judgement. Africa is a large place and if you must hunt there, your choices are many and varied. Again, knock yourself out, break a leg, etc., go hunt, but please no promotion of Zimbabwe at a time like we are all seeing take place.

quote:

Originally posted by dsiteman:
Your comparison of some of the U.S. cities to Africa is useless and a very old argument used some 30 years ago in trying to make people feel "warm and fuzzy" about visiting/hunting Africa when the brutalities were taking place.
Don't work anymore, plain and simple. Go to Zimbabwe if you wish, but please do not attempt to propagandize the situation for neither you nor I or others claiming to have first hand knowledge of the situation on the ground actually know anything about what is happening or going to happen. The conditions are subject to instant change and that can be for the good or not so good. To advise people that it is fine in Zimbabwe under the present political upheaval does not exhibit good judgement. Africa is a large place and if you must hunt there, your choices are many and varied. Again, knock yourself out, break a leg, etc., go hunt, but please no promotion of Zimbabwe at a time like we are all seeing take place.

Last year you espoused the same logic. Time bomb is ticking in Zim, too unsafe to travel to Zim, proceed at your own risk, only a nut would go to Zim, better you than me, blah, blah, blah. Those that hunted last year had a great time.

This year, guess what, time bomb is ticking, too unsafe to travel to Zim, proceed at your own risk, only a nut would go to Zim, better you than me, blah, blah, blah.

I am reminded of the saying, even a broken watch is right two times a day. I guess if you stick with your logic long enough you are bound to be right one day.

I remember that...the voice of doom who wasn't right then or now. Where do you hunt Dsiteman? Ever been to Zim? Every time you disparage Zim, there are a bunch of guys who will call you on it. I would like to hear about all of your bad experiences in Zim.