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Saw this in Yahoo Business Weekend. http://biz.yahoo.com/weekend/danger_1.html This article has Zim listed along with the usual suspects.  I find this hard to believe when you look at the others on the list."Unemployment and inflation have effectively devastated the Zimbabwean economy. Annual March parliamentary elections are a particularly tense time, as election-related vote rigging and intimidation spark violence and unstable political rallies, especially in the high-density city of Harare. Commercial farms, home to government supporters who act with impunity from the law, are particularly dangerous to foreigners. Food and fuel shortages are widespread." Jim "Bwana Umfundi" NRA | ||
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Starvation is coming, and with that will come unhappy and miserable people, that will fester into violence and civil war, in which case the game populations of Zim will and are going to be the only source of protein, the fabled bush market is and will be the last of Zims great game fields...Is my prediction correct, I don't know but it could very easily come about, it has before. Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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Maybe we'll get lucky and the civil war will come and go quickly. Though I doubt it. | |||
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Jim, I am sure that if a wealthy-looking tourist was roaming the streets of Harare late in the evening it would be a VERY dangerous place. As would Jo'Burg, Lusaka, Kinshasha, etc. But if your safe in the care of your ProHunting Outfit and in the bush, you are safer than most of the residents of that country. I had absolutely no problems in Zim last year and anticipate none when I leave for Zim on June 13th. Certainly had none on my first trip to that country in 1994. But we all have to admit, going on safari ain't hanging at the Ritz on Maui! There is some danger in traveling to the wild places we all love. That said, I like the rest of the posters on these forums hold some hope that Zimbabwe can right the ship, whether it is a civil war or a coup. We shall have to wait and see, and pray. Zim is still one of my favorite destinations to hunt in Africa! On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died. If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch... Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son! - Rudyard Kipling Life grows grim without senseless indulgence. | |||
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As an add on to Ray's poitn...the biggest issue is volatility... When people are starving things can get very dicey very fast. There will most likely be a point where Zim is generally unsafe. The problem is no ne knows is it next month or next year...when the event occurs...and someone gets caught up in the mess...many will be saying..."I was there last week or last month and had no problems" Public demonstraions are not that bad...riots are very scary things. For those who have been in both on either side...there is fine line and a flash point that can come from nowhere. My point...none really at all except...Zim is more volatile than other places right now...stay informed...and if your safari gets aborted and turns into a disaster...you rolled the dice and took your chances. Mike Legistine actu quod scripsi? Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.  What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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Please ask yourselfs how many times this has happend in Africa?? the answer should be between many and countless. This will happen again and again until someone comes along who will put their countrys needs in front of their own agenda. I just wonder how many more will die untill this happens,if it ever happens? The most popular of them runs for office and is "elected",and i use that with tounge in cheek,and then it degrades into what we have had since the "won" their freedom. Only the names and faces will change, not the greed,ignorance, poverty, starvation,domonstrations,riots,and finaly CVIVIL WAR. "Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it" It should be Africas' motto. Charlie | |||
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The Shona people, who make up 60% of Zimbabwes population are the most peaceable cowards in the world. They would much rather live on their knees than die on their feet. The Matebele are a slightly different proposition. In general harder working, far more honest have an HIV infection rate of only 5% (as oposed to 40% in mashonaland)...But they had the stuffing knocked out of them by the north Koreans and the 5th brigade and there is very little fight left. Also, there is no leadership for the oposition. The MDC is a weak collection of white libberals (pinko-commie; fag; subversive; bleeding heart; liberal; wally wankers) some trash cast off from Zanu PF lead by a pathetic trade unionist. They have a few good men, but nobody who can actually lead. Nothing will happen this year- or next. | |||
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Thanks Nick, had it not been for the "credit" at the top of the article, "As the news bombards us on a daily basis we lose sight of what's really happening in Zimbabwe, and perhaps why the respective politicians react why they do. This comment was supplied to us without reference to its source on the Internet - it was created in mid April 2000." I would have taken this for a current 2005 article. It appears nothing ever changes  Jim "Bwana Umfundi" NRA | |||
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I DIGRESS and have some personel thoughts ... I dont wish to (sound smart) at all BUT is not the USA also a (bit running scared) of North Korea, or if not, what the hell are they waiting for, why dont they do the business before it is too late. Just like in IRAQ it took two attempts to sort of fix the PROBLEM, history tells me if you gonna go to war do it right the first time and do it quick before the villians get toooo wise too powerfull and too many do gooder nations on their side  Peter | |||
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Balla Balla Seems like the USA has finally realised that North Korea have Nukes. Who supplied the uranium? Zimbabwe. Who supplied 17kgs of Uranium to the taliban just before the US invaded? Zimbabwe. Who is supplying Iran? South Africa, but sending it via Zimbabwe because Thabo wouldn't want to be seen with dirty hands. Provided you don't have oil you can do what you like it seems  PS- perhaps this is best moved to the political forum? | |||
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Noticed that al lot of the places is in Africa. Speaking of corrupt politicians, have you seen the deal Nujoma (Namibia) got himself for retirement? It was in the South African "Sun" newspaper, will see if I can get the article. 3 years president wage, free first class flights everywhere, etc | |||
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Found the article: http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1664836,00.html Judge for yourself | |||
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Ganyana, What percent of the Hunting Dollars spent in Zimbabwe wind up in the pockets of Mugabe and his Thugs? I hope you can answer this question as a lot of people would like to know. CHEERS | |||
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With the difference in HIV rates between the Matebele and Shona, maybe in 20 yeras the Matabele will be the dominant tribe in Zim! 465H&H | |||
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At least he was up front about this. I have to wonder what else he has hidden. Is there no honesty anywhere?  It seems that all politicians have only self serving motivation.Jim "Bwana Umfundi" NRA | |||
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Mzee - How much goes to bob? Actually very little. It is one of the things causing his wife great distress at the moment. All hard cash that the government can lay their hands on is going directly to paying off debts in South Africa for fuel and electrisity. Government is absloutly frantic to try and scrape enough cash togeather to buy food as well. Several of Mugabe's senir henchmen have intrests in state concessions but those activities are so tightly monitored by our reserve bank these days that their owners cannot keep much (if any) of the hard currency and whilst they are getting rich fast in Zim dollars, that doesn't buy the greedy what they want! (exchange rate today is 25000:1 so we are now down to the same as the mozambique Metical) The only place where there is any direct link between bob and his cabinet and you, the visiting sportsman is those hunts taking place on occupied/confiscated farms. | |||
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Ganyana The official forex rate is as follows: Wednesday, May 11, 2005 1 US Dollar = 5,850.40 Zimbabwe Dollar So are you talking about the black market rate, parallel rate, or what, please explaim clearly to our overseas guests in LAYMANS terms EXACTLY how the exchange rate applies in reality in Zimbabwe at present Peter | |||
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Bala Bala Zimbawe has five exchange rates. 1) Oficial oficial 824:1 US$ If you pay by credit card through some banks this is the rate that will be used. 2) "Auction Rate" 6175:1 this mornings Auction. If you are buying essential supplies you can apply to bid on the auction. (fuel, Power, Medical supplies etc). If you go to a bank and change TC, or cash you will get the Auction rate less the bank's commision. 3)The Customs duties are based on the Auction rate but usually are only updated monthly. The rate you quoted is the current ZIMRE (customs) rate. 4) Semi Legal inter account trade. If you pay me for a hunt (for example) and I bank into a dedicated Foreign Currency Trading Account, 20% of the money has to be changed immediately into Zim Dollars at the prevailing auction rate. The remainder I can use to bring in supplies necessary to run my operations. I can also though quietly (facilitated by the banks no less) this money to anybody else who is trying to import goods. This inter account trade is going on at arround 17000:1. (you get a Blend rate of 20% at 6100:1 + 80% at whatever rate you can, which is the rate decent operators are paying PH's at) 5) Price of cash notes on the street or better yet a transfer into a foreign account - today at around 25000:1 Zimbabwe has legally gazzeted minimum fees for trophies and daily rates applicable to certain hunts. You HAVE to bank at least the minimum via a bank for the trophies to be allowed out. Of cource, there are loopholes big enough to drive a truck through if you have enough balls to take a chance and can work the system. The real joy for many of us in the safari industry is that those "new operators" who were given concessions under the table by the minister are being forced, by parks and reserve bank, to deposit all money at the Auction rate. So they are getting 60-70% less for their US$ than a white operator who has his concession through transparent means. The paperwork in this country is a nightmare and the police have almost totally collapsed so they introduce more paperwork to try and make up for inefficient policing. | |||
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Ganyana, You are a wealth of information! What a pleasure to read your posts. thay are informative, to the point and the reader doesn't have to sort out any Bullshit. Thanks for being there for the A.R. members. CHEERS | |||
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Wonder if someone can advise where is the best place to xchange travellers checks. Or is it better to pay for tourist junk, restaurant bills etc. using travellers checks instead of local currency? After our safari we are going to Vic falls for 2 nts. Thanks, Reddy375 | |||
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reddy375......if you are paying in cash other than Zim money you will get your change in Zim money. That is, if you hand the clerk a $10 US bill for something that costs the equivalent of $1.50 US you you will get you the Zim dollar equivalent of $8.50 ---- they will not give you change in the same currency (even though they may have it in the drawer) so either use a credit card or carry small bills as you won't be able to spend the Zim money anywhere else in the world. If you have someone local with you I suggest you have them pay in Zim money and you take care of them later. DB Bill aka Bill George | |||
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