News Page 1

I'm sorry if this page gets longer & longer. I think it's easier to scroll down it, than for me to create a whole lot of links. Thanks

Saturday 3rd June 2000 - 21 days to go !

I live and work in Harare, the Capital city. The atmosphere is very tense at the moment. There's not much laughter in the city streets - not much to laugh about. I manage 50 odd staff, and I have seen them growing quieter and quieter over the last 2 months. If I mention the MDC at work, heads turn and I am signaled to SSSHHH (quiet) by quite a few of them, so I am learning to keep my thoughts to myself. I could get them into trouble if they talk about it. We don't know who the spies are (this sounds like something out of an Ian Fleming novel - but it's not ! It's my life at the moment.) A few of them have been woken up in the night by gangs of thugs who are asking them to show their party cards, and then beating them if they can't produce a ZanuPF card.

The Voters Roll has been released for inspection by the candidates, and it is a joke. We go to the Polls in 21 days time and the roll is so incorrect it's laughable. People who have been dead for years are still on it. Many who registered before the deadline to register are NOT on it. Isaac Mackenzie, the ZanuPF candidate for Kariba constituency is NOT on it. (I expect he's having a fit !)

One of our independent newspapers, the Daily News has been flooded with calls from voters who claim that their names have been omitted from the roll. The Registrar Generals office has pledged to clean up the roll in time for the elections.

The newspapers today are filled with doom, gloom, corruption, murder & mayhem. It's hard to remain positive in this current climate.

It seems our Chief Justice, Anthony Roy Gubbay, and other Justices, may have lost Zimbabwean citizenship, after allegedly failing to renounce their British citizenship under British law. Our Daily Mirror claims to have a document in it's possession that they were still British citizens after the expiry of the period allowed to convert to mono-citizenship. We're not allowed to hold dual citizenship here. We are either Zimbabwean or not. So it will be interesting to see the implications of this allegation. I'll watch for the rest of the story.

Friends of mine who live on a farm in the Chipinge area have come into Harare. They literally locked the house and fled. They have been targeted by the ZanuPF activists in the area as MDC supporters. They are very worried about their animals, property & possessions, but as they said, their lives are more important.

I phoned my married daughter this morning. She lives in Bulawayo. At the end of our conversation I said, "Now, remember, don't go out on to any farms, or to the Motopas, or out on picnics, or fishing, or take the kids anywhere out of town." There was silence for a full minute, then she replied, "You mean, don't have any fun anymore?" We both laughed for a long time. Am I becoming paranoid ? Maybe. But she really can't go out of town and put herself and my grandkids at risk. And she knows it, as we all do. We haven't been on a picnic for months - or camping, or fishing (all our favourite pastimes).

The question we have all been asking ourselves is "Can and will the elections be free and fair ?" Is this a trick question ? You may well ask !

Sunday 4th June 2000 - 20 days to go.

We went to Church as usual this morning. Some of the black members of the congregation are getting very worried. The high density suburbs are rife with thugs knocking on doors in the middle of the night. They drag the whole family up, including the kids, and ask to see their party cards. If the cards can't be produced, everyone gets a beating, and then they are warned that the thugs will come back to see their cards. They are all petrified. I think we will have to put some of them up in our homes, but they are worried about leaving their few precious possessions behind. I feel so bad for them.

We didn't buy the newspapers today. Just couldn't bear it. I want to have one day a week that we don't have to read about the lawlessness.

Monday 5th June 2000 - 19 days to go.

Harare was quiet today, but there is still a lot of trouble and intimidation in the rural areas. In the Buhera district, teachers there have appealed to the Ministry of Sport, Education & Culture to help them. War veterans & ZanuPF youths are allegedly demanding Zim$ 6000.00 per month from them as "protection money".

The Daily News has reported that there is a mass exodus of people from all walks of life, and they plan to stay out of the country until the elections are over, and they see if civil war erupts. That is such a frightening thought, but a real possibility. When will this madness end ? When the trouble in Sierra Leone was at it's height, I kept watching the news. I find it hard to believe that others may be watching us in a few weeks time.

One of my workers, who I know to be an opposition supporter, was threatened at work today by an anonymous caller. I told him to phone the Police, but he said it wouldn't do any good - he would get no help there.

Officially, the Bank rate for the Zim Dollar against the US dollar is 38 to 1, but people are buying up all the Forex they can at exorbitant rates. I personally know someone who bought US cash from a tourist at US$1 to Zim$62. It seems ridiculous, but for anyone wanting to accumulate forex, which is still unobtainable for the man in the street, it's not a high price to pay.

The queues for petrol were longer than ever today. Some people queued for 7 hours, and most of the garages have run out. There was no diesel available at all.

The death notices for white farmer Tony Oates, filled the classified columns of the papers. He was murdered in his farmhouse on the 31st May. Authorities claim that the motive was robbery, but the community knows better. God help his family.

Tuesday 6th June 2000 - 18 days to go.

The weather is mild today - about 20C, and we had some rain, unusual for this time of year, as our rainy season ends in March/April.

It was an unusually quiet day in town. There is no petrol about, so there were far less cars than normal (except in the queues - which were miles long !) People are getting very irate about the fuel situation. At a garage in one of our suburbs, there was almost a riot, and police used tear gas to restore order. We're getting worse than British football fans! We made headlines on South Africa TV this morning due to the fuel crisis. Most folk are losing far too much time spent in fuel queues. The State owned paper "The Herald" headlined with a promise that fuel was on it's way, and the Independent paper, "the Daily News" headlined that it would get worse! Who to believe? Our President, in a speech to demonstrators on Britain's policy on Zimbabwe, accused the British Government of "intercepting" the ships bringing the fuel to Zimbabwe. It's all the British Governments fault, of course! What is worrying is the fact that thousands believe him.

Francis Maude, the British Foreign Affairs spokesman of the Conservative Party, has just left here after being on a fact-finding mission. He accused the President of using State-sponsored terrorism to undermine the opposition. He also criticized Commonwealth Secretary-General Don Mc Kinnon for saying after talks with Mugabe last month, that a free and fair election was possible in Zimbabwe. (For those of you who don't know, McKinnon flew in for the day, met with our Prezzie, and flew out again, declaring all was well in the land of the free!) Anyway, Maude's going to put pressure on for observer groups to monitor the elections and stay on for a few weeks afterwards.

The Parties continue to have violent clashes with each other. It's happening every day, in every area - so many injured, hospitalised, intimidated. It just goes on and on.

A Local Headmaster, Paldin Mashonganyika, received a severe assault from ZanuPF youths. They accused him of being an opposition supporter, and beat him in front of his wife and kids. He's on page 6 of the paper, showing his lashed back. At least he has the guts to have his photograph taken and published. The teaching community seem to targeted, maybe because they teach others, and could be wonderful voices for "Change"' Who knows! I just feel so sorry for them.

My receptionist has a young sister, who is only 15. Yesterday, she and a friend were walking home from High School (on the edge of town) when they were approached by 3 youths who asked which party they belonged to. The girls laughed because they thought the young men were teasing them. They got slapped for it, and got such a fright they ran for their lives with the 3 chasing them. Luckily they made it the few streets to town without getting caught, but they are now petrified, and wouldn't go to school today.

Mr Mugabe was heard making a speech on a South African radio channel this morning, reassuring the black business sector of Zimbabwe, that he would help them to take-over white-owned businesses in the country, once he gets re-elected. I want to get to the source of this one, although I do trust the person who told me she had heard it. Let's see if there's anything on it in tomorrow's newspapers. Farms first, then businesses - what next?

What more can I add about today? It has, once again, been a very unsettling day. The problem for most "thinking" folk here is that our future has been taken out of our hands. We all like to be in control of our own future. We like to be able to make plans, based on sensible predictions of what the future holds. This is no longer possible for me. I don't even know what tomorrow may bring, never mind next month. I seem to live one day at a time, and so does everyone else I have spoken to on this issue.

Wednesday 7th June 2000 - 17 days to go.

Today has been very quiet once again - feels like the lull before the storm. Traffic has decreased considerably as a result of the fuel crisis. My daughter phoned from Bulawayo, she said there is no fuel available there at all. A lot of folk slept in their cars at petrol stations, but still no fuel deliveries today. The Government keeps reassuring us that it's on it's way and blames everyone but itself. My daughter also said there was nearly a riot when people went to inspect the Voters Rolls for their constituencies. The usual story, names not on, deceased people on, even candidates not on. So, they will really have to sort themselves out if they plan to get it right within 17 days. (Why am I worrying about it - every bit of evidence so far points to the fact that this will NOT be a free and fair election.) I still can't guess at the outcome though. The ruling party is very worried, to the point of paranoia, hence the intimidation, but I wonder if the terror tactics have worked - which will put them back in the driving seat. I wish it was all over with and then we would know.

The Daily News is telling a story of a Commonwealth adviser who has resigned because of his connections to our President (the plot thickens). Please link to it after you have read this. They also report that Chenjerai Hunzwi, leader of the War Veterans, has threatened the paper. He says he is sick of them tarnishing his image. I think he's doing that all by himself. For those of you who don't know much about him, BBC did a good profile a while back; see if you can pick it up. Most people here feel that he is very dangerous.

We are heading into winter, but Zimbabwe is so beautiful at any time of year. I get so angry at the mess we are in, and have come to realize that maybe I, too, have to accept some of the blame ( a hard pill to swallow). The attitude here after Independence in 1980 was "Well, they've won, let them get on with it !" We all took a back seat, and have had the most wonderful lifestyle for the last twenty years, instead of getting involved. After all, it's our country too. But it's too late now to start analysing.

Students here have been boycotting classes as a protest against the political violence. A few of the student leaders were arrested yesterday, but more boycotts have been planned. This worm is eating its way into every sector of our society. Most of the schools have decided to close over the election period, and for the week afterwards. But in most urban schools, half the kids have already left the country with their Mothers, until after the elections. My sister-in-law and my two young nieces leave next week. She really doesn't want to go, as she's worried about leaving us all behind, but we will all feel safer if the kids are out the country. (Can't believe I'm typing these words and still sitting here!)

I have been getting loads of emails from all over the world, offering encouragement, and also some wondering why on earth we are still here. I'm wondering that myself! Thanks to all of you who are emailing us. I share the emails with family & friends, and they have definitely relieved the feeling of isolation that we have had lately.

Back tomorrow.

Thursday 8th June 2000 - 16 days to go

Our newspaper headlined today with an appeal from top ZanuPF leaders to "end the violence". Bit late! Even if the violence ends, the psychological intimidation has done so much damage to us all. It seems that our leaders are worried as we will be in the international eye until after the elections, and they want the elections to be seen as "free and fair". Try telling that to all the families of those who have been killed, raped & maimed up to now.

Mr. Mugabe has vowed to take back ALL the farmlands from white farmers. 804 farms up to now have been designated for take-over (you can see the full list of the farms designated on the Daily News link on the links page), but it seems he will not be happy until all the land is out of white hands. We keep getting it drummed into us that we are here as a privilege, and that "privilege" can be taken away at any time. My husband's family trekked here from South Africa in the 1880's. They bought and paid for their farm by the sweat of their brows, and backbreaking labour. The land they got was uncultivated bush in the Nyanga district. They lived in their ox wagon for the first two years while they planted a crop and built a small shack to live in. When his grandfather "Oupa" finally left the farm in the late 1970's (he was 96 years old), the Liberation forces burnt it to the ground, and destroyed everything he had worked for. It was heartbreaking at the time. No one else in the family could afford to go back to the farm, and start all over again, so the land was reclaimed by the Government in the 80's. Compensation was paid to my father-in-law - he got ZIM$ 800.00, take it or leave it. He took it.

Our Financial Gazette comes out every Thursday, and today it led with the story of the Voters Roll and all it's errors. My kids are calling it "Tome 2000". It also mentions the Judges who are allegedly not Zimbabweans, as they haven't legally renounced their British citizenship. That one is still under investigation.

How did I feel today ? A lot better than of late. I read a report on the intimidation going on here at the moment. It was compiled by an organisation that specialises in analyzing intimidation. It stated that the level of intimidation in Zimbabwe (physical, mental & emotional), was the highest they had seen in many a year. Whoever masterminded this campaign did a very good job on us all, and now they are asking us all to act "normal" so that the International Community will see there is nothing wrong. MINDBENDING ! But it has strengthened my determination. I am fighting to keep myself from being controlled by the situation. I spent the day up and about at work, chatting and joking with my staff, asking how they and their families are, and it really lifted the spirits. Concern for others keeps the mind off concern for self'. So, will try to keep at it.

It was another lovely, mild, sunny day. The queues for fuel are as long as ever, the quiet remains. One of my employees, a wonderful young man, tells me he has had enough. He is not going to remain quiet for much longer. He has started to speak out, to others, against the violence. His family in the rural areas have been badly affected. His father was beaten last week, and "accused" of being a member of the opposition, and his mother had all her clothes stripped off, and was made to walk 2km's through the bush to her home.

I spoke to a farming gentleman this afternoon, whose foreman has been on the run for the last 6 weeks. This poor man is an ardent MDC supporter, who fled for his life weeks ago, and he has been shifting around Mashonaland ever since. All because he made it known that he is exercising his human right to vote for the party of his choice. His story is not the only one - I could fill a book.

One thing I did sense today, more than any other time in the last few months, is a growing feeling that it's time to speak out. I felt it at work, among my staff, and also speaking to the members of the public with whom I have dealings. It was almost an attitude of "We may be going down, but we are going down fighting". I think most people know that the time has come for 'Change', but most have been just too afraid to say so. I had a meeting with my staff recently to explain the voting procedure, and to stress that NO-ONE would know whom they had voted for. I did not mention the name of any political party at all; I was merely trying to get them to understand the voting procedure. One of my managers (an opposition supporter) spoke to me afterwards and said I shouldn’t have called the meeting. He is worried about my safety. I explained again that I purposely didn't mention any particular party, but he said that the ruling party felt that they were the only one's allowed to call a "political meeting", and he hoped they wouldn't hear about our "meeting". How do I win?

There is a heartbreaking story of a young 16-year-old rural girl on page 24 of our Daily News. Please click the link on the links page and read it.

Tomorrow, I WILL remain positive! I WILL continue to care about others, and how this mess is affecting THEM. I WILL portray the picture of a calm, self-assured woman. I WILL!

Saturday 10th June 2000 - 14 days to go

Where to start ? There seems to be so much on the go at the moment. I couldn't update last night as I was working late, election related, and it was very encouraging.

A few very interesting things have started happening in the last 2 days. The War vets have threatened the election monitors. They have sent out an official warning to all election monitors and observers to STAY AWAY from all commercial farms. It speaks for itself. I also learned today that all the official monitors and observers have to be accredited, at a cost of US$100 each. The visitors may be in for a hard time. I hope not.

Amnesty International published a report stating that the Zimbabwe Government is either instigating or yielding to gross violations of human rights, including extra judicial executions, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment. We know all that! It just takes some people longer than others to recognise it !

We had a blackout again last night - they are becoming regular occurrences around the suburbs of Harare. We were told a few weeks back, that our Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Commission was introducing power-shedding, and each area was informed of times and days that we would be cut off, for 2 or 3 hours at a time. It's most inconvenient, and usually goes off as we are about to start cooking. Zesa is claiming that they are doing it because of the critical shortage of foreign currency, which restricts the importing of power from our neighbouring countries. They are now planning to step up the rationing. Zimbabwe gets 45% of it's power from it's neighbours, South Africa, the Congo and Mozambique. I guess there will be a rush on candles (if we can get them !)

There are growing concerns here that soon everything will be totally out of control. Everyone is talking about it, and even the papers are reporting on it. The Government seems to have lost control to the War Vets. The War Vets leaders seem to have lost control of their mobs. The courts here are proving totally ineffectual without the backing of a law enforcement. The Police Force has lost all credibility after showing itself to have no spine at all. It has proved it's loyalty - to the ruling party, not the State. None of us here feel protected or feel that we have any recourse to the law. When I reported the death threat I had a while back (yes, I did take it seriously), I was attended to by a policeman who clearly thought it was a minor matter, and I know for a fact I'll not hear another word about it. The feeling of insecurity continues.

We have an interesting situation developing. The Daily News reported yesterday, that certain politicians are making statements that are in breach of the Law and Order Maintenance Act and the Electoral Act. One example of this came from Minister of State Security in the President's Office, Sydney Sekeramayi. He said, in public, at a meeting at Marondera, that ZanuPF would know how people voted, and that they would be sorted out afterwards. Can you believe that! and coming from the Minister of State Security ? I can. We are seeing this kind of thing every day. I'll believe anything after this.

Our inflation rate has averaged at 52.5% in the first 4 months of this year. We did some shopping this morning and I thought the women among you might be interested in the prices we paid. They are all in Zimbabwe dollars. Potatoes 5kg-$88. 410g tin of peas-$22.71 500g butter-$105 Loaf of bread-$28 2L Milk-$55 Small cauliflower-$50 Tomatoes-$12each 750gm Coffee-$298.03 Lemons-$6each 5L Cooking oil-$250 250gm dried raisins-$66.

Our Zimbabwe Independent reported today that the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange has lost $30 billion in the last 4 months. Click the link on the links page to read further.

I am going to spend the next hour updating the latest farm report. Please check it out.

Monday 12th June - 12 days to go

A lot has been happening over the weekend. Our President went walk-about, accompanied by a few of his top men, and openly proclaimed that the farm invasions must not stop. He said that the invasions must intensify after the elections. He told the press last week that if the farmers resist, they will die. I feel so angry, and so helpless. There is not much any of us can do except VOTE. The list of farms that have been designated for compulsory acquisition, which was published in our local press a few days ago, is apparently, wrong. So a new revised list will be published soon. Quite a few farmers were relieved to find their names were not on the list, but I guess they will all be holding their breaths for the next one. Not that it is going to make any difference, it seems that Mugabe really does want all the farmers to disappear (and possibly all the whites). During his speech, referring to David Stevens, the first farmer to be shot dead on the 15th April, he said Stevens was the one who started the war. At a later rally, party activists, led by Mugabe, told supporters that the enemy was the MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, and everyone and everything around him. I honestly believe that this includes all whites. Mugabe has, on more than one occasion, openly blamed the whites for the rise in popularity of the MDC. He is convinced that we are all funding the MDC. (With the current cost of living, I can barely afford to fund my family !) At the rally, the supporters were all madly chanting, "Down with Tsvangirai, down with his wife, down with his children, down with his totem, down with his dogs, down with even the cup that he drinks his tea from." Yes, really !

The United Nations monitoring force has pulled out of Zimbabwe. They did have earlier meetings with Mugabe, where they were led to believe that they would be co-coordinating the observers, but have since been told that they are now only observers themselves. It reminds me of the story of the man who picked up a badly injured snake. He took it home and nursed it back to health, whereupon it bit him. "Why did you bite me, after all I have done for you?" the man asked. "Why did you pick me up," it replied, "you knew I was a snake". Well, they have left us. The observers who have stayed on, have been warned by the leader of the war vets, Chenjerai Hunzvi, not to go anywhere near the farms, or address the land reform issue. It is none of their business, they have been told. So, what exactly are they going to do? Stand at each election booth and watch us going in and out? The intimidation is going on in the high-density suburbs, rural areas and farmlands. This is where the beatings, rapes, indoctrination etc. are occurring, out of the public eye.

Don McKinnon, Commonwealth Secretary General, said yesterday that conditions in Zimbabwe did not appear to be conducive to 'free and fair elections'. That took a long time coming ! A few weeks in fact.

The city of Harare appears quite calm, but the folk of the city of Harare are all looking forward to the election with trepidation. Most people I speak to can't wait to get it over with, but at the same time are dreading it. It seems that most of the flights out of Harare are fully booked for the next two weeks. I know for a fact, that they are filled with women & children, who are anticipating violence, and would feel safer elsewhere. I do not plan to leave over the voting period, but will keep a very low profile for the week afterwards as well. I may not even go to work. I'll see what's happening closer to the time. I, too, wish it was over with. The last few months have been such a strain on everyone.

I have had so many emails from people asking why we are still here. It's not easy just to walk out and leave behind everything you have worked for. I know we may yet live to regret it. There are hundreds of houses for sale, and no one is buying them. There are adverts two columns long selling household effects (the adverts state 'owner leaving, everything must go'), but nobody is buying. The events leading to the elections have happened so quickly, and for the first month we really though the madness would stop. No one really wants to pack up their homes and leave on the spur of the moment. We are all hoping that things will improve. We will know in two weeks time.

The forex situation hasn't changed at all, people are desperately buying up all the forex they can get. The fuel situation has not improved, despite all the reassurances that "it's on the way". A lot of households are stockpiling basic foodstuffs, in anticipation of huge price hikes after we devalue, which should be soon after the elections, so certain food items are disappearing from the shelves. A lot of small businesses are closing down. They can't get forex, or imported stock. A friend of mine, a Labour Department Officer, was handed 17 cases last week; companies closing down. She is to mediate between management & staff on the closure packages for the staff. And she is not the only officer in that Department. She said the situation is getting critical. Many companies are working a three-day week. Who knows where it will end.

Are we all fooling ourselves by sitting it out ? I just don't know.

Wednesday 14th June 2000 - 10 days to go

I could not update again last night - power cut ! The Government doesn't pay it's bills, and we get the power cuts !

The weather here in Harare is fine and mild today. Beautiful sunshine as usual. There is still no fuel; the situation in Bulawayo is reported to be critical.

Well, the stage is almost set for the big day. It seems that all the monitors and observers are in place, and, one assumes, have started their monitoring & observing. They have been given "permission", by Chenjerai Hunzvi, leader of the war vets, to visit farms ! But, they have had strict instructions NOT to talk to any of the farm workers. Hunzvi said "If you want to visit, you are welcome, just don't speak to the workers, because you will speak about land, and that is a separate issue. It has nothing to do with this election". So there !

We have Winnie Mandela stomping around the countryside at the moment - something to do with football (no, not this time) - a cup final of women’s football at the weekend. She was taken to visit one of the white-owned invaded farms, and after spending half an hour there, says she now understands more about the people who are "supposed" to have invaded the farms. She is pictured in the Daily News with Chen Hunzvi, giving the power-fisted salute.

A garage owner in Raffingora has been having a lot of trouble since Monday. ZanuPF activists stuck their posters on the large plate glass windows of the garage. The owner told them he could not allow it as it was the policy of the fuel company not to have any political posters on display, as this could result in damage to the garage. The 4 men then left and returned with approximately 20 war veterans, who arrived with sticks and spears and threatened the owner. The owner & his employees were threatened with death. He was then told to leave the district and was forced to close the garage. The garage is the sole retail fuel outlet for the community.

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Organisation has set up a fund to help more than 6000 people fleeing from political violence in rural Mashonaland and Midlands provinces. They have asked each Zimbabwean to donate $1 to the fund. This, in a land where our leaders are trying to convince the outside world that there is no trouble. So many people here have fled their homes and possessions and come into the towns for safety. So many are housed in safe-houses to protect then from the wrath of our governing party. It is treated as a crime to be a member of the opposition. Even the newspapers report that so-and-so has been "accused" of being a member of the opposition.

I have spent a lot of time lately questioning my staff, and customers alike, on what is happening in our high density suburbs around Harare. It seems the beatings etc. have not stopped, and continue to be meted out under cover of darkness. I have asked many people what will happen if ZanuPF wins the election. Most agree that there will be full scale rioting etc. They say the MDC has so much support, that if it is reported that ZanuPF have won, then the people will know that the result has been rigged and will not accept it. I dread the days after the election. I heard today that quite a number of businesses are closing for the week after the election. It may be worth considering.

I have to admit that I am getting more and more nervous as the day draws nearer. I doubt that there will be too much trouble on the actual voting days, 24th & 25th, but I dread the time when the results are being announced. I cannot picture the winner shaking hands with the loser ! The scene in my mind is so awful that I have make a conscious effort to think of something else.

Friends in Chinhoyi have had their farm designated for compulsory acquisition. They have started packing up their belongings. His father bought the farm in 1936. They are very distraught, heartbroken, and don't know what will become of them. I, too, am heartbroken for them.

I will be updating the latest farm report tonight. Please check it out.

Friday 16th June 2000 - 8 days to go

Updating later tonight

Didn't make it - sorry !

Sunday 18th June - 6 days to go

I haven't updated for a few days. Between server problems, working late, electricity cuts etc. its become rather difficult.

Well, we are drawing nearer and nearer to voting day, and the situation is getting rather tense. So many people are preparing to leave this coming week, some for good, and some for the next 2 or 3 weeks. Business everywhere seems to have ground to a halt - there are exceptions of course. We are very busy at work - all election related printing - but I am getting very worried about the turnover once the elections are over ! It might take an enormous dive ! Hope not, but it certainly looks that way. I know of so many businesses that have come to a standstill, and 3 major companies (I cannot name them yet) have gone into liquidation this week. These are large businesses, employing hundreds of people !

Last minute attempts are being made by all political parties to gather votes. There are rallies being held this weekend, there was one yesterday in Harare, and another big one today. I haven't heard yet if they have gone off smoothly or not. The intimidation continues, and has actually got a lot worse in some of the rural areas. ZanuPF activists are now confiscating Identity Documents from any person they assume to be an opposition member. No one can vote without an I.D. so they have resorted to this despicable act. Thousands are still fleeing into the towns from the rural areas. Life is just too harsh for them, and their families. I pray to God this madness will end after the elections.

I am not going to update you on all the news you can pick up in the newspapers here. Please go to my links page for that. I would just like to talk about the feelings of the people here.

There are so many schools of thought on what is going to happen after the votes are cast. I have questioned my employees, business owners, farmers, in fact anyone who is prepared to predict what will happen, and they are all coming up with different theories.

Most think that there will be an awful lot of fighting should ZanuPF win. The man in the street is convinced that the MDC should win - they claim that their support is unbelievable, and that people are going to ZanuPF rallies, and showing support merely to appease, and keep themselves and their families from harm. So the theory is that the vote will have been rigged if ZanuPF win, and the public will not accept this. I have been told that many people in the high density suburbs have started arming themselves in anticipation of the outcome.

Should the MDC win the election, a lot of folk are convinced that there will be a military coup. Many believe that the armed forces, and the police force in this country are loyal only to ZanuPF, and that Mugabe just has to say the word, should he feel he is losing power. This is a frightening thought.

Others believe, and I am inclined to be one of them, should ZanuPF lose, they will admit defeat ! (Am I being optimistic ?) I feel, as long as the ballot papers can be counted properly (one hopes the observers will do their job correctly), the MDC stands a good chance of pulling this one off. EVERYONE I speak to has said that the Government has underestimated the opposition - hence the panic in the last few months. This panic has resulted in so much violence, and has only made the opposition stronger. This is the general feeling on the street. But, we all know that there is so much going on under the surface - it could go any way. I am dreading it.

Family life continues as near normal as we can make it. We all function as we have been doing for the last while, and try to push the awful thoughts to the backs of our minds ! We have to continue ! We, as a family, have put so much pressure on ourselves to decide our future, but we have realised that this is not necessary. The decision will be made for us, after next weekend. Then, at last, we will definitely know whether we are going are staying. We have to take a very broad look at the future. At the moment, my husband's job has come to a standstill - he has no stock to sell, and unless the currency situation improves, he is not likely to have any in the near future. Even if things go the way we want them to with the elections, this country is going to take so long to recover from the damage inflicted on it by it's government.

Wednesday 21st June 2000 - 3 days to go

Where to start ? So much is happening. During the last few days the International observers have been traveling the country, and they are not very happy with what they are seeing. They, themselves, are horrified at the extent of the physical & emotional intimidation. They are calling for an end to the violence so that decent people can get down to the job of voting. One international organisation, the National Democratic Institute (from Washington DC), have been here for many months, training election monitors and doing all they can to promote a free and fair election (all at their own cost, I might add). This organisation recently published an account of the violence here, and stated publicly that there could be no free and fair elections in Zimbabwe in the current climate. For their pains they have been refused accreditation as monitors. They are bitterly disappointed. As I said, they have been here a long time, and put in an awful lot of work. It's a great pity !

I just have to repeat a comment that was published in the Daily News yesterday (20th June). Our Vice President, Simon Muzenda, who was addressing a crowd who had turned out for his rally (a disappointing number, we are told) said the following to the folk. "You WILL vote for the ZanuPF candidate for your area ! If I should show you a baboon, and tell you he is the candidate, you WILL vote for him". Yes, really. Well, needless to say, there is a cartoon in today's paper showing a baboon all dresses up as a candidate.

A member of my staff, and her husband, were forcibly removed from their homes on Sunday morning, trundled on to a bus with a lot of others, and ferried to the ZanuPF rally in Harare. She said she was petrified. They were warned on the bus that the International Press would be at the rally, and could focus the cameras on them, so they should sing and shout as loud as they could. She and her husband sang and shouted. Her husband, with a crowd of men, was then ferried to a farm area, where he had to give his name so that he could come later to claim his land. This man is no fool, so he went along with everything he was told to do, thank goodness. He eventually got home late at night, much to his wife's relief. She pleaded with me for time off to go and buy ZanuPF cards for herself and her family. She said the same men who forced them to attend the rally, are coming back one night this week to check that they have the cards. She also said, had she even had the faintest glimmer of hope in ZanuPF, it has now died. She will be voting MDC with all her family.

Thursday tomorrow, and we start to cast our votes on Saturday morning. I don't anticipate much trouble at the polling booths in the cities, but I wonder what is going to happen in the rural areas. We plan to lie low for the whole weekend, as do most folk. We should see the results coming in from Tuesday, and if there is going to be trouble, it will be when the results start coming in. I get frightened when I watch the International news. South African news headlined this morning that a warning of imminent war has been issued by the observers. This has not been reported in our press. Journalists (including South Africans) were in their car visiting farmlands, when they were set upon by war vets and young thugs and had their car smashed to pieces. Maybe this could have sparked the headline of war looming. To us, it's a common occurrence.

My neighbours daughter-in-law arrived at their house half an hour ago. She had fled from their farm in Raffingora. Her husband, my neighbours son, has stayed behind to do what he can to protect their property. They were invaded by war vets this afternoon. Their labour force is terrified, and she got the children (3 children under 5 years of age) into the car as fast as she could, and headed for town. She is devastated, and deeply concerned for her husband.

Tension is definitely mounting. The city is full of people doing shopping to stock up their larders for the next week. No-one plans to be anywhere but work and home. We have not yet decided whether to open at work next week, but we will definitely be closing all our branches on Saturday, to give people a chance to vote early and then get home. I watched the celebrations 20 years ago, from the 3rd floor of a building in Harare city centre, when ZanuPF came to power. As I said, it was a celebration, and people were smashing every car that passed, jumping on to the roofs of buses, and generally going mad. So, God help us if they get angry !

There are rumours that President Mugabe is going to declare a state of emergency any day now, and cancel the elections, but, as I say, these are only rumours, and I don't think that will happen. It has gone too far, and even he must see that it has to happen. The people would not stand for it.

I feel like we are in the eye of a hurricane, which is going to start shifting at any moment, and we will then feel the full force of the storm. I hope I am wrong.

Back tomorrow.

Friday 23rd June 2000 - 4pm - D-Day tomorrow !

Well, the eve of our elections has finally arrived ! The wait has felt so long, and has been so filled with the worst violence and intimidation imaginable. At times I have despaired of ever seeing this day come. But, as a nation, we have finally made it to the night before - without a civil war, or a canceling of the elections. I can hardly believe it, and find myself holding my breath in anticipation of something happening which could stop us from voting tomorrow. The voting will be spread over 2 days, Saturday and Sunday, and there are predictions that the results should start coming in on Monday afternoon. I have closed all of our Branches at work, and we are all home early, and will not be working over the weekend.

Even today, at this last moment, the papers are filled, once again, with awful horror stories of beatings and torture. It seems the campaign to intimidate the electorate will go on until the last possible moment. God help the victims, and God help the torturers if they lose the elections. Such unspeakable acts of violence on another human being cannot be forgotten, and I live in hope that Justice will finally prevail, and the torturers will be made to pay for their crimes.

My staff are both excited and petrified. They were all rushing me at work today, asking me what was going to happen. How could I answer them ? What can I say ? I don't know. I guess we'll be glued to the TV all weekend, watching the BBC or Sky. Our local TV station is a conductor of Government propaganda, and it sickens me to watch it.

I watched BBC news at 6pm, and discovered that we have allowed more International observers, and more local monitors. It still won't be enough though.

So, this is it ! This is what it's all been building up to. I will update tomorrow after my visit to the polling booth, and tell you all what I see happening there. I will also update throughout the whole weekend, as events are happening.

Think of us here, both black & white, as we go to the Polls tomorrow. All we want, most of us here, is to live in peace. Pray for that "Change" to come to Zimbabwe this weekend.

Please read the latest press release from the MDC. It's an eye-opener !

Saturday 24th June 2000 - This is it !!!!!

Well, it's finally arrived - the day we have all been waiting for. The next 2 days will decide our future. Do we go or do we stay - I will be able to tell you the answer next week. Should ZanuPF win these elections, Zimbabwe is in for a pitiful future. Don't just take my word for it, consult any economic analyst, and you will be told the same thing. I have no intention of staying in a country run by a dictator, the suppression/oppression (call it what you like) is just too much for me. It will continue if he gets back in, and I'm afraid it's not for us.

The queues at our polling booth were very long, and when it was finally my husbands turn, it was discovered that his name is NOT on the register for our area - so he could not vote. "Livid" is not the word that quite describes his reaction to this. He registered in good time. He has been told to go back later this afternoon when an additional list may arrive. You could hear him 2 blocks away !!!!

I am going to copy an email in here. I received it this morning - I get them every day from the MDC Support centre here in Harare.

ELECTION UPDATES 24 JUNE - reports to 9.30am

Reports of massive intimidation were being received from around the country. They ranged from barricades being set up by war veterans and blocking or attacking polling agents; to international observers appearing not to know electoral law; to the abduction of polling agents; or polling agents not being allowed into booths; and many complaints about people who were on the original voters roll or supplementary rolls, not being on the roll today.

Problems with voter rolls reported from Borrowdale and Harare East. Craighie Polling Station has the wrong voters roll. Mt Pleasant High was missing two voters rolls.

MASHONALAND CENTRAL:- Guruve South: Bus in Victory Block attacked, 10 injured, one missing. Reported to police. Midvale Farm W/Vets camped at Gapwe/Dunavete. Dalston Farm 400 youths collected Friday night at Chinhamwe and were intimidating workers (Mark Hook 091236491) Marijnara Farm Abductions of farm workers reported

MAZOE EAST Hayshot farm - followed by a Zanu PF truck with 13 Zanu PF youths followed his truck to polling station and forced them to turn around. The youths then proceeded to polling station and were threatening voters.

BINDURA - ZanuPF truck is blocking the main road into Pinto Park, the polling station and not allowing anyone to go through

HARARE EAST Chikurubi polling station not accepting receipts for the supplementary roll, telling people to return Sunday. Highlands School polling station - four local monitors ejected from the polling booth by the presiding officer just after international observers passed through. The constituency registrar was turning away transfers even though people were on the roll at Hatfield. Queensdale Polling station - all polling agents were pushed out and were told their accreditation was not valid until the MDC candidate arrived and ensured their readmittance. OAU observers tried to disallow the MDC candidate from the Hatfield constituency.

HARARE NORTH Sangononoyi Inn Policeman refused to allow MDC candidate Trudy Stevenson (091-315-289) into polling station and would not give his police force number.

MASHONALAND WEST: ZVIMBA NORTH - Voters are being made to put ink on their fingers before their names are checked

MASHONALAND CENTRAL: Centenary: Extensive intimidation of farm workers and farmers reported. Nyanmetsa Polling station - no MDC polling agents, 3 war vets inside polling station. Muzarabani constituency

HWEDZA: Peter Trigg, an election agent and polling agents were stopped at barricades on a farm and around 20 war veterans tried to pull them from their vehicle, they resisted and the car was pelted with stones and badly damaged. They managed to drive to a polling station and reported the incident to 4 police officers who did nothing. They left that polling station and encountered another barricade with around 15 war vets, they drove back to the polling station and this time police reinforcements came out.

MATABELELAND

BULAWAYO: Dumiso Dabengwa, Minister of Home Affairs was not on the voters' roll but the Constituency Officer allowed him to vote; this privilege was also extended to MDC legal head, David Coltart who was also not on the voters roll. No supplementary roll in many places, people with a receipt for re-registration are not allowed to vote because they are not on roll. At the Famona fire station, Bulawayo South the international observers and police said people should be allowed to vote if they have a receipt, but generally this is not happening. Last night 10 people in Lobengula were beaten up and had their ID cards stolen by ZanuPF. Five MDC youths were abducted from homes in Lobengula West, were beaten up, then held in Block 59 Ndlovu's house and then released. A number of additional youths still being held. Police notified at Mpopoma police station.

COLLEEN BAWN - a policeman in that area has Tendai Buzi (016-284-387)

Keep up the momentum!

Back later

Monday 26th June 2000 - 6pm

We are still waiting - seems to be the story of our lives !

But let me start with yesterday. I couldn't update as the server was giving problems. It seems that everything in Zimbabwe is giving problems at the moment.

The vote in the cities seemed to go off fairly peacefully, but there were many reports of violence and intimidation in the rural areas. No, my husband did NOT get to finally cast his vote, and he does feel cheated.

All of us at work today were very tense. The staff were anxious, and yet excited, and kept coming to me asking if I had heard any results yet. By lunch time we were all frantic, and so I phoned the MDC offices, who then continued to update me all afternoon. By the time I left work at 4pm, the MDC had informed us that they have a definite win in 28 seats so far. Then, when we got home, we discovered that our Registrar General had just announced to the International Press that counting had not even started yet, except for one constituency. What is his game, I wonder. Sky news had just re-iterated this at 6.30pm, and then, not 10 minutes later, announced that the RG had said the results of 3 constituencies had come in, all in favour of the MDC. Sky News staff were even wondering how there could be a claim of "counting hasn't started yet" to "results for 3 constituencies" in a matter of minutes. I keep checking MDC's website for results, but nothing yet so far.

This is the new url of the MDC if you want to check it out.

http://www.in2zw.com/mdc

So, once again - we wait !

Tuesday 27th June 2000

Well, the reults are all finally in, and it's MDC 58 seats, ZanuPF 61. It is so close. There is talk of rigging, and the MDC are going to contest the results of up to 20 seats. We had really been expecting a lot of trouble today, but all has been calm. The majority of Zimbabweans have shown an unusual maturity in accepting the result, and are saying that we now have a blocking mechanism in place. They are right. ZanuPF and Robert Mugabe no longer make all the decisions for me and everyone else.

My family and I are taking a long, hard look at what we will have to go through here in Zimbabwe, while we wait for the economy to get on it's feet. Predictions for the next 5 years don't look too good. Will the foreign investment come ? We don't know. There has been no talk of it yet. I think people need time for the results to sink in, and to realise exactly what these results mean.

Our decision, as a family (and we are not getting any younger), will be based on what we are prepared to put up with, until Zimbabwe is stable - and will it ever be really stable. We have some hard thinking to do. We are weighing up all the pros and cons, and will have to make a very sensible decision. It's not easy. The tension, the horror, the crimes committed in the last few months (against innocent people) go a long way to helping us make this decision. As of today, no-one has been brought to book for all the inhuman acts of intimidation, the beatings, rapes or murders. The families of the murdered, black and white, may find that there will never be any justice for them - I feel their loved one's died for nothing. This was not meant to be a fight, it was meant to be an election - and yet it turned into a horror story.

Wednesday 28th June 2000

Before I start with any news, I need to say some thank yous. There have been so many people emailing me from all over the world. Most of them have given us enormous encouragement and good advice. A few think we are fools for being here in the first place - they say we should have left years ago. Well, thank you to all of you. I feel as though some are becoming friends, and hope to continue email correspondence long after this site is a dim memory. Thanks to those in the US, Alaska, India, Australia, UK, SA. I hope I haven't forgotten anyone. I appreciate the interest you have all shown. I had almost given up on the human race - and then I was made to realise that there are kind, wonderful people out there, who really do care about what happens to the folk here in Zimbabwe. It's warmed the cockles, I can tell you !

The MDC has decided to take action in the courts - there are disputing the results at 10 polling stations. ZanuPF folk are graciously holding out the hand of friendship to all who will accept it ! "We have to forget the past" they say "and start afresh". Who are they trying to kid. The ZanuPF candidate for Kariba, who won his seat, has been shunned by his new constituents. He cut a very lonely figure yesterday as he drove through Kariba and both men & women turned their backs on him. One of the victims of intimidation at Kariba was released from Chinhoyi hospital today.

Many of the farmers, who's farms were designated for compulsory acquisition, are taking it to the courts. They have had to remain silent all these months as their lives, and the lives of their families and workers, were at risk. At last they are speaking out !

The MDC candidate, who won the seat in KweKwe is still in hiding. He had to flee, his house was burnt out and his family threatened. He did not even show up for the celebration of his win, poor soul !

Roy Bennet, the white farmer from Chimanimani (I mentioned him earlier), has won the seat by a good majority in Chimanimani. This is a rural area, and has been a ZanuPF stronghold for many years. Well, the people want change and they are certainly getting it. We have 5 whites who won the vote in their constituencies. Change is definitely on the way, and this is how it should be. Despite Mr Mugabe's feeling on whites in this country, there are whites here who are ZIMBABWEANS - BORN & BRED, and they have a right to be a part of the governing procedure. I think we have all been taught a lesson here - take part! react! do something before it's too late! Those in power are there because the people allow it. They receive their salaries from the people, and therefore they are answerable to the people. This is normal practice all over the world, but it has taken the people of Zimbabwe 20 years to realise this. It will make them stronger for the future.

And what of us ? Well, we have decided we are leaving. We have a limited time to build up enough to allow us to retire in peace & prosperity (one day). We are both hard working, capable individuals. I am the General Manager of a company with 8 Branches. I am no fool. My husband is the Sales Manager of a large company, and the best salesman in Zimbabwe, I might add. So we feel we should be able to make a go of it somewhere else. We can't wait for much longer, as our ages are against us. (Once you're pushing 50 they think you are over the hill !) Not us ! We are going for it ! Where ? Who knows yet ! Any job offers out there for a vibrant 49 year old grandmother ? We WILL make it !

Monday 3rd July 2000

Well, the election results seem to have been accepted by most people, but the MDC is definitely taking some of the results to court. The papers are still reporting clashes between supporters of the different parties, but most of it is going on in the rural areas. ZanuPF supporters are beating up folk in areas where MDC won the seat, and MDC supporters are getting their own back on the Zanu lot that beat them up. I'm so tired of all the fighting !

Today was the last day for farmers to instruct their attorneys on disputing the compulsory acquisition of their land. They had until this afternoon to lodge their cases with the courts, so all was hustle and bustle in legal circles today. I hope all goes well for them. I don't see why they should have to leave their land without compensation of some sort.

My staff have all settled down, and we are back hard at work. They were not happy with the election results. They all feel that the MDC should have won more seats than they did. But I am encouraging them all to work to the future and get on with it. The legal system will (hopefully) handle the recounts or revotes in the correct manner.

Petrol is available at the moment, but there is no diesel at all. We are expecting petrol to run out once again soon.

Mugabe is going to start choosing his cabinet before long, and I do not envy the job the cabinet will have in front of them. I was talking to an economic advisor from one of the donor agencies, and he predicts that it will take Zimbabwe years to recover from the damage inflicted on it in the last few months - damage which was inflicted by it's own leaders, who show no remorse whatsoever, and still remain as arrogant as they ever were. It sickens me. But the collapse of the economy was inevitable, it has been coming for years, and no-one had done anything to rectify the situation. The drama of the last few months was just the straw that broke the camels back. My friend, the economist, said that there may indeed be aid forthcoming from donor agencies - most of them felt an obligation to the people of Zimbabwe. But the difference between aid and investment needs to be stressed here, and he felt that it would take a very long time before investor's confidence is restored

On the home front, we have started contacting companies in South Africa for employment. South Africa might not be the final answer for us, but it is certainly the better option at the moment. So, hopefully, we should be getting responses soon.

I've had to take a good look around the house to see what I am going to sell - not much fun ! But we won't be able to take a lot. I got a quote from a removal company - for an average household from Harare to Johannesburg, will cost approx $100 000.00, yes I nearly fell over too. So I will have to be ruthless ! It's not easy.

We are well into winter at the moment and have started lighting a fire in the house every night. Those of you who have never been to Southern Africa may not believe this is necessary, but our temperatures go down to below freezing at night. Luckily it doesn't last long, and our summer will be well on it's way half way through August.

Back soon

Wednesday 5th July 2000

Hi Folks. It's still COLD ! Wish summer would hurry up and come back.

The MDC is calling for Robert Mugabe to be impeached ! They claim a full investigation into the reign of terror leading up to the elections, should take place. I agree. Why should anyone get away with what ZanuPF have been getting away with for the last few months. The devastation to the population as a whole is immense. PEOPLE ARE STILL FRIGHTENED ! I am noticing this more and more. I had begun to think that it was all over, and the country could get on with it, but it's far from over. People are still afraid to speak out. They are still afraid to say they are MDC supporters. NOT ONE MEMBER OF MY STAFF, 90% OF WHOM SUPPORT THE MDC, WILL ADMIT TO IT IN PUBLIC ! That shows me how deeply the intimidation affected them. They still talk in whispers if anything political is being discussed, and they still tell me to "SHHHHHH" when I open my mouth. How long will this go on ?

The papers are filled, as usual, with tales of corruption (in very high places!) It seems that there has been fraud & embezzlement in almost every Government Department, Parastatal etc. People are being suspended, pending investigations, left, right & centre. The town and city councils across the country are all almost bankrupt, and investigations are being conducted into - wait for it - fraud & embezzlement by top members of the councils. It goes on and on. It's no wonder this country is bankrupt. So many people have been feathering their nests at the expense of the man in the street. It is really going to be a hard task to get things right.

Food prices are increasing. It seems everything goes up by a few dollars every time we walk into a shop. I am noticing a lack of imported goods on shelves here and there. This should get worse as the forex situation worsens. Well, actually, it couldn't get much worse. There are people getting forex from the banks, but it seems to be on a "who you know" basis. Some businesses are getting forex for their imports, but are paying such inflated prices.

The owner of the local garage where we fill up has warned us to keep the tank topped up. He says fuel supplies are going to become more and more erratic. Our plans are going ahead, but very slowly. We have no intention of rushing off. We have a lot of years ahead of us, so we can afford to take a few months to get this right. I am sad about going - get quite upset when I think of it, but the decision has been made, and I do think it's the right one for us.

Monday 10th July 2000

I can't believe it's almost a week since I updated !

Where to begin ? We have had a terrible tragedy here in Zimbabwe, with our Police tear gassing at our National Football Stadium. The fans were apparently throwing bottles on to the pitch, and the police fired teargas canisters into the crowds (in a confined space).The resulting stampede has so far caused 12 deaths, some of them young children, and so many were injured. It was the talk of the town today - most folk are devastated, and wondering how this could have happened. There will, of course, be an investigation into it.

On the political front, we are seeing quite a few changes. Staunch members of ZanuPF are defecting to the MDC ! It seems that most of them stood in their constituencies for ZanuPF, lost their seats, and are now crossing over. A few of them commented that they had already made up their minds to join the MDC w..a..y back in February. Hmmmmm! We have our municipal and mayoral elections coming up, and a few of the defectors would like to stand for these elections, under the umbrella of the MDC. Morgan Tsvangirai is welcoming them, but warning that their defections do not automatically guarantee them prominent positions within his party. Former Harare town clerk, Mr Kanengoni, who has been known for years as the most staunch supporter of ZanuPF, has suddenly defected to the MDC, and announced his intention to contest the Mayoral elections as an MDC candidate. That makes a lot of sense ! There is no way in hell he would get in standing as a ZanuPF candidate ! Well, whichever way the wind blows, I guess.

Our War Veterans, yes, the same one's who have been illegally camped on farms since February, are now demanding Cabinet positions. They are demanding key ministerial posts, and governorships, to seal off rural Zimbabwe from opposition political influence ahead of the Presidential elections. It will be very interesting to see how our President handles this.

I had an interesting experience today. I sent a member of my staff to get a duplicate of a study permit. Another staff member had damaged the said study permit, and I felt we had to replace it for the customer. My man came back & said it would cost Zim $1200 to replace it, but it could also cost Zim$500 if he rushed back with the money straight away. I didn’t quite get his meaning, but finally got it out of him that the official was willing to do it on the quiet for $500 – no receipt, no questions asked. Well – that did it. I have not been that angry for a long time. I marched off to the Permit’s offices, my employee in tow, and confronted the man my employee pointed out to me. There were 3 staff members in his office, and a few members of the public, and I went ballistic ! I am so sick & tired of the bribery and corruption. I really let him have it. He back-stepped immediately, and said my employee must have misunderstood. He then turned to my employee and said (in the local language – Shona) “Why did you bring her, I was just trying to help YOU.” He did not realize that I am almost fluent in Shona ! I EXPLODED ! I made sure everyone could hear me when I accused him of trying to coerce my staff member into giving him a bribe. I told them all that THIS was the reason our Government was bankrupt – the fact that money intended for Government departments was going into the pockets of employees. I WILL go back there tomorrow morning, and I WILL speak to his Superiors. Enough ! I’m really going to see this one through. Will let you know what happens tomorrow.

Saturday 22nd July 2000

First off all, sorry for not updating for a while. I have been in Bulawayo with my daughter & family. My son-in-law had a very nasty car accident, so I went down to help where I could. He is on the mend, but has facial injuries which are quite serious. I got home to a string of emails from folk asking why I hadn’t updated.

This will be a brief update, (I’m still unpacking), and then I will get down to more detail later today. So, on to Zimbabwe, and what’s happening.

It’s the middle of winter, and today the sun is shining, and it is rather warm. The nights are freezing !

The country is settling down, Mugabe has announced his Cabinet, and the violence in the rural areas, continues. I have been out of touch with people for the last week and a half, due to my Bulawayo trip, but I’ll be back at work on Monday, and get the feelings on the new cabinet etc. (I have to admit I haven’t even read the paper for the last 4 days !)

The country is out of diesel once again, and it is predicted that we only have enough petrol to last a few weeks. Mugabe has been reassuring the electorate that there is a solution to the problems, and “they” are well on their way to solving one national crisis after another. The gall of it ! I will, later on today, make a list of the problems facing the country at the moment. Believe me, it’s going to be a long list!

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