THE IMMENSE AND BROODING SPIRIT STILL SHALL QUICKEN AND CONTROL...
When was the last time you went to the Matopos ? Come on ..... 'fess up !!
Here we live 20 kilometres away from one of the World Heritage Sites... and you have not
been there for ages have you ?
Well I know exactly how you feel, because we are as guilty as the rest of Bulawayo !!
HeeHoo and I took advantage of the cloudy weather on Sunday to visit Efifi. We needed
some exercise to clear away the fog, and with the unmistakable smell of rain in the air,
the Matopos beckoned relentlessly.
13 Cars had passed through the main gates, (I suspect some might have been members of
the Matobo Conservation Society)
It was gloriously green, the staff at the gate were most welcoming, and on the road to
Efifi, we saw a herd of Kudu Cows and an African Hawk eagle.
We were the sole occupants of this exquisite spot, shouldering a small cooler box, Heehoo
valiantly climbed up the mountain while I swung my camera round and round marvelling at
the light, pretending I was not out of breath at the climb !!
A 360 degree vista of the Matopos is unlike anything else in the world. Kopjes, dwalas,
cairns, balancing rocks, there is nothing like it anywhere else, it is our own hidden deep
dark precious secret.
I scanned the horizons, the rock caves, the shadows in the great grey cracks for leopard,
this being one of the most densely populated leopard territories in Zimbabwe.
Heehoo scanned the skies and cliff sides for Black Eagle. The Matopos is possibly the most
important breeding ground for Black Eagle in all of Africa.
The lichen clinging to the rock had turned lime green in anticipation of the storm, the vast
rock face looked a like an immense field of yellow daisies.
There were no rock pools yet, too early for these, but the fabled "Everlasting Plant" clung
black and tenacious in wind which heralded the approaching rain, always in the trusting
hope of "being green" once again.
The dark swirling clouds circled us, blotting out the sun, lightening jiggered through the
clouds in the distance.
A little apprehensive of this phenomena, we counted the seconds between the lightening
and the cracks of thunder, some vague geography lesson lingered on still !!
An African storms is so inexplicable, it comes when you least expect it, but it was not to
be, and so it thundered off into the bellicose distance, while we enjoyed the last shards of
sunlight from our eyrie in the heavens.
It was dark when we tottered off down the mountainside. ..... we needed that little Matopos
interlude.
It is magic moments like those that make our time in Zimbabwe sustain one with its vast
beauty, and its almost religious presence. A day in the Matopos, I can promise you, will
keep you with your heart in your mouth, and your mind on what is important in life.
Accorsi- To Matthew and Bridget (nee Gillies) a daughter
Olivia Bella, on the 9th November in London.
Accorsi- To Matt and Bridgie
Well done. We are so proud of first grandchild.
Colin and Merle.
Graham MacKenzie and Carol Warren have pleasure in announcing that they
were married on 17th November 2007.
Pauline's family would like to invite all her friends to join them for a
memorial service to celebrate her life on the 30 th November 2007 at 10.00
am at Christ the King Church, Hillside.
DENNY AUDREY KATHLEEN (KAY)
Gone to be with John. Will be sadly missed by all who knew her and her very nature of
always kindness.
Goodbye my dear friend
Marion
Schultz - Basil John
Beloved father of Tim and Bianca and Grandfather of Rebecca, Matthew, Jordan
and (future) Courtney. Passed away after a long illness on the 15 November
2007. Dad you will never be forgotten, you will be remembered for your
sense of humour and strong will. We love you dearly.
CONDOLENCES
IVAN PERIBONIS - Our deepest sympathy to Sylvia on the passing of your dear son, may
the Lord be your comfort and strength.
Bess, Charlie and Frances Stanbury - Jenni, Paul and Shane Searle and families.
New Adams and Olive Tree Farms --- grateful thanks for all the prayers over the past
twenty years for Laura and Matthew. God bless you all.
In The Chronicle on page 5 of Tuesday, 13 November there are 5 adverts listing the
proposed increases. The ones which will affect all house owners are the Owners Rates on
Land and Improvements. The rateable value remains the same, but the factor by which
each dollar is multiplied has been increased:
for land from 9.83078 to 103.36686
for improvements from 2.15193 to 22.62690
plus VAT
plus increases in sewage and other charges (all listed in The Chronicle).
I have estimated that the increase will be just short of 1,000 per cent; eg if your total bill
is now, say, $800,000 per month, that will increase to nearly $8 million per month.
A City Councillor told a meeting of Matsheumhlope Residents that the large discrepancy
between the rateable values in the Western and Eastern suburbs is largely due to the fact
that the Council does not receive many (if any) complaints from Residents Associations in
the Eastern areas - whereas those in the Western areas are very active and vocal, and
submit their written complaints.
Is it not time for those living in the Eastern suburbs to voice their opinions? Objections to
the proposed increases must be submitted in writing to the City Council BEFORE
WEDNESDAY 14 DECEMBER.
I, for one, will not be able to sustain such an increase - my income as a Pensioner does
not rise by one thousand per cent.
If retailers are to be limited to a 70% mark-up on their goods, is the City Council
permitted to increase the cost of their services by 1,000% ??
If EVERY land and/or property owner in the City put in an objection, and if Residents
Associations and other interested groups - organisations, churches, schools, put in
petitions would it make any difference?? Can we lobby our Ward Councillors? ? We must
ALL do SOMETHING - and not just wait for the increases to be implemented without our
objections being raised.
The proposed increases for industrial land and premises are far larger.
There are no copies of this advertisement around the city - only available at the Rates Hall.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MIRROR CAN ONLY DEAL WITH E MAIL QUERIES, PLEASE DO NOT PHONE IN YOUR ADVERTS AND QUERIES... ONLY E-MAILS WILL BE CONSIDERED
