We often get asked "why on earth do you continue to stay in Zimbabwe"?
Well the answers are many and varied, wonderful weather, amazing people, gentle
lifestyle ...... (oops unable to say that too often these days !!)
One thing that has always astonished to me is the gradual downward slide that has
occurred in this country. If we had gone to sleep as life was in 1980, the war of
independence was over, those who had left had already left, life was tenable if not
darn good.
But if we had woken up the next day, and found Zimbabwe as it is today, we would
undoubtedly have packed and been gone within a week.....
It was the gentle and gradual slide of the nicer things in life, that passed us by, as
they happened oh so slowly , and as we got used to one horror, so another arrived to
eclipse the previous one.
Somehow thirty years down the line, we are still on the downward spiral, the only
difference is that the spiral is not gradual anymore ,
it is pretty well perpendicular and instead of scrabbling around a bit trying not to slip
down the slope, we are all hanging on by our veritable fingernails, our feet dangling
precariously, flailing madly, in mid air.
"Meltdown" is a favourite by -word these days, "economic collapse"... .. is it here ?
surely, has it happened and we did not notice because of its slow insidious tentacles
enfolding us all and dragging us down into te quick sand ?
I tried to visualise a country "collapsing" I closed my eyes and I saw buildings in ruins,
bricks and mortar tumbled around like those boulders at the Giants Causeway at
Maleme Dam.
I envisaged, slow hordes of people pushing scanias along the Beitbridge Road, their
pitiful bundles piled inside, photos, albums, precious papers, with Aunty Bettys
ashes perched on the top in a wooden casket. (I always did have an over active
imagination !!)
The movie "Gone with the wind" springs to mind, as I remember the scene where the
blood covered soldiers tramped home in their droves, bandages on their heads,
ragged grey overcoats bloodstained and in complete tatters. ( Oh yes I have always
had a very vivid imagination to say the least !!)
The once beautiful homestead called "Tara" is in the background and it is a
blackened ruin with smoke pyres rising into the grey skies....... ..
And yes while this very scene has indeed happened to many of the folk in this
country, farmers, villagers, businessmen even Members of Parliament, have all had to
cope with the destruction of their lives and their livelihoods. Countless lives have been
lost, countless lives have been ruined, the country has still not officially collapsed.
Some say it is the money from the "diaspora" that is keeping us going ...... it is
certainly not the economy, as that is definitely in tatters.
Banks collapse don't they ?
Certainly three of the biggest banks in Zimbabwe had the collywobbles last month as
the monthly wages for some of Zimbabwe's companies launched into the trillions and
the banks computers just could not cope. Hundreds of people were not paid. We waited
for three weeks for money to arrive in our bank !!
What comes after trillions ? Quadrillions are next and then quintillions ? That is
obviously why we did Latin at school, so we could count our money......
What would one take if one had to make a run for the border, I mused, would I take
my photos,? Precious documents certainly like birth certificates etc. Jewelry of course
and not much else as there would be no room on the scania or donkey cart !!
Most of our systems have already collapsed ... power provision is erratic , water
provision is inadequate. Formal fuel supplies are non existent, utility bills do not
arrive and have to be called for.... cell phones are frustrating to the point of mass
murder and the road repair system is faltering steadily.
Money supply is appalling, commodities in the shops are non existent and yet we
stay, we have our own systems which have replaced those that should be provided by
the government and the municipalities, (and for which we still pay exorbitant taxes !!)
And yet we stay on, .... are we too old to move ? Too scared ? Too inured with
memories of life as it was in days gone by ?
For many folk in Zimbabwe life has probably not changed at all. The rural folk never
had anything before and they still have nothing, their lack of potable water is nothing
new, they never had electrification, they always grew their own crops and really very
little has changed in their lives except that their bellies gnaw a lot more now than they
used to ......
On the other hand there are many who have gained obscene wealth from the largesse
system.
Now being a capitalist, I have no problem with wealth, but when one has become
enormously wealthy at the expense of the country, that is a problem which leaves a
bad taste in one's mouth.
My cheque book is just far too small !! How does one write a cheque containing
fourteen digits in the miniscule space provided, one's writing has to become minute
to say the least. The largest cheque one can write as we speak is nine hundred and
ninety nine billion, nine hundred and ninety nine million, nine hundred and ninety
nine thousand dollars and ninety nine cents !!
So as dinner for three on Tuesday night at a local restaurant was one trillion three
hundred billion dollars, we had to write two cheques for the pleasure !! Mind you this
was only about sixty US dollars but horrors with all those zeros !!
But we still have our friends, our lovely homes, our animals, our beautiful
gardens..... . some if us lucky ones at least have these things, many are living lives of
desperation and quiet suffering. It is too awful to go to a shop these days and see the
grim faces of the elderly and the poor, shaking their heads in bewilderment, trying in
vain to count the zeros on the few goods that are available on the shelves.
However many of our lively youngsters are adamant that Zimbabwe is the only place
they wish to spend the rest of their lives !!
The glorious outdoors are still glorious, where on earth in the world can you spend
every weekend fishing, camping, boating and enjoying life's simple pleasures. There is
a very active mountain biking club, a Matopos Conservation Club, Boy Scouting still
has a very strong place in Bulawayo, we have ardent bird watchers too, and life
somehow goes on .....
The horrors of the first world are far away, we cannot afford video games, we have no
arcades and malls to "hang out" in. Porn, drugs and the like are quite far removed
from this country and instead the youngsters take advantage of a lifestyle that is
simple and carefree in the extreme.
I know God will not give me anything I cannot handle;
I just wish that He didn't trust me so much"
Sheppard : Tony : Beloved brother-in-law of Deirdre.
You brightened our lives on so many wonderful occasions.
Thank you, we were truly blessed.
You will always be deeply missed.
Until next time Tony, "love you to Heaven and back".
DEATH NOTICE
Jurick Goldwasser passed away peacefully on the 3rd of July. His loving presence will
be missed forever by his devoted wife Tanja, adoring children Mark, Dirk, Lesley,
Rachelle, Shelley, Jonathan, and Derek and loving grandchildren Zac, Seth, Rachel,
Andrea, Julia, Coby and Jenna. MHDSRIP
e mail -
FUNERAL NOTICE
The funeral of the late Jurick Goldwasser will take place on Sunday 6 July 3.30 pm at
the Jewish Cemetery , Donovan Street, North End.
Condolences
The Bulawayo Hebrew Congregation extend deepest sympathy to the Goldwasser
family over the sad loss. He was a pillar of our community. MHDSRIP
The Lasker families and all at Archer Clothing extend their deepest sympathy to the
Goldwasser family. Jurick was a great gentleman who leaves behind a great legacy.
DOROTHY WHITE
My deepest sympathy to family and friends. Aunty Dot will always have a special
place in my heart.
Stephanie Lea Matulich
410-674-623
Stephanie_matulich@ yahoo.com
Dear Northleans,
I am so sad to inform you that our beloved Latin Master, Coach, Mentor and friend Ray
Suttle passed away in Cape Town today.
I know that all Northleans who knew him and who were taught and guided by him
over the years loved and admired him very much. His enormous contribution and
impact on our lives during those wonderful school days in Rhodesia and later in South
Africa will, I'm sure, be vividly treasured and always remembered.
The Service for Ray will be held on Saturday 28 June 2008 at Bishops Memorial
Chapel, Camp Ground Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town at 2.00 PM.
Please send messages of condolences to Joan Suttle and the Suttle family via me at
john@marinasa. co.za and I will make sure to get them to her. Please include your
name and contact details at the bottom of your emails.
As you know Ray and Joan were Zimbabwe Pensioners, which means that they virtually
had no Pension income from Zim at all. If you would like to make a contribution to
Joan and in memory of Ray please let me know as I am setting up a Fund for Joan.
Please be assured that I will collect all contributions, pay them immediately to Joan,
will keep account of receipts and payments to Joan and account fully to all who
contribute. There will be no admin fee or deductions made from amounts received.
Warm regards
John Spence
083 3009731 Mobile
+27 (021) 531 8404 Home
Suttle Ray : My sincere condolences to the Suttle Family on the sad loss of their
beloved Husband and Father Ray (Northlea High School Latin Teacher)
Warm regards Bonnie Arnold - nee Tweedie.
Condolences
Beverley Powell, former Headmistress of the Dominican Convent Primary School,
passed away on the 26 June 2008. A true teacher, dedicated to the education of the
whole child. A person who gave her all to her pupils and her school and one who was
an inspiration as she coped with her cancer. She touched many lives and will not be
forgotten
Revolution is not something fixed in ideology, nor is it something fashioned to a
particular decade. It is a perpetual process embedded in the human spirit. --Abbie
Hoffman
An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.
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