General Chat

OC couldnt agree more ! Its disgusting

Coincidentally, I am just reading an obituary of Ian Mills, the BBC's correspondent in Rhodesia (and later Zimbabwe) from 1960 to 1990 'He was the BBC's last full-time correspondent in Zimbabwe, a man looked up to by his colleagues as one of the most objective, truthful and professionally competent reporters ever to hold a microphone, camera or notebook in his hands. He brought the cruel, twisted and (at the end) staggeringly violent saga of the death of white rule in Rhodesia, and the birth of black power in Zimbabwe, into the homes of millions of people'

MM I remember an old friend, who had lived in Rhodesia, saying that the black people were not ready to take power, they needed a ong transition period, and that otherwise they would be quickly wiped out by power mad crazies. Sadly this was true. However, it is no excuse for the world to stand by and let that man continue his atrocities. OC

I have signed. I have a young 1/2 brother still living there. Fi

I agree with you completely, OC. I am employed by the Salvation Army, and have friends in the S.A. who have been working in various African countries. I was browsing S.A. websites in Africa and came across that obituary.

I lived in Southern Africa for 10 years during apartheid. Rhodesia was a lovely country and you felt really safe there, not like SA. I was in Zambia when the Ian Smith Government was removed. At that time Zambia was training terrorists to fight in Rhodesia. After the end of the Ian Smith regime we went down to Salisbury and were horrified to see so many young servicemen with their feet blown off in landmines. I had not yet started to descend into what it is today but many people were getting out to either SA or Australia, One of the saddest things to hear was on Rhodesian radio - people were trying to find homes for their pets before they left, The marching song at the time was 'Some Girls Do, So Girls Dont' - whenever I hear it, it takes me right b ack. I agree that we, as a nation can do nothing - we were the last colonial power and are in some way responsible, but it needs the African Union to step in I am reading 'Goodby Rhodesia' at the moment, and have Mukiwa and When A Crocodile eats the Sun, both by Peter Godwin to get on with. 'Hold my Hand Im Dying' is another very good book. There will be civil war there and lots of blood letting, but I dont think that outside European intervention is the solution

I agree with all that has been said before on this thread and have been hoping for many years that Mugabe would be 'removed'... one way or another. Doesn't really matter how as long as he goes. Surely this should be within the province of the ineffectual United Nations. What on earth does that organisation exist for if not to sort out these, for want of a better word, 'problems'. Jean x.

Scrummy Granny I agree to a certain extent that we are responsible for what has happened in Zimbabwe (and a few other African countires as well). We were,as you say, the last colonial power in these countries. The indiginous people were not ready to govern themselves and we should have stayed and eased them through the generation this would have taken. Instead we bowed to the politically correct stance and gave these countries 'back to the people'. All that has happened is they have been snatched by even worse dictators than we were. The truth of course, is that these countries were becoming a financial liability to us and were of little use any longer. We abandoned them and I fear that it is almost too late to reverse the damage. Difficult to see how the United Nations could 'interfere' - it would need agreement of all the member nations that something needed to be done AND that Zimbabwe is a threat to world wide safety, which it isnt at the moment. Of course, there is plenty that could be done behind the scenes to get rid of Mugabe, but there needs to be a will to do it. OC

Just done it Maz Kathlyn XX

Nudge

Well said, OC. It is and will be a nightmare

Our Government is most definitely guilty of double standards on this.On the one hand quite rightly they condemn the Regime of Robert Mugabe;Yet on the other hand they are presently forcing 'failed' Asylum Seekers from Zimbabwe to return. Regards William Russell Jones Cefn Mawr Wrexham.

thank you to all those who have replied and signed the petition. Maz. XX

if you have read the article and seen the pictures of Sarudzai (the little girl with AIDs) you may be interested to know that Times readers have so far donated an unsolicited £1100 towards treatment for her. If you wish to send a donation pls make cheques payable to Jesuit Missions and send c/o Father Tim Curtis SJ, Jesuit Missions, 11 Edge Hill, Wimbledon, SW19 4LR - enclose a covering letter stating the donation is for Sarudzai Gumbo and her family. More bad news for Zimbabwe this week - Mugabe has brought elections forward by 2 years and will stand again for another 5 year term. There was a summit of the Southern African Development Community (made up of various leaders from Southern Africa) this week - they appeared to back Mugabe and his 'reforms' and called for the lifting of sanctions. These actually only prevent about 100 senior officials from travelling to and investing in most Western countries - they are NOT economic sanctions. If you have not already signed the petition posted above, then please do so and ask your friends too. Maz. XX

I've signed. I was there about 7 or 8 years ago and the people are wonderful - so friendly! A lasting memory is doing a trade in the market and walking back to the hotel as the young lad wouldn't accept my money - he only wanted my Nike trainers. It was impossible to say no to him, and to see him struting around in them made it all worthwhile!! I sincerely hope there are some changes there soon.

thanks Tony, it's so sad when you look back and remember how wonderful it was such a short time ago isn't it? Maz. XX