JULY 2007
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LOST AND FOUND
Looking for Nadine Robinson. Lived in Harare. Had a brother his named Shaun. She was married to Mike Robinson. She had 2 girls, Kerry was one of them. Any help will be good. thank-you.
Looking for Moses Matarise....he was with me at Que-Que Junior School in 1979 to 1981. He was a great athlete....and also stayed in Hibiscus Avenue, Msasa Park, Que-Que.Looking for Petrus and Martha...who are Brother and sister. Their surname is unknown. They were orphans at the children's home in Gwelo. They used to spend weekends and school holidays with us in Que-Que from 1979 to 1981
Charmaine (nee Theunissen) and John Patrick left from Cape Town to USA a year ago and I would love to catch up with them again. Charmaine was an Umtali girl and good friend for more years than I care to imagine. They have 3 delightful youngsters.
Looking for - Andrew Geddes - Ex Gwelo & moved to somewhere in Scotland. If you know of him please contact us. He also has a sister - Margaret who lives down in the south of England & is married to John. Andrew's parents Tommy & Martha have I believe passed away.
Calvert Family. Does anyone know where any of them are, at one time Penny and her folks were in Milton Keynes, used to go to Marlborough High with them.
Jeff and Iain Jefferies. Trying to track down my cousin Iain and his father whom I last saw in the UK in 1978. would very much appreciate any clues
Looking for Caroline Godfree ex Byo. Last time I saw her was in Byo when I stayed in Montrose. I would like to get in contact with her if anyone knows where she is please let me know
Looking for my buddy Martin Holloway, ex U.B.H.S. Was doing forestry up in Inyanga during the mid-70's. Farmed around Marandellas as a manager for Gordon Milne in the early 80's
Hi I am looking for Claire Johnstone from Umtali, she has two brothers, Stuart and Simon. Last time I saw her was in 1974.I am seeking the whereabouts of Hew Jack who served with me at Court Section (BSA Police Bulawayo) and later worked for the main dealership for Mercedes in Harare. Last saw him in Johannesburg 1987 when he was down on holiday
Nigel Dunn - Iain McGregor. Nigel, last heard of in the UK when my brother Trevor Jones gave me email details, which don't exist any longer. Iain, last saw in Harare before leaving for RSA in 1988. Does anyone have any details?
I am looking for an old friend Karen Allen. The last address I have for her is in Australia. She married Kevin O'Neil, so goes by Karen O'Neil now.
Looking to find an old friend from Morningside Byo. She left about nine years ago with her two daughters...her name was Debbie Mouton..She moved to London,would be so nice to hear from her again? Mick from Ullswater Drive.
Looking for George and Edie Griffin who used to live in Burns Road Bulawayo.Lost contact with them after we left in 1980.We believe they may have gone to the Eastern Cape region in South Africa.We were told their son Mike and his family settled there and they perhaps followed.If anyone knows their whereabouts and some contact details I would appreciate it
I'm looking for any of the Pargeters. If anyone knows of their whereabouts please let me know (they lived in Queensdale)Thanks
I am looking for Philip Jarvis who lived on Arcturus Road in Highlands in the mid 80's. He has 2 younger siblings, Miles and Sarah. He was my first love and the last time I saw him was in Zim 15 years ago and I've been looking for him ever since.
I would really like to find out where the following people are if anyone can help. I lost touch with them about 1963 when we left Byo to go to the UK. Where is Francis Stanley Ward - he did go to St Thomas Aquinas school. What about George and Lorraine Williams (twins) - believe they moved to the UK in about 1960. Twins Ann and Barbara Thorpe, they have the same birthday as me
Hi everyone ...I am still trying to locate Dave Cox ex Salisbury
Looking for Shane Kelly & Charmaine Madden. Both lived in Salisbury. Shayne went to GHS and Charmaine went to Roosevelt Girls High. Last known whereabouts of Shayne - Rustenburg SA and Charmaine was East London SA. Shayne has two brothers, Clifton & Patrick. Charmaine had a younger sister
Looking for Syd and Shirley Ullyett ex Salisbury. Last seen in 1988 when my daughters and I spent the day en route from South Africa to the UK Would love to hear your news.
Looking for Group W Salisbury Central Hospital - Would love to contact members of Group W 1963 - 1967 Some of us are already in touch.
Looking to make contact with Peter Parkinson - Ex Salisbury and Churchill Boys High. Trained as a teacher. Please contact me on email - with any contact details
Looking for Jessie Chennells - originally from Bulawayo, but lived in salisbury. We lived next door to each other at Protea Court , Fife Ave/Fifth Street - 1978/79. She was going out with Dougie Last seen at Caribbea bay in 1980
Looking for the following girls who were part of the "gang" at Roosevelt Girls High - 1973 - 1978 - Sherree Hone (nee Mathee) last seen in South Africa, Patricia Hare - married to Alan and last heard of in Joburg, Patricia Hayes, Jennifer Hayes, Sue Booth , Heather, Debbie Ford,Melanie Hope, Also - Cheryl, Maureen Audrey or Cleve Muggleton
Looking for the girls who used to work with me at Beverly Building Society in Avondale - in the late 70's - Shelley Chasan. Rose Hardy. Also, Jessie (cant remember her surname now), who I worked with at the main branch in Salisbury. The last time I saw them all was 1982.
JOSE FRANCISCO MELO DE SA Anyone knowing his whereabouts please contact me, as his daughter is desperate to find him. She has not seen him in 19years. They were in Bulawayo , came to S. Africa in 1988
Hi I am looking for Dave & Caroline Amos Married ex Bulawayo. Dave was the Pay Officer for the 2nd Bat Rhodesia Regiment. They relocated to Australia
Searching for Liz Cameron who lived in Mablereign in 1967/1968.
Dave Woods was ex UK Police and served in the BSAP from 1969 to about 1972. I heard he went back to the UK but has not been heard of since. Would like to track him down if at all possible
Looking for Melanie Hope Have been looking for Melanie for ages - we were at Courtney Selous and Roosevelt together. She moved to the States and remarried when there - O'Shaugnessy and had a son , Ian. My last address for her was Rhode Island, then she moved and I moved.
Looking for Sandra (Nee Davis), Rosemary (Nee Wallace) & Marianne (Manzoni) who were all ex Byo Southwold.
If you know any of these people or their where about's could you either let them or us know. Any Ex Evelin or Hamilton school buddies from 1970 - 1975.
EDDIE CROSS EDITORIALS
Join in the Discussion in The Message Boards at Rhodiechat.
The Pirates and the Party
About two weeks ago Mr. Mugabe made a speech at the funeral of a General who died under mysterious circumstances and in it he attacked the private sector for raising prices in the name of regime change. He threatened the mining companies as well as everyone else and said that if they did not come into line with what the Party wanted they would be taken over.
Since then a shadowy, totally unaccountable organization known as the "Joint Operational Command" has taken up the call and last week they summoned senior business leaders to a meeting and instructed them to roll back their prices to the level they were at on the 18th June. The meeting was held with the Commanders of the Army, the Police, the CIO, Air Force and the Prison Service.
Since then all major retailers and wholesalers as well as the majority of manufacturers have reduced their prices to the June 18th level. Remember prices were doubling on a weekly basis at the time with inflation about 15 000 percent per annum. So these price reductions were major and across the board.
Last weekend the smaller retailers were attacked - I am not sure we can really call it anything else. One by one they were approached by small groups of officials, police and militia. The messages were confused and varied from store to store and group-to-group. Some simply said they had to reduce a limited range of 18 items to the price levels listed, others said it was the roll back to June 18th while others simply said cut your prices by 50 per cent.
No opposition or arguments were tolerated. If the retailers resisted they were arrested and taken to local police stations. In other cases stores that were closed had their doors smashed open and prices reduced under supervision and then the public allowed in, buying the goods at the lower prices. Many businesses were faced with near riots as people scrambled for goods. In other cases the authorities confiscated goods, especially where they found goods stored behind shops.
Then they started on the fuel stations - systematically all stations selling fuels were visited and if they had stocks they were told to sell at Z$60 000 a liter or else. One operator in Bulawayo refused, was arrested and released when his lawyers intervened, rearrested and taken to see the senior officer in Bulawayo who told him no resistance would be tolerated and they then sent the police to force him to open up and sell. He lost Z$3 400 000 000 in 12 hours on 47 000 liters of fuel bought at Z$132 000 a liter. Today there are long queues at all filling stations still with stocks. I project by Monday that there will be no fuel at all in the City, probably in the whole country. Worse still the fuel importers have stopped buying foreign exchange and halted imports. It will take weeks to get back to "normal".
The butchers were simply told to sell "meat" at Z$90 000 a kilogram or in some cases Z$120 000 a kilogram - there was no explanation of the difference. Since the cost of beef is well above these levels, they quickly sold out and then closed. Today there is no butchery open in the entire City. Bakers are following suit - they were told to sell at Z$22 000 a loaf and they did so but stopped buying raw materials. Today bakers are slowly closing down across the country.
In the milling industry "controlled" prices are half the real cost of production and the national staple food, maize meal, has disappeared from the stores. The prices of other carbohydrate foods such as potatoes have doubled. Rice is controlled down to half its cost and will also be in short supply by next week as stocks run out.
If supermarkets are unable to restock because either they cannot buy products at controlled prices and sell them for a margin to cover other costs, or the products are just not available, then all basic needs will start to run out next week. For some mysterious reason one product was specifically targeted - Mazoe Orange Juice. Its price was set at Z$120 000 for two liters and when all the dust had settled the manufacturers were given an approved price of Z$180 000 per unit. So if you were to buy this product today you would have to sell it at a loss. Sugar sales from the mills in the Lowveld are Z$15 000 a kilogram - the retail price is Z$17 000. A mark up of 13 per cent - the fuel on collection of this product from Chiredzi is Z$7 300 per kilogram alone.
This morning we watched a police raid on a small "Spaza" store run by a single women who has a teenage son. A 7 tonne truck arrived with four police on board, they collected all her stocks and loaded them and then ordered her to appear at the police station at 14.00 hrs. The police officer in Charge was Inspector Banda, Force number 048168 F.
There she was harangued and fined Z$40 000. Her goods were offloaded into a large warehouse that was full of confiscated goods. While we watched a well-dressed man in a new vehicle, number 807 516 J drove up and helped himself to 4 bags of sugar. He did not sign a receipt and drove away. The vehicle was a make that is driven by senior police and army officers.
While we followed this small saga being played out, we saw truckloads of police coming and going and more goods confiscated from small informal traders all over the City coming in. Its quite clear, the Party wants to show that inflation can be beaten and they are making the business sector pay the price. The people carrying out these illegal and irresponsible orders are rewarded for their diligence with authority to loot the stores they are raiding. Since the big boys in this game can defend themselves, it is the small people and the informal sector that suffers most. So much for Zanu PF socialism, or as Mugabe would put it, his personal brand of Marxist Leninism.
As one man said to me on the street, "Well Eddie, at least now you know, you do not need to campaign for MDC in March, these people are doing it for you." He may be right but how on earth do we get there!
Eddie Cross
Bulawayo, 5th July 2007
Diamonds in the SkySometimes I feel sorry for people who do not live in the drier regions of the world. In a place like Bulawayo we have zero humidity at this time of the year and it can get pretty chilly at night, with wonderful clear blue skies and mild temperatures during the day. In weather like this there is also the temptation to stay indoors after dusk. If you have a fire of real mopani wood, even more so! It is a mistake.
Last night for example, at about 19.30 hours my wife and I walked home under a sky that was ablaze with stars. Venus was near setting in the western sky and what a sight. It was so bright you could mistake it for a light in a passing aircraft only it flashed and sparkled like a 100-carat space diamond. Absolutely beautiful and free to all of us who occupy planet earth. Right overhead was the Milky Way - spiraling across the night sky like a splash of diamonds. No moon, no clouds, no moisture, just the black African sky and the diamonds of space.
Sometimes I think of Africa in those same terms - beautiful, exotic but with a backdrop of darkness that sometimes overwhelms us. I have often pondered what it would mean to mankind if there were no stars, just black, empty space going on into infinity. I am sure it would have profound psychological implications - let alone the philosophical questions it would pose! We would then be quite justified in asking how did we get here? Who was responsible? The possibility that there might be life somewhere "out there" is always a consolation in a universe crowded with millions of planets, suns and stars.
But we do have Venus and a plethora of other stars to keep us company and to force us out into space in an attempt to find life elsewhere. When he was President, Ronald Reagan had a program under which he recognized outstanding human achievement in the USA. He called those who were recognized and rewarded under this program Stars in the night sky of America. I have always thought this was a great idea.
In any dark situation there are always stars that light up the sky and give us hope that we are not alone. Stars that illumine their universe in a unique way and in the process light up our world. Here in Zimbabwe we are no exception. Last week I attended a small community meeting of 20 or so individuals who have just taken a lease on 96 hectares surrounding two small dams known as the "Hillside Dams". There they are intending to build a restaurant, establish a botanical garden and aloe collection. They are also going to put in fences and security and create a small game park. All work carried out by volunteers and all costs met by donation.
n my sons church there is a remarkable woman who has taken it upon herself to help the children's wards in the local hospital. With over 3 500 beds,
Tanganda Tea
Now AvailableI the hospital is a giant medical facility but being State owned and operated is just about on its knees. The children's wards are freshly painted and clean and every child gets a toy when they are checked in. Drugs are fully available and supplied free of charge and nursing staff are assisted. All wards have television and visitors from the Church pay regular visits to children in the wards.
Another remarkable women in the same Church runs a massive program for the absolute poor and destitute in Harare. She helps thousands in camps at various rubbish dumps on the periphery of the City, has pastors ministering to their spiritual needs as well as food and clothing. Whole families are selected and sent out to a training farm where they are taught farm skills and then settled on vacant land as small-scale farmers.
Driving into Harare after 400 kilometers of empty farms and abandoned homesteads you suddenly find yourself looking at a string of three farms where the fences are repaired, cattle graze the land and superb crops grown on well-prepared lands. All three have housed their staff well and produce milk on a large scale for the nearby City. How they have been able to remain on their farms and keep going is a mystery to me - one day I will stop and pull in to ask, but I already know that behind these islands of sanity and prosperity are individuals who have just stuck it out and have shown every determination not to give in and quit.
Of course there are many who do not contribute, many who in fact like the dark because it suits their purpose. But those who do struggle against the odds, who still plant trees and flowers and tend their lawns, they are heroes in every way, bright stars in the night of our time. The marvel of this process, is that in becoming stars in our universe, we discover light always wins and that gives us hope.
It is really tough right now to give people hope and faith in the future because things look so grim. We now know that Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube were actually in South Africa waiting for the Zanu PF representatives to pitch up for the meeting. They did not arrive and gave no apologies. On Monday Zanu PF submitted their response to the request that they set out their basic position. We have now had sight of that and I am told it resembles the ramblings of a lunatic - I am not surprised, we have long known this was an asylum with the inmates in charge.
The Zanu document in fact does not deal with any of the issues that are on the table. They ramble on about "recognition of Mr. Mugabe as President" and the suspension of "sanctions" as well as the well-known diatribe about the MDC as a "violent Party". As if it would make one iota of difference to anything if we did do those things! We do not control the standing of Mr.
Mugabe in international circles - he does. We do not control the imposition of personal travel and financial restrictions on the 100 or so worst offenders in terms of human and political rights abuse - those who control visa regulations and money markets do. I think we have shown quite clearly who sponsors political violence and intimidation in Zimbabwe - it is Zanu who holds degrees in violence!I really do feel sorry for these Zanu PF types - they know now that they are really up against impossible odds. Their only way of avoiding the dip tank is to stay outside the holding pens. Once they are in, the only way out is either over the fence or through the dip. On the other side we wait with expectation - we have all the ingredients for a national braai and celebration that will make the record books. I already have picked out a couple of fat, corrupt, lazy oxen to provide the nyama for my braai - I am sure everyone else is equally ready.
I am waiting to see just what Mbeki is going to do next. He has no choice now but to exercise leadership and get this process underway. The deadline for the SADC leadership is the end of June and this time I am sure we are going to see that cattle prod in action - all 10 000 volts applied in the appropriate place.
But for all of you who are in my universe and are little spots of light against the night sky, hang in there, you give hope to all of us and you
make this dark place a place of beauty.
Eddie Cross
Bulawayo June 10th 2007
A FINAL WORD ..
Wayne Kennerely in the UK is doing research into old cars, especially Rolls Royce's that were used in Rhodesia. He asks that if anyone knows anything about a Rolls that was used, or other vintage cars, that you please contact him.
Join in on the discussions in the Message board of Rhodiechat. Members intros, General Discussion, The Seven wonders of Rhodesia/Zimbabwe (share yours), Lost Friends & Family, In Memory, Sports, Vacation Spots, Where we ate drank, Zimbo/Rhodie Slang, Recipes and more
We used to drink at the Que Que Hotel! Can always remember the snacks that were available round about 6pm, sundowner time. First time I have ever tasted curried liver! Sounds awful, but tastes delicious....
I have such fond memories of the Que Que culinary (and pub) circuit! The best steak rolls I've ever had in my life were made by a roadhouse-type outlet at the petrol station at the traffic circle at the Salisbury end of the main drag. The place had a name like Le Chanteclair (something in French like that - I know how to say it but not spell it!). They were absolutely to die for.Que Que Hotel cocktail bar (wasn't it called the Elbow Room?) was the first place I was ever to "fall over" in my life. Round the corner was the rather dodgy Double Q bar. Then the Sebakwe and Phoenix were worth popping into, depending on what condition you were in!
We did a lot of our socializing at the Police Club, the Cactus, up near the prison and the Que Que Sports Club was just across the way.
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