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Saturday, December 31, 2011

Obituary: Peter Garlake 1934-2011

Saturday, 31 December 2011 15:53

By Jonathan Waters

AT least to the academic world, Peter Garlake put to rest the “Mystery of Great Zimbabwe” with his 1973 publication on the greatest historical site in sub-Saharan Africa. Great Zimbabwe, the ruined stone settlement brought to the attention of Western world by Karl Mauch in the late 19th Century, was the capital of a local Shona state, having reached its zenith in the 14th Century AD.

The white settlers had found that keeping the “mystery” alive by suggesting Rhodesia was the Ophir of the Ancients, not only helped drive tourism, but satisfied their own racist ideals in that the blacks were not sophisticated enough to build this great stone structure on their own.

For the myth to thrive, the Rhodesians had it that ruins were built by the Queen of Sheba, with King Solomon’s Mines in close proximity. Garlake, who has died aged 77, resigned his post as Inspector of Monuments in 1970 when it was demanded — in the Rhodesian Parliament no less —that he give an “equal” platform to the “theory” that Great Zimbabwe was built by “light skinned people”.

According to the member for Fort Victoria District, Colonel George Hartley OBE, the “theory” that Great Zimbabwe was erected by indigenous people was “nothing but pure conjecture”.

Where previous archaeologists hid to some degree behind scientific obscurity to make their case for the construction by the local African people, Garlake was unequivocal in his findings:

“Great Zimbabwe must be recognised for what it is — a building of peculiar size and imposing grandeur, the product of two or three centuries of development of an indigenous stone-building technique, itself rooted in long traditions of using stone for field walls, building platforms and terraces.

“The structure reflects the economic dominance and prestige of a small oligarchy that had arisen within an Iron Age subsistence economy.”

Peter Storr Garlake was born in Cape Town on January 11 1934, the son of a soldier, “Dooley” Garlake, later Major-General, Commander of the forces in the Federation of Rhodesia & Nyasaland. His mother Catherine, a South African of Scottish extraction, had a passion for animals and was instrumental in setting up the SPCA in Rhodesia.

After completing senior school at St Georges College in Harare, Garlake went on to read architecture at the University of Cape Town from 1952-1957.

After college, he left for England, finding a job as an architect in London within two days of arriving.

Joining the Catholic Order was also a consideration, and he was drawn to a Carmelite monastery at Aylesford in Kent, where he participated in processions with relics of the revered local saint Simon Stock.

Enrolling at UCL’s Institute of Archaeology in London in 1961 for a post graduate diploma, he met his future wife Margaret, who was studying archaeological conservation.

They married in 1962, the year he was awarded a Nuffield Research Studentship, which took him to the British Institute in Eastern Africa in Dar es Salaam.

Here Garlake studied the architecture and archaeology of medieval Swahili coast towns after which he published The Early Islamic Architecture of the East African Coast (1966).

However, he went on to lecture at the History Department at the University of Zimbabwe in 1984, a year before a full archaeology programme was set up.

While regarded as highly amusing in his private life, professionals found him “prickly”, especially when it came to criticism from amateur and racist quarters, and loony nationalists after 1980.

He received his doctorate in archaeology from SOAS in 1992.

He was fond of ‘dzimbahwes’— houses of stone

A year before UDI in Rhodesia in 1965, Garlake was appointed Inspector of Monuments.

In this position, he visited many of the ruined settlements or dzimbabwes (“houses of stone”) that cover much of modern Zimbabwe, excavating two of the smaller centres.

He also excavated three ancient Portuguese settlements in modern Zimbabwe — Dambarare, Maramuca and Luanze — which had been occupied by the Portuguese until they were overrun by Changamire in the late 17th Century.
However, finding his intellectual integrity increasingly compromised as the racist politics of the settler regime impinged on his domain, he resigned and left the country in 1970.

Having been offered a post at the University of Ife in Nigeria, Garlake led two major excavations of sites with lifelike terracotta heads (now on display in the British Museum).

During this time he also completed his Great Zimbabwe manuscript.

“The major question posed over the years — was Great Zimbabwe the unaided work of indigenous Africans — has created lasting controversy, and probably no other prehistoric site has aroused such strong, widespread and often bizarre emotional responses.”

Garlake’s book brought together the work of early antiquarians and archaeologists such as Randall McIver, ElizabethCaton-Thompson, Roger Summers and Keith Robinson. Being free of the imaginative theories of later archaeological symbolic, Garlake’s work remains the definitive work on the facts of the subject.

From 1976 to 1981, Garlake held an appointment as Lecturer in the Department of Anthropology at University College London during which time he carried out excavations at Manekweni, a stone-walled settlement in Mozambique.
Garlake returned to Zimbabwe after Independence and was reportedly disappointed at not being offered the top post in the National Museums & Monuments.

However, he went on to lecture at the History Department at the University of Zimbabwe in 1984, a year before a full archaeology programme was set up. After his losing a complete manuscript on Zimbabwean Archaeology to a fire at his Borrowdale homestead in the late 1980s, Garlake shifted his focus again: this time to Zimbabwe’s diverse rock art. Building on his earlier work The Painted Caves (1987), it was to culminate in his 1995 treatise, The Hunter's Vision.

This he regarded as his magnum opus and it established Zimbabwean rock art in a field of its own. Garlake popularised it with lecture tours to the US and Europe where he would speak from a lifelike cave of paintings that had been meticulously traced and re-created on a paper mache wall. Drawing on many of the symbolic interpretations of Prof David Lewis-Williams and the trance experience, Garlake went further to draw his own conclusions.

He said there was more to the shamanism of the San people as there was something deeper in the art when it came to the wider religious experience. He hypothesized that “formlings” – oval-shaped images unique to Zimbabwe rock art – were an abstract representation of the physical manifestation of “potency”, which he argued guides the worldview of San people.

Following publication of The Hunter's Vision, he took up rose growing, delivering his produce to florists around Harare. Increasingly he started to divide his time between Harare and London, and published his final book, Early Art and Architecture of Africa, in 2002. An avid theatre goer, Garlake enjoyed visiting cities in Europe and the Middle East, where he fed his love of Islamic architecture. Believing “what you write is your memorial”, Garlake opted for “green burial” and no ceremony. He is survived by sister Carole, his wife Margaret, three children and six grandchildren.

Peter Storr Garlake, archaeologist and architect. Born January 11, 1934. Died December 2, 2011

Thursday, December 29, 2011

THE 4X4 CLUB – ZIMBABWE

THE 4X4 CLUB – ZIMBABWE


Newsletter No: 86 -

December 2011/ January 2012



P O Box HG 594 Highlands Harare Zimbabwe The Motor Sports Club House, 2 Annan Road, Eastlea, Harare.

The Chairman and Editorial Team:

CHAIRMAN: Tim Thorburn 498723 / 0772.645.518 thorburn@mweb.co.zw

EDITORS Mike & Pat GILL 494028 / 0712.400.243 / 0712.440.794 gill@zol.co.zw

4x4 Club Website http://www.4x4.co.zw Face Book Site: 4x4 Zimbabwe

The 4x4 Club is affiliated to the Zimbabwe Motor Sports Federation - ZMSF

Our Club is a member of the Mashonaland Motor Sport Association Club House, situated at: 2 Annan Rd. Eastlea. It is available for hire for weddings, conferences, kid's parties, 21st birthdays, etc.

News, comments and opinions expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the Club or the Committee



THE EDITOR’S DESK - Michael and Pat Gill

We will start by wishing our members a very happy Christmas and may all your dreams come true in 2012.



Kenya. Yes, your Editorial team, with Ralph and Rose Stead, were once again employed on the East African Safari Classic Rally. We spent a week touring Kenya and Tanzania in a Prado. Sadly, being a hire car it was a bit shagged, shocks very poor and several little items needed TLC but a great car. It was very wet and muddy but we had no problems there, far more in the Mombasa and Nairobi chaotic traffic. The rally cars all have to be pre-1975, no 4x4 allowed, no turbo's, basically original but brakes and suspension mods are allowed. Porsches are the most common followed by Datsun 260Z and Ford Escorts. Less than half of the crews are Kenyan but the locals, even way out, know their heroes. Ian Duncan (Kenyan) won last year in a Mustang. This year he used a Ford Capri but had troubles and slipped down the list.

If you have watched those crazy guys doing somersaults on MX bikes you may know the name Travis Pastrana. He drove a Porsche (what else) and even got fastest time on one stage. Here is his report of one day so you can see how tough it was. "In the first section the wipers stopped working and on the second the brakes went with 57 ks to go. Then we had a puncture – probably because we were going too fast with no brakes! The last section we had no problems - nothing broke on the car and the section was really fast with lots of jumps. This Rally is absolutely epic - one of the best experiences of my life."





NEW MEMBERS

DOBROPOULOS Costa: Mutare. Well known for his all winning V8 Jeep.

DANBY Edward: Another Mutare driver who has put in lots of time to organise events there.

We expect to have several more Mutare 4x4 members join us this year. Welcome to you all. If you have not been to a Mutare event then make sure you do not miss the next, they are always good and different. See the write up on Dungbeetle.



MEMBER'S NEWS:

Not quite news but an interesting observation. It is good to see so many fathers teaching the youngsters to dive 4x4s. I believe that this is a very good way to teach young drivers proper car control. Anyone can get on a straight road and drive too fast but time spent in a 4x4 in low ratio is very good training in car control. Many of the kids I have seen will not be old enough, 16, for several years to come and yet they drive Dad's 4x4 with amazing skill.



TECHNICAL

Recovery: We all have tow balls on the rear but these were never designed to recover a stuck vehicle. For a start they are in the centre and they often have a breaking load of about 1500 kgs. Make sure you have a strong towing eye in line with the chassis. We have seen too many dangerous, potentially lethal, efforts of snatching a heavy stuck vehicle. At worst only the rope breaks. Never tie a strap or rope to any part of the car, it will destroy the tow rope. Use a D-shackle or hook. Keep all spectators well clear, drape something over the rope. When did you last check all the bolts on your bar?





CLUB CHARITY WORK

Our Club has had a good year and we hope that you can come up with some suitable tasks for 2012. We cleared an overgrown track for National Parks at Mana. We took truck loads of goodies out to Bally Vaughan Game Park, we raised money and a van full of food stuffs for S.O.A.P. (Save Our Old Age Pensioners) to help their Xmas charity effort and we collected $400 for the Anti Poaching Teams in the Charara Basin. Not a bad effort by far too few members. Come on guys, let's have a bigger attendance next year and please tell us of your favorite project that the Club could help to assist.





SUBSCRIPTIONS

Subscriptions for 2012 will be $40 for subs; and $20 joining fee for new members. See renewal notice at the end of this newsletter. Please pay your subs promptly.

If you are going to enter any competitions then I suggest you get your ZMSF Competition Licence at the beginning of the year. Cost for the year is $35. This will save you paying $20 to ZMSF for every competition and your Medical Insurance is greatly increased as well. And it will save you filling in masses of forms at registration each time. Just do it! I have the ZMSF Forms, and if you let me have them completed, I will arrange to get the Licenses for you. PAT GILL Membership Secretary Phone: 494028 0712.440.794







JOIN THE 4X4 CLUB

Those of you who are lucky enough to read the Oct 2011 issue of "Leisure Wheels" may have read a page on joining a 4x4 Club. Glyn Demmer lists several reasons why it is a good idea. If you did not see it, here is his list (modified by us. Ed).

1. The Camaraderie.

2. Share experiences.

3. Gain advice.

4. Improve skills and awareness.

5. In a community committed to responsible 4x4ing

6. Join organised trips and outings.

7. Travel with like-minded people.

8. Technical support in far off places.

9. First Aid and vehicle recovery training.

10. Social events and charity fund raising.





CHRISTMAS FUN RUN

THE RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE – HUNTING SHOOTING FISHING.

Thanks to Peter Benzon and Gareth and Ashleigh Geach for the time they spent on making such a good day. The quizz on the drive around the North Eastern suburbs were full of cryptic questions that made fools of many. A most interesting route that ended at the Benzons (again). The shooting of hanging tins and plastic bottles was very entertaining, 11 pellets each and the wind helped keep the tins out of line. A new test this time was sitting in a Series 1 with binos and looking for pictures of animals. Some were very skittish and hard to see! Fishing involved sitting in a canoe in the pool with a rod and magnet. On the bottom were a large number of washers, big and small, for you to 'catch' in 3 minutes. If you were too aged you could find a couple of kids to do the job for you, with much vocal support. Being over 70 we elected to fish from the 'bank'.

The prime object of all this fun was to get members together with donations of cash and goodies for the old people whom S.O.A.P. help. Due to a means test; departures to greener pastures and natural attrition they now support 350 people in place of the over 700 last year. We contributed a van load of biscuits, tinned food, toilet paper, juices, $120 in cash and even a large carton of Tea.



Inflation: Cutting money in half without damaging the paper.





MUTARE JAMBOREE. – Mass Kirk

One of my favourite events on the calendar, many will agree with me. Mutare Jamboree offers real obstacles, serious slopes, and a technical level that we fail to imitate on our Harare site, coupled with a relaxed atmosphere and a bit of a cowboy attitude of the locals makes this event exciting and unique.

Last year they had an organized trail drive rather than a jamboree and this was well attended and a great event too. This year however we were back to a jamboree format and at a brand new venue, Smallbridge Dam. This is a long way from Harare and with short notice we struggled a bit to get the numbers up. Jim Perry and I each sent a truck with 2 vehicles. Ray Walker drove his Wrangler and BJ came from Gweru with his special L/R, there were seven Mutare guys, a field of thirteen. A beautiful setting, camping by the lake, cheap booze and cheap food; the weather was overcast, warm and no rain, the ground was moist.

Our group got chucked in the deep end starting on what turned out to be the most tricky section of the event, in fact it knocked out Aubrey Bennett. We got through it though and after that it was downhill (ha ha). The rest of the field finished the whole event, some real challenging stuff, rocks, climbs and very tight stuff playing right into the hands of Courna Korna, (For once both our Cournils ran trouble free). The old Cournil (I ought to give it a more illustrious name like Iron Giant) was driven by my Danish relative Morten with Lisbeth as coach. They did a great job considering he has never driven a 4x4 in anything of this sort.

There were a couple of new tests; one was the TOP BEER competition in the bar, one of the courses. A down-down type comp where we could not compete with the barman. Secondly there was the timed 'Hill Climb' instead of a mud run. I respect Ray Walker for setting a gruelling pace at both events.



Results

Special class - Kirk/Benzon - Cournil

Standard modified - Jim Perry - L/R

Standard - Gareth Barry - L/R

The Hill climb - Costa D – Jeep V8, second Ray Walker - Jeep



Smallbridge Dam was really ideal. No hassles with local drinkers at the Motor Club. No need to drive comp vehicles through town. The showers, catering and camping were excellent, it is also a beautiful place to which to get away to. This led us to think that a 'Bush Pig' event could easily be run here. We discussed it and they liked the idea. So it is a future option to either run our Bush Pig or a Mutare Bush Pig there. It is a long way to travel but I would like members to think about it and give me some feedback.

Cheers, Mass Kirk



FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

4x4 Club Diary - 2012

These dates change as the year progresses, but flyers will be sent out before each event.



January 29 Ngomo Kurira Run DAY

February 26 Training Donnybrook Donnybrook

March 11 AGM- Donnybrook Donnybrook

March 31 Night Extreme

Jamboree Launch Donnybrook

April 6-9 Easter

May 12-13 Course Building Donnybrook

May 25-27 HARARE JAMBOREE Donnybrook

June 24 Conservation Project AWAY

July 15 Club Day Event DAY

August 13-14 Expedition Gonarazhou Blue Cross, Eastern Highlands

September 15-16 Bush Pig Beatrice

October 27 Three Hills (full moon) Makumbi

November 10 Corporate Day Donnybrook

November 18-20 (TBC) Mutare Dungbeetle Mutare

December 9 Christmas Run Local





Committee: A body that keeps minutes and wastes hours.





DONNYBROOK

To enter Donnybrook on a non-event day it will cost you $1 per car, providing you have you membership card. Non-members will be charged $10 per car. You must sign the book at the gate and put your name, your Club and membership number. Do not pay without signing the book.

Please note: If you wish to go to Donnybrook to play and there is another event on, then the organizing club can charge what they like for you to enter as they will have hired the entire complex for that day. Please don’t try and argue with the gate attendant as they will just be doing their job. Either pay-up or go away and come back on a free day.



WEB SITE / FACE BOOK

Have you had a look at our Web Site? Grant Weare, Kelvin’s son has done a really good job of updating it. Go to: http://www.4x4.co.zw

We have a Face Book site and for those members, who are on Face Book, feel free to join the site: 4x4 Zimbabwe

Motor Sports Association Club House

MSA Membership: The Club House bar works on a Swipe Card basis and any member of an affiliated club can join. Pay your $20 Club House subscription and get your card. Bar prices are double for non-cardholders.

Hall for Hire - Hire our affordable Club facilities for parties, Wedding Receptions, meetings, seminars, courses and other functions. Assist us in this way to obtain funds for the Clubhouse.





Michael and Pat GILL



See subscription renewal notice below …………………………

Payment can be by direct deposit or paid in cash at the next event or phone me and we make an arrangement. We have a number of places around town who will gladly take your money. Pat







THE 4 x 4 CLUB

P.O. BOX HG 594 HIGHLANDS HARARE ZIMBABWE

2 Annan Road, Eastlea, Harare.

www.4x4.co.zw

Affiliated to the Zimbabwe Motor Sports Federation

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL - 2012



Name: ...........................................................................................................



Address: .............................................................................................



…………………………………………………………………………………



Telephone numbers : Home:.……........................ Work:: ……………...........................



Cell:...........................………........... E-mail :……………………..........................

In order to keep our records up-to-date, please complete in full.



Signed: ............................................... Date: ...……..................................



Annual subscription for 2012 is US$40

Our Bank Account Details, if you wish to do a direct deposit:

The 4x4 Club; NMB Borrowdale Branch;

Branch Code: 11106 Account No: 260066827

Please advise me as soon as you have paid, or we will not be able to reconcile the account and you will not get your Membership Card.

Pat Gill: Membership Secretary

Phone: 494028 Cell: 0712.440.794 Email: gill@zol.co.zw



Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Warning

Dear Mike,

For what it's worth, here is another entry in the on-going litany of thefts occuring at night.

We collected friends from Harare airport last evening around 10:00 PM.

I noticed a funny noise emanating from a rear tyre as we turned at Coke Corner.

Near Railray Avenue a dark black vehicle came up next to us to tell us we had a flat (it was actually becoming flat at that point).

It was then, that my instinct kicked in and I sensed a bigger problem, and said that I am not stopping anywhere down town Harare (especially with ladies in tow), and so proceeded to a well lit medical institution in the Avenues to park, so that we could change the tyre with help of a local guard and friends in our vehicle.
A few minutes later, as we are in the process of changing over tyres, a vehicle comes along and parks next to us (we assumed it was coming to the medical institution, which is a normal response, as there were vehicles coming and going).
We were somewhat preoccupied with the tyre change, so did not focus for long on that vehicle.

Next thing we know, our doctor friend says, "they've reached in and stolen something". Sure enough, a man from the vehicle took our friend's wife's hand bag from off the floor of my dbl cab, which was hidden out of sight, and absconded with passport, money, camera, Kindle, etc.

After reflection, we all realized that it was the same dark vehicle, with three grown men inside, that we had seen downtown a few minutes earlier.

Our friend then gave chase on foot and caught up to the one miscreant, who proceeded to turn on our friend with a club and hit him on the hand. The assailant then jumped into the now awaiting car and it fled...the vehicle had no registration (of course).

From our recollection to the police, the vehicle appeared to be of European origin.

These people are brazen and are not shy to attempt to steal even with a number of us standing right there. They chose their moment carefully and hit fast.

Let me encourage your readers to be extra vigilant around this Christmas season if they are doing an airport run late at night, and be sure they're travelling with an escort who can wield a club in defence (such as a strong, young domestic) if they are doing a late collection at the airport.

Advent blessings of joy and peace.

Sincerely,

Chris Goppert
Harare

Meetings

Dear Reader,


This afternoon myself and two good friends had a very constructive meeting, at my request, with a Senior Superintendent at Police Headquarters regarding the Drink Driving Comments that I have been sending out over the past week. We were all pleasantly surprised by a very favourable response and ideas that came from the interaction. It was great to find out that they are making a concerted effort to improve their PR with the general public and to share suggestions on the way forward as far as Traffic and Drinking is concerned

The selection of these emails that I sent to him have been forwarded to the relevant Deputy Commissioner and the Police officer commanding Borrowdale and Highlands - showing just how seriously they are taking the matter.

We spoke about the following subjects :

1. Drink Driving

2. Underage Drinking at Night clubs

3. The illegality of selling / giving alcohol to drunk patrons at any licenced establishment

4. Very drunk young ladies being taken advantage of by several drunk young men after the “Bender”

5. The use of Cell phones whilst Driving

6. Police Roadblocks and the, soon to be implemented addition of barbed barriers, to prevent drivers not stopping when ordered to

7. The escalation of Police Presence in and around shopping centres, night clubs and popular entertainment spots

8. Dagga usage and hard core drugs being sold to the rich kids on the block

9. Citizens arrests for people that are obviously way over the drink drive limit

We were told that the officer concerned would be compiling an email for me to send out to readers this weekend giving details of measures the Police are about to implement to improve on all of these matters

They are aware of the major party supposedly happening at Sam Levy’s Village tonight and there will be an increased Police Presence watching out for the things listed above. There are also undercover Police out there ! So make sure your underage kids are not out drinking at night clubs tonight –– make sure that your child is not the first one to be made an example of

More importantly - make sure there is a designated driver for those that are planning to “hit it hard” tonight – we do not want them to be included in the first fatality of this festive season!!

If you feel that I am a party pooper as one reader said this morning, please feel free to unsubscribe from this list! Her email included the following comment about one of these drinking places:

“This is the festive season and all XXXX wants to do is give youngsters a good time - it's up to the people to act responsibly - XXXX are not their nannies. “

I hope you have a very pleasant weekend – Mike G

A sign of the times

Dear Reader


I walked over to Sam Levy’s Village just after midnight last night to check out the 10 hour party that was happening there in the new car park behind the new Borrowdale Spar. They would not let me in to the gig! I did not have the correct (Fake) ID Card that the under age kids are all organising at Photo World all made legal with the Authentic “Justice of the Peace” Stamp that is doing the rounds!
Young girls and guys all wandering around carrying those ICE Vodka bottles or plastic Coke Bottles with anything but Coke in them - all ages – totally illegal by the way to walk in a public place drinking alcohol – whether you are over 18 or not. Noted a group of 3 guys light up an (obvious) joint going into the place. If I can see that happen within 1 min of being there why can’t the plain clothes Police? The kids were still streaming in and a few were already inebriated at 12.30am. What were they going to be like at the end of the night?

We need to change the whole culture of our youth in Zimbabwe. Many of these youngsters seem to think that they must drink more shooters than their mates and be more drunk than them. So that they can go back home sometime the next day and boast on Facebook about how “Wasted” they were the night before and they actually brag about how they can’t remember anything!

I feel we need a few motivational speakers to address the girls at Chisi and Arundel about the reality of binge drinking and what the young guys really plan to do with these girls early the next morning! – talk to the boys at St Georges and St Johns (etc, etc) about growing up to be responsible individuals – not sheep – any takers? – I suggest one or two Police Representatives be taken along to the school assemblies for this (Shock Treatment) purpose – and preferably on a Friday just before they ask mom and dad to go that special “Wow” night club!
Regards – Mike G

.........To everyone who is proactively doing something to stop this craziness re: drinking and driving. Even more alarming is the age of the girls at the night clubs; some as young as 13 years old!!

Which parents are standing by and allowing this to happen? What happens to those girls when they wake up the next morning and remember what they did whilst under the influence? How many "D&C's" are being performed on teenagers who are pregnant? What shred of self-respect do these girls really have when they can't remember what they did, with whom and when? We are allowing a generation of alcoholics to attend regular training sessions in our night clubs, our homes, our communities and should they forget how to ensure they get themselves into the lifestyle, many need look no further than mum or dad .. or both setting a fine example.

No apologies for being a party pooper ... if my email can prevent one more coffin from travelling to a premature resting place then mission accomplished.

The Western Cape Local Government is running a TV campaign called 'Safely Home' using footage from CCTV cameras mounted on highways in SA. The ads are also on YouTube and are 'not for sensitive viewers or children' and can be seen here http://safelyhome.westerncape.gov.za/galleries/video-gallery
I had noticed the increased presence of police checks when returning from Reps to Kambanji after 9pm. It's reassuring to know they're policing - as is their duty.

The drinking and driving has become way out of control and it's marvellous the community as a whole is making the effort to engage all in the need to curb this dangerous activity.

As to XXXX and her comments: what could be more party pooping than dead/maimed patrons unable to fill her coffers. I'm betting she will not accept with equanimity the results of some drunk crashing into her and maiming her for life. She needs a reminder of her responsibility to the community that fulfils her needs.

It takes a village to raise a child. As a community we have a responsibility to each other, not just the 'child'.
the mere fact that xxxx and whoever else offers kids entrance of $10 for girls and $20 for boys and drink as much as you like, is not acting responsibly on xxxx part! don’t you think? this is just saying drink as much as you like, we don’t care, just pay the entrance. AAARGH!!!

well done for taking initiative!. Now also go for those owners of the establishments they need to be…… named and shamed

If ever you are in comms with the traffic police again PLEASE would you mention the danger of the Harare Mutare road. I don't think I have ever travelled that road without witnessing a dreadful accident. Last week there were FOUR major crashes when we went to Harare and THREE when a friend went a few days later. It is a nightmare.

The minibuses and the big black powerful cars (or similar type) overtake in the face of oncoming traffic or on blind rises/corners and just presume you will find a way to avoid hitting them.

I think the police should have roving vehicles between the towns/cities so there is a presence. If you swerve off the road to avoid having a head on, you have the chance of killing or maiming an innocent bystander/pedestrian. The whole road has become a death trap.


Your reader (whose comments are quoted below) says pub owners are not their nannies may be correct – but the parents are being totally irresponsible and should also be held accountable. The owners of the venues can’t keep track on who is drinking what – but they can do something about it and I have a suggestion. What about an additional tax on anyone with a license to sell booze to cover the cost of additional police people whose sole job it is to stand outside the venues and as the kids come out to leave – follow them to the car and do a breathalyzer if it is deemed necessary and arrest these kids the minute they get into the car and put the key into the ignition. The kids can argue their innocence in court at a later stage. Also institute a HUGE fine like thousands of dollars – an amount that could really hurt the parents and perhaps impound vehicles. The kids however still need to get home coz there is not enough space in the prisons! So maybe cover charges should also include a bus service to do a once round at the end of the evening and take the drunk kids home and drop off the policemen at the end of the shift.

I also know that some of these kids are out of control and there are parents who are unable to discipline them. Be that as it may – if they get drunk and wipe themselves out it is of course sad but so much more sad is the sober responsible person who gets wiped out because they happen to be in the line of fire of the irresponsible drunk!

Warning

Please bring to the attention of friends and others who intend driving into or passing through Ziumbabwe over the festive period, the following details required for the vehicles.


Just because they are driving a foreign registered vehicle does not exclude them from Zimbabwean Regulations.

All vehicles must have white and red reflectors fitted front and rear.

1 x fire extinguisher, 2 x red triangles for each vehicle. If the vehicle is pulling a trailer a set of triangles for that.

A reflective vest.

The police are using any part of the regulations to fine drivers. It may seem petty but they are tasked with road safety and they are out in full strength on all main roads and aare imposing fines for very minimal offences



Sunday, December 18, 2011

Indigenous Trees:

 Why not give some indigenous trees as presents this Christmas? These make unusual gifts and you can enjoy them for years to come. The COSMO Trust Indigenous Tree Nursery has an extensive collection of some 50 species at the end of Fenella Drive, Monavale, (near B.S. Leon Retirement Village) and we provide a data sheet for each species on how to plant, grow and look after your tree as well as its uses and attributes. We are open daily from 8 a.m. to midday and 2  to 4 p.m. For further information contact 0772 772771/0779 260834/0712 636458. benover@zim.co.zw

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Warning to vistors to Zimbabwe by Road

SI 154 Safety Equipment: Friends or family driving into the country?


It’s advisable for visitors with foreign registered vehicles to prepare for checkpoints where they might be asked to show they’re carrying Safety Equipment.

If you know of anyone driving into the country, they’ll thank you for forwarding these details to them:

Fire extinguisher

Mandatory. 1kg (light vehicles). To be SAZ approved. Visitors should carry SABS approved units.

Warning triangle

2 triangles mandatory. Not required to be SAZ approved.

Fluorescent safety jacket

Recommended for own safety but not mandatory (except for travellers to Mozambique).

It’s also advisable to fit a pair of reflectors: white up front, red at the back. Size guide: Circular - 60mm circumference, square - minimum 50x50mm.

Requests for more information welcome, email bigsky@zol.co.zw

Big Sky Supplies – We prepare you for your journey (An AAZ Consul Office)

9 Pomona Shopping Centre (Next to Nando’s)

Phone: (04) 870827/851002

Email: bigsky@zol.co.zw

RADIO RHODESIA

"6:30 Get up up up up up..." This was the wake up call of a rotund fun loving clown by the name of Leslie Sullivan who was the morning man on Radio Rhodesia. Leslie, I am told was quite a night owl and would show up about 45 minutes before Radio Rhodesia went on the air and had a "Power Sleep" waking just in time to get the morning radio show kicked off.
At about 5 minutes to 6 in the morning, the day began on the air for Radio Rhodesia. It started with "A thought for the day", an inspirational message to help face the day. At 6AM the morning call would go out announcing what meter band and wave length the RBC could be picked up on.

When I think of this, somehow the aroma of toast and Jungle Oats come to mind. Between 6AM and 6:30 a short recap of the news and weather forecast for the day were given, some music played and then, 'voila! it was time for Leslie to perform his magic and get the children out of bed with his "Get up up up" routine. He usually followed with a kiddie song like "Teddy Bears' picnic or "Pink Toothbrush" but the greatest was when, once a year, he would play a short piece each morning from a story about a fat Chinese boy who fell down a well but because of his long name lost potential rescuers when he would call out for help. His name that being Nicky Nicky Tembo Oh So Rembo, Ooh Ma Muchi Gamma Gamma Guchi !!

Leslie was always so much fun to wake up to in the morning, it almost took the sting out of having to get ready to go to work or school.

His audience comprised of both parents and children. Later in the morning it was time for another sorcerer to perform his Radio magic, in the form of a kindly chap by the name of Don Burdette. Don had a hospital request show with "Silver Lining" as his theme music. Don showed tremendous empathy for the ailing whether it was a "new mum" at the Lady Chancellor hospital or Lady Rodwell Hospital, or a malaria case in Salisbury Central hospital, maybe Umtali General, The Mater Dei in Bulawayo or Greenwood Park hospital or even someone recuperating at home. Don always saved a special segment for his "Little Horrors", the sick children who were in hospital. Usually he would play Alvin and the Chipmunks. It always perked a person up listening to his kindly voice admonishing you to cheer up and get better soon.

Around noon, shortly after the "Daily Service", a wonderful woman by the name of Beryl Salt would exhort children to "Bring a cushion or a chair right up to the radio", at which time she would read a story with the most amazing professionalism, never mispronouncing a word, stuttering or losing a beat. I will never forget her for she made my childhood so much more enjoyable with her lovely voice.

Around 2PM there was usually a short news update, following which a "Serial" came on. It was usually a radio theatre presentation of a book and so very well done. These programs brought something to look forward to and were seldom missed.

Radio really had an impact on our lives as Television did not come on until 6PM and that was only in the larger cities, until later years as technology became better. It was the great spirit in a small box that penetrated our soul and mind and left that indelible image there. It forced your imagination to take you to places your eye could not see, truly wonderful! Monday nights there was a great show entitled "The Missing Persons Bureau" about an agency that traced folks who had disappeared. Henry Simon, was the director of the bureau.

During the rest of the week several radio drama shows were done usually by some great entertainers like Ken Marshall and his beautiful wife Claire. These folk along with other celebrities not only did wonderful radio dramas but often performed in plays at the well known Reps theatre in Salisbury.

There were many fine voices on the air - one was Gerry Wilmot who left Radio Rhodesia to work for Lourenco Marques radio, I think that was about 1961 or 1962.

My favorite day was Saturday for all the great hit music generally got played. Ian Warren had a show at 9AM playing new songs that were potential hits. Everyone's favorite was none other than Lyons Maid hits of the week. The show was done by Martin Locke and Trig Tregaskis who not only had a great radio voice but held quite an appeal to the young ladies. Much to the annoyance of his wife.

Each week there was a jackpot, and if the top ten hits of the week were predicted correctly the winner would win the amount, or if he or she got the top three correct free ice cream was in the works! How we lived for this show! Martin left the Rhodesian airwaves for a while and Keith Kennedy took over the show. Both gentlemen were excellent at their craft and the show was tremendously successful. Trig took over as DJ on Radio Jacaranda where he remained until he left for South Africa in 1978.

Another great at Radio Rhodesia was a guy that I thought never got enough credit for his excellence and that was Malcolm Russell.

Malcolm had a show called "New Tracks" and it was the last biggie for we young folk on a Saturday morning. The show's theme song was "I Will Follow Him" and was just super. Saturday afternoon at 2PM, a radio game show, "The Eyegene Jackpot", was presented and it was quite enjoyable.

A game show program presented by Mervin Hamilton and Vic Matheson that featured housewives pushing a shopping cart around Meikles gathering groceries without duplicating items in an allotted time, brought excitement to the listeners. It was always quite a rush to listen to.

My favorite was "Forces Requests" with Sally Donaldson on

Saturday afternoons. Sally was a beautiful young woman with a voice to match. She played all the forces favorites and with the escalating terrorist bush war she became very popular as young men went off to defend their country. Dusk was usually falling as we would listen with the lights turned out in our living room. It was so peaceful thanks to our security forces. Sadly Sally passed away a few years ago but her wonderful personality, charm and looks will never be forgotten.

There were several distinguished voices like that of John Bishop and Peter Tobin that graced our airwaves.

As the years passed small stations were set up in the provinces that covered local issues for about 2 or 3 hours on Friday nights. I have a smile on my face thinking of all the fond memories of a wonderful Radio station. My times for the programming may be slightly off bearing in mind all of this happened so long ago and in a land far away!

Thanks to all of these dear people, some still with us, others not but everyone is fondly remembered and never forgotten.
"Why be difficult when with just a little effort you can be bloody impossible"

Thank you to the Unknown Source

Family Notices

BIRTHS




Vic and Jo are over the moon to announce the birth of their first grandchild a beautiful bouncy 9lb12oz boy Eli Ireland to Sean and Shelley in the Uk, congratulations to the two of you we just wish we were closer to share your bundle of happiness !!!





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5) CONDOLENCES

PLEASE MAKE DONATIONS FOR CONDOLENCE MESSAGES PLEASE TO EDITH DULY NURSING HOME edithduly@netconnect co zw



Pam Spencer (nee Ellman-Brown) 96 years- wife of the late Morten Spencer, mother to Pauline Fairlie and the late John Spencer - passed away peacefully in Howick on 11th Nov Rest in peace Auntie Pam love Rich, Jayne and the girls





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SHEILA STEWART



Our Mum passed away yesterday, Friday 9th December at 9 45am She was a young 77

All of her four children Mark, Amanda, Paul & Penny, were around her bed She started to take long pauses between her breaths and then we noticed she hadn't taken a breath for a while, so it was very peaceful



She was widow of the late, Donald, beloved Mum to Mark, Amanda, Paul, Penny and 'Gig' to Amy, Matt, Tim, James, Jonathan, Ben, Joseph and Ella



GARRY AND PENNY BELL

Penny Bell pinkpenguin@smartchat net au



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DEATH NOTICE



ANNA WOOTTEN



Beloved mother of Fergus and Gillian Forbes passed away peacefully on

the 7th of December 2011

All friends are invited to a memorial service at 66 Duncan Road Suburbs at

10 am Monday 12 December 2011 Tea to follow

Contact 09 - 243255

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ANNA WOOTTON , (84) friend of many years, died peacefully after a long battle against cancer on Wednesday, 7th December at her home Anna, you were always cheerful- we will mi you and our joyful hours together Rest in peace! Our heartfelt condolences go to Fergus and Gill

Ulrike and Klaus Leuschner

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"Anna Wootten,



A dear friend and neighbour, a lady of great kindne , and a great character Will be greatly mi ed and always remembered with great affection Deepest sympathies to Gus, Gill and family



David, Lucy, Caitlin, Amelia and Tabitha Findlay (Stamford, UK)"



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Death Notice



Anna Wootten,

Beloved mother of Fergus and Gillian Forbes, passed away peacefully at home on 7 12 2011

Friends are invited to the memorial Service to be held on Monday 12th December at 10 00am at 66 Duncan Road, Suburbs

No flowers by request, donations instead to Bulawayo, SPCA



Phone 243255

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ANNA WOOTTON , (84) friend of many years, died peacefully after a long battle against cancer on Wednesday, 7th December at her home Anna, you were always cheerful- we will mi you and our joyful hours together Rest in peace! Our heartfelt condolences go to Fergus and Gill

Ulrike and Klaus Leuschner

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JENNY BRANKIN



Please can I send my condolences to the Brankin family on their sad

loss of Jenny wife and mother she will be sadly mi ed so sorry about

your loss she passed away at 1 00am on the 30th November2011 Love

Kathy,Dan&Tania

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Fiona Mcgregor Judge



So sad that one of my friends from KG1 at Baines has passed away in NZ So many happy Bulawayo memories Sweet dreams Fiona



Carole Gilbert Broughton, Castlemaine, Victoria



Please could you record my condolences to Arthur Heron's family ?

Arthur was our family butcher for many years, first at the Dundee Butchery and then on his own I remember going into the shop one day and seeing Arthur standing over the Newspaper which was spread out on the floor I asked what on earth he was doing??? he said "reading the paper, my arms have grown too short, I can only read it from up here!!""



I think one of Arthur's sons was at Hamilton with William, our younger son



Val Taylor - RSA

Joseph Marffy

It is with deep sorrow that we have to announce the sudden death of Joseph Marffy on the 29th November 2011 who died of a massive heart attack in his home in England. He is the third son of Laci and Pelline Marffy of the Mvurwi district and will be sorely missed by his family and friends. His funeral will take place on Friday 9th December in England.




Contact: lonegumfarm@iwayafrica.com