REPS REPORTER – SEPTEMBER 2010

Now that summer is here, I hope that all of you will be able to winkle yourselves out of the warm cocoon of your favourite chair and make time to pay your Society a visit. We have a number of productions in the pipe line ranging from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to ‘Allo ‘Allo to Stars of Tomorrow to the annual panto. Something for everything on stage, and if the stage is not your particular thing, then come along to try out the new range of stock we are holding in the bar. I hope to see you somewhere there soon.

Congrats to Babysitting Calvin

Well done to Colleen Hardy and her team in Babysitting Calvin on winning the Best Production award in the 2010 National Invitational One Act Play Festival, which was held at Reps on September 3 and 4. We were delighted to be able to host this most worthwhile exercise and to welcome plays from Kadoma (Campbell Theatre Club) and Mutare (Four000 Miles Theatre Group). The adjudicator, Dr Susan Hains, selected the following award winners:

Best Production: Babysitting Calvin

Best Actor: Larry Greeff (Babysitting Calvin)

Best Actress: Carole Newman (Cream Cracker under the Settee)

Best Supporting Actor: Leroy Machiso (Dirty Laundry)

Best Supporting Actress: Gaye O’Reilly and Cherry Gordon (Happiness My Goal)

Best Newcomer (Male): Ronald Pilime (Postal Orders)

Best Newcomer (Female): Gaby Levey (Babysitting Calvin)

Best Cameo: Carole Newman (Night Temperature)

Best Achievement: Cream Cracker under the Settee

Best Costumes: Dirty Laundry

Best Technical: Cream Cracker under the Settee

These were the productions presented at the festival:

Campbell Theatre Club, Kadoma:

Cream Cracker under the Settee

Night Temperature

Happiness My Goal

Four 000 Miles, Mutare:

Dirty Laundry – A Family Affair

The Repertory Players:

Babysitting Calvin

Postal Orders

Sins of the Father

Does anyone want to try their hand at directing? The 2011 One Act Festival is only 11 months away. Put in your application NOW!

Joseph promises to be a super musical treat

All is set for the run of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the updated revival of the Tim Rice-Andrew Lloyd-Webber hit that is timeless and popular. It opens on Tuesday September 14 (preview night Monday September 13 – pensioners free) and ends its run on Saturday September 25. Three nights are already booked out for gala evenings and tickets are selling fast for the other performances. This show has a cast of over 40 and will be a real treat for the eye and ear.

Fraser brings in another comedian
After his success with John Vlismas a few weeks ago, Fraser Mackay is bringing in another SA comedian, Mark Banks, highly regarded in SA and abroad. This run will feature only three performances – September 30, October 1 and October 2. This sounds like a lot of fun but please remember that it is rated No Under 18.

I shall say this only once!

If you happen to be walking past the rehearsal room any time in the near future and hear the lyrical Gallic language being mangled to the accompaniment of hoots of laughter, then you have just walked past a rehearsal of ‘Allo ‘Allo. This show, directed by Sue Bolt, runs on the main stage from October 12 – 23.

Also coming up
For additional entertainment
• Josh Ansley sings live in the Reps Members’ Bar on Friday September 10 from 8.30pm
• The Dance Trust of Zimbabwe presents An Afternoon of Dance on the main stage for one performance only – 2.30pm on Sunday October 3. It features 10 dancers from the South African National Ballet and a number of local dancers.
• We are hosting a fun quiz evening on Sunday September 26 in the Theatre Upstairs. It starts at 6pm and features two “shows” and a lasagna dinner betweens the two. It’s called The Weakest Link and will run along the lines of the TV show.

Did you know…
that we do not allow glasses or bottles into either of our auditoriums? This is to help prevent expensive breakages and, more important, possible injuries. Please cooperate with us and take plastic “cups” into the theatres if you take drinks in. If plastic cups are not available please also cooperate and refrain from using this as an excuse to “have to” take in drinks in bottles and glasses. Many members have, in fact, asked us to stop allowing drinks into the theatres but we still allow this if it does not develop into a problem – and providing no glasses or bottles are used. Cans and plastics are fine.

Until next time, keep well and remember – there is no such thing as failure, only a result.

Dramatically yours,
Teri Grimmel
Chairman

Anti-hijack Trust

August has seen an increase on crime again … mainly house robberies, with gate motors, swimming pool and borehole pumps being high on the list. Power cuts have been extremely long, and therefore perfect for the underworld to work in – it means that the upgrade of security is essential where at all possible. It seems that ALL suburbs have been targeted so take this is a WARN ING to be on your guard.


In Central Business District (City centre/surrounding areas) there have been reports of ‘missing’ vehicles which have turned out to be that vehicles have been clamped and then towed away by the City of Harare for parking in NO PARKING areas. Be warned, make sure you are in a parking area and that you have the parking discs displayed and filled in correctly. Do not double park and leave vehicles running as you are then leaving yourself wide open for theft as well as being on the wrong side of the law. Please keep in mind the safety of your vehicle. There is an increase of motorists not wearing seatbelts, talking on mobile phones without using the correct NO HANDS equipment available , jumping the traffic lights etc whilst travelling, - generally not being vigilant to the rules of the road, with an increase of accidents and sadly even loss of life due to carelessness. As motorists we must be fully aware and alert at all times, do NOT take other people’s lives in to your own hands, as so often is the case of the innocent victim being involved. Lets tame this road rage – be courteous to other motorists, its better to be safe than sorry at the end of the journey. We seem to have a’ motor ‘ jungle out there, let’s control it !

Smash and grabs are still occurring, so be warned, with the warmer weather around the corner, travelling with windows open with valuables etc left within reach or in view is not wise. Keep all items in the BOOT and out of sight. Travelling to and from the airport please make sure all baggage etc is safe and out of view. Its a stressful hassle when passports, money, tickets etc are stolen, this can all be avoided.

Our aim should be to see Zimbabwe as a safe and secure haven for us all to live in !

Let’s ALL fight this crime together - stay ALERT and SAFE !

ANTI HIJACK TRUST: NATIONAL HOTLINE: 091 2 242 512

TEL/FAX: HARARE 04-309870/309800 /091 2

Toll fees for Kariba Dam wall set

Herald Reporter

All vehicles using the Kariba Dam wall to gain entry into Zimbabwe or Zambia will now be required to pay toll fees for the use of the facility as the Zambezi River Authority seeks to raise funds for the maintenance of the site.

Heavy vehicles will pay US$20 while light vehicles would pay US$5 for the use of the bridge jointly owned by Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Energy and Power Develop-ment Minister Elton Mangoma, in a Statutory Instrument published in a Government Gazette published last Friday, annou-nced the new measures.

"Vehicles belonging to the Authority, governments of the Republics of Zimbabwe and Zambia and Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, Zesa Holdings (Private) Limited and Zesco Limited are exempted from paying fees when using the Kariba Dam wall," reads the notice.

The governments of the two neighbouring countries constructed Kariba Dam wall across the Zambezi River between the Zimbabwean and Zambian border posts and is managed by the Zambezi River Authority.

The money raised is expected to go a long way in maintaining the site and make the road user friendly.

John Roy (Jacko) Coleman

JOHN ROY (JACKO) COLEMAN

John Roy (Jacko) Coleman passed peacefully away in his 87th year in Petersfield, Hampshire U.K. latterly of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe and Kokstad KZN, S.A. Very sadly missed by his beloved family in England, South Africa and mourned by his friends everywhere. His sense of humour and twinkling eyes were second to none, a gentleman to the end. M.H.D.S.R.I.P.

Funeral arrangements to be announced. Any enquiries please contact his daughter Christine Hydes on Pietermaritzburg 033 942 726.

THE deadline for the registration of mobile phone line cards has been extended

Bulawayo Bureau-Herald Reporter.


THE deadline for the registration of mobile phone line cards has been extended until further notice, after only 25 percent of subscribers managed to register, the Postal and Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe said yesterday.

The Potraz board met yesterday in Harare and decided that registration by subscribers be extended and a new deadline would be announced some time next week.

The initial deadline elapsed yesterday.

In an interview, Potraz board chairman Engineer Charles Sibanda said the deadline had been postponed until further notice.
"The board decided that we are going to extend registration," he said.
Eng Sibanda said the board had decided to hold a Press conference next week at which a new deadline and conditions of the extension would be laid down.
He said the decision had been arrived at after realisation that 75 percent of the subscribers were yet to register their Sim cards.
"The board decided that the deadline should be extended because only 25 percent of subscribers have registered so far. For now we cannot give the new deadline but we will call a Press conference next week where a full statement would be made."
"There are certain things that need to be addressed like the conditions of extension and the new deadline, but people can continue registering their Sim cards," he said.
Weekend media reports had quoted Potraz officials as saying the deadline might be extended after mobile phone companies reported that they were failing to access all their subscribers particularly those in rural areas.
The revelation by Eng Sibanda that just 25 percent of subscribers had registered by yesterday comes amid claims by some mobile phone operators that the majority of their customers had registered.
Speaking in separate interviews, officials from the service providers blamed subscribers for failing to take heed to the call to register before the initial deadline.
"Potraz are the ones who are driving the programme and we are the ones implementing it with our subscribers. The problem is that people want to wait until the last minute when they would start rushing to beat deadlines," said a NetOne official, Ms Rutendo Chaburuka, yesterday.
In a recent interview, Econet spokesperson Mr Rangarirai Mberi said although the mobile operator had decentralised registration centres by establishing mobile centres around towns, there were still some subscribers who were yet to register their lines.
In the past few days, long queues had been the order of the day as subscribers thronged service providers in an effort to beat the deadline.
Yesterday there were still long queues at the Econet First Street shop in Harare, Telecel Sam Nujoma Street shop and the Bulawayo NetOne shop as subscribers were submitting their registration forms. - Bulawayo Bureau-Herald Reporter.

Robin von der Hyde

Death and Memorial Notice

Robin von der Hyde, beloved Father, father in law and Grandpa of Amanda, Nick, Rob, Sabrina, Katherine and Jonathon died in Mvurwi on 1st Sept. A gentleman to the very end.
Memorial Service will be held at the Anglican Church Mvurwi on Saturday 4th September at 1

VERY VERY URGENT PLEASE

THE PIONEERS SOCIETY
130 A Jason Moyo Street Telephone / Fax 65367
P. O. Box 100
BULAWAYO
e-mail pioneers@gatorzw.co.uk Zimbabwe
9th June 2010
APPEAL
PLEASE PASS ON / FORWARD TO ANYONE ELSE
ESPECIALLY OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS) WHO MAY BE INTERESTED)
Pioneer Descendants and Members of The Pioneers Society are now scattered to all corners of the world. Wherever they are they can be proud of their Heritage, their History and resilience.

It is in keeping alive this History and our Heritage that we The Pioneers Society,(Custodians of this History) send out this URGENT appeal to you all, PLEASE make whatever DONATIONS, of any amount you can, to help us survive, as well as to keep the fires burning..

Reminder also that children, Grand Children, Great Grandchildren etc are also eligible

to become members. Application Forms available from The Pioneers Society.

The current cost of Life Membership and Scoll is USD $ 55 each. This does not have to be paid all at once, especially if there are several members to be registered., It can be paid in instalments, which can be arranged to suit you.

The Society finds itself, from being financially sound and independent, to being destitute. The funds of The Pioneeers Society were completely lost, (due to the removal of an additional TWELVE ZEROS from the Zimbabwean Currency in February 2009). We are now unable to meet the basic functions of our office ie electricity, Council rates / water, or telephone as well as staff wages and salaries.

This disaster also affected many of our elderly people who became penniless and now have to rely on hand-outs or assistance from Family Members, friends or Charitable Organisations.

We are no longer able to assist members with financial assistance as we do not have any finance and are in a critical situation.

In order to minimise the HIGH costs of transferring funds, (normally a minimum charge of approx USD $ 35 at the Transferring Bank) it is suggested that any funds originating from outside Zimbabwe should be accumulated in a designated account in the country of origin. PLEASE, URGENTLY ADVISE DETAILS IF YOU WOULD BE PREPARED TO ALLOW THE USE OF YOUR PERSONAL ACCOUNT FOR THIS PURPOSE before transferring funds in bulk to our USD $ Foreign Currency Account in Bulawayo.

Account Details ACCOUNT NAME THE PIONEERS SOCIETY

BANK STANDARD CHARTERED P. O. Box 587 BULAWAYO Zimbabwe.

BRANCH Fife Street, Bulawayo

BRANCH CODE 5337 SWIFT CODE SCBLZWHXA

ACCOUNT TYPE US Dollar Foreign Currency Account

NEW CURRENT ACCOUNT NUMBER 8700240550500

PLEASE NOTE THERE WAS A DIGIT MISSING FROM

THE NUMBER SENT PREVIOUSLY. THIS IS THE CORRECT ONE.

SINCERE APOLOGIES FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE CAUSED

In order to keep our records up to date IT IS ESSENTIAL that DETAILS of ALL

Transfers / Deposits are E-MAILED to THE PIONEERS SOCIETY and also to the relevant ACCOUNT HOLDERS, so that we can make follow ups and keep track of them, and of course ACKNOWLEDGE THEM (Be they large or small).

Details of the relevant Accounts to be used can be obtained by e-mail request from

THE PIONEERS SOCIETY: E_Mail (pioneers@gatorzw.co.uk)

or the Executive Chairman _ P. McCay: E-mail (Eastnor@netconnect.co.zw)
Regards and THANKING YOU in advance: PAUL McCAY