Car jacking

I have just received this in my mail - worth looking at - I do not know if it is true or not - could be........
"Just last weekend on Friday night we parked in a public parking area. As we drove away I noticed a sticker on the rear window of the car. When I took it off after I got home, it was a receipt for gas. Luckily my friend told me not to stop as it could be someone waiting for me to get out of the car. Then we received this email yesterday:
WARNING FROM POLICE THIS APPLIES TO BOTH WOMEN AND MEN BEWARE OF PAPER ON THE BACK WINDOW OF YOUR VEHICLE-- NEW WAY TO DO CARJACKINGS (NOT A JOKE)

You walk across the parking lot, unlock your car and get inside. You start the engine and shift into Reverse.When you look into the rearview mirror to back out of your parking space, you notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window. So, you shift into Park, unlock your doors, and jump out of your car to remove that paper (or whatever it is) that is obstructing your view.

When you reach the back of your car, that is when the carjackers appear out of nowhere, jump into your car and take off. They practically mow you down as they speed off in your car.And guess what, ladies? I bet your purse is still in the car.So now the carjacker has your car, your home address, your money, and your keys. Your home and your whole identity are now compromised!
BEWARE OF THIS NEW SCHEME THAT IS NOW BEING USED
If you see a piece of paper stuck to your back window, just drive away. Remove the paper later.
Received from Madelyn Johnson

ANTI-HIJACK UPDATE FOR JANUARY 2009

This is the latest report from the anti-hijack trust on the security situation in the Harare area. We have noticed an upsurge in the numbers of people wandering around our streets - this is a contributing factor - people out of work spell temptation to turn to crime.

The first month of 2009 sadly has been a bad month for house robberies and distressing to report that the elderly seem to have been the prime targets in quite a few. This seems very cowardly, as the takings have been meagre but the brutal attack has caused high medical bills and severe trauma to those concerned. The ordeals have been lengthy drawn out attacks, with money(forex), jewellery, mobile phones and groceries being the most sought after. All the gangs have been armed be it with firearms or knobkerries or metal pipes and consist of 4 or 8 perpetrators, All victims have been tied up and or locked in a small room (bathroom/toilet) with no access out. With the lack of water in most areas, most households have a bath filled with water for essential every day usage, and this was used to sit the victim in for some hours, this was not a pleasant ordeal and has caused some rather nasty side effects. It seems that all odds are not in our favour, so lets make sure that the security you have in place is in good working order and tested on a regular monthly basis. Make sure that the all staff is well informed on the security plan and those gates, windows doors etc are firmly locked when not in use. This all sounds so tedious but it can be the ‘saving grace’ in the long run. Be cautious when employing new staff, traceable references are strongly advised, and keep all valuables under lock and key.
Areas that have been reported are Mount Pleasant, Borrowdale, Chisipte, Greendale. Borrowdale has a gang working in and around the area, vehicles have been tampered with and items removed from them. Please take note of these warnings - it is better to be safe and secure than a victim.
Hijackings have not been reported, but that could be due to the over loaded telephone networks, or malfunction of lines ! Keep vigilant whilst driving, and do not let your guard down. Keep all vehicles locked at all times and do not leave the engine running and un attended this is asking for disaster. If there are people loitering near your destination, do not stop until you are satisfied that all is clear.
Please take note if your dogs are barking or acting strangely, this usually is a warning in most cases, but do NOT open the door or go out, get assistance. Use your panic button
Let’s fight this crime together - stay ALERT and SAFE !

ANTI HIJACK TRUST: NATIONAL HOTLINE: 091 2 242 512
TEL/FAX: HARARE 04-309870/309800 /091 2 221 921
Email: hijack@mweb.co.zw or hijack@zol.co.zw

THE BALLY VAUGHAN SANCTUARY

THE BALLY VAUGHAN SANCTUARY is in desperate need of a roll of either diamond
mesh or chicken wire, or 50 m of shade cloth to repair the roof of our
monkey enclosure. We are also looking for second-hand wheelbarrows to serve
the predators' dinner from! Please contact Sarah on sarah@ballyvaughan.co.zw
or carol@powerspeed.co.zw

The Bally Vaughan Sanctuary, a safe haven for wildlife, birds and farm
animals in need is desperately seeking any quantity and quality of maize,
soya, sorghum, wheat or maize bran, maputi etc for stockfeed. We have
rescued a number of farm animals and wild animals who have been victims of
land seizures and mix our own stockfeed for them.
Please contact Sarah on 011 601 131, 091 592 944 or 091 2 592 942 or
sarah@ballyvaughan.co.zw or ramlaulv@gmail.com
fad

ZNSPCA would like all farmers to not hesitate to call on our Inspectors if
they require assistance in moving domestic/livestock/commercial game animals
off farms due to evictions. In the event of farmers being denied access to
their animals, the ZNSPCA Inspectors can ensure that the animals are
receiving food, water, and that there is no cruelty taking place. Our team
of Inspectors are on call 24 hours and will react to any complaint
immediately.
Numbers to phone are :
ZNSPCA HQ : 04 497574/497885
ZNSPCA Cell : 011 630 403
Glynis Vaughan : 0912 367 260
Simon Chikadaya : 0912 696 308
Mathius Tengaruwa : 0912 696 311
Oliver Tegere : 0912 696 310
Livison Chareka : 0912 696 309
ZNSPCA
156 Enterprise Road
Chisipite
Harare
E-mail: zimnspcahq@zol.co.zw

New health fees; Residents` access to health barred!

www.chra.co.zw
…as Cholera and poverty wreak more havoc across the country.

23 January 2009
From: Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
If Harare residents and Zimbabweans at large had a wand of magic or a choice at least; they would end all sicknesses but the fact that they occur naturally and involuntarily leaves them at the mercy of the twisted ‘politics of survival’ maneuverings of a desperate and failed defacto authority, the Mugabe ‘Government.’ The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) finds it stomach-turning that Public Health has been effectively privatized (through the introduction of the new hard currency fees) amid the socio-economic malaise that has drastically increased poverty among the residents. The average Zimbabwean has been denied access to health as the ZANU PF ‘government’ takes desperate measures to keep its ‘Titanic of chronic failure’ afloat.

The Government hospitals which together with Council clinics were given the nod to charge in hard currency (but still accept the valueless Zimbabwean dollar with the charges determined on a daily basis), charge patients a hard-to-come-by US$40=R 400 (equals to ZW$ quintillions at parallel market rate) for consultation only and massive US$70=R700 a night for in-patients. A Caesarean operation requires a flat fee of a whopping US$150=R1 500 while scans cost around US$80=R800.The Harare City council has pegged consultation fee for adults at US$5 a visit and US$3 for children Antenatal care booking charges for expecting women are pegged at US$50 and family planning method seekers pay an average of US$2 per service.

Most low income earners who make the majority of the Zimbabwean population still earn far below US$ 1 per month, lower than the least charge for any service rendered at the Government hospitals and council clinics. The health charges set are therefore exasperatingly out of reach of the generality of residents and have turned public facilities into private ones and condemn residents to more suffering. The health charges are tantamount to fundraising to prop up the failed ‘government’ and broaden the looting base for the Mabhizas, Ribatikas (ZANU PF Senator and Councilor who were recently arrested for allegedly defrauding the state of more than US$ 10 000), the charges are prohibitive, and should be reversed.

Meanwhile the hard currency craze has seen massive profiteering and nuances of lack of accountability in public and private sectors. CHRA would like to urge the ministry of Health, the defacto Government and all other public and private service providers to stop ripping off citizens and uphold principles of justice and due fairness in discharging their mandate and in their businesses respectively. CHRA will continue to advocate for transparency, professionalism, and quality municipal and other service(s) delivery.


Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
145 Robert Mugabe Way
Exploration House, Third Floor
Harare
ceo@chra.co.zw
www.chra.co.zw
Landline: 00263- 4- 705114
Contacts: Mobile: + 263 011862012, 011 923 204 0912 653 074, 0913 042 981, or email info@chra.co.zw, and admin@chra.co.zw

"Jambanja'd again" - Stu Taylor

Views from people who have experienced what is happening here are of value to look at what we are going through at this time. This was posted by Stu Taylor:
A friend of mine was "jambanja'd" last night (21Jan, 2009), for the
second time - the first time he was producing a high-quality export crop
- this last time producing FOOD for people TO EAT; if this is the
sincerity in which Mugabe and his cronies have entered into
"Powersharing" talks, then who needs the talks? I am still trying to get
my head around how Mugabe is still referred to as the "president" - he
LOST an election dammit, then bulldozed himself into another which he
stole - thus going against the will of the people; what do the people do?
Wait and see - because we're too idle and afraid to meet the bullies
face-to-face - what happened to the bully at school when whipped by the
underdog? He ran away with his tail between his legs - that's what must
happen if we are to salvage our Zimbabwe that has been ravaged by Mugabe
and Zanu. Other nations do it, what is OUR story? As one, we can do it.
Unity is strength. Go well, Stu Taylor.

FIDGE MEAD

DEATH NOTICE
FIDGE MEAD

FIDGE MEAD, beloved wife of NICK for 65 years, passed away suddenly in
Howick, KwazuluNatal, on Thursday 22 January.

Nick and Fidge lived on Mondynes Farm, Mvurwi, from 1965 until 2002.
Fidge will be dearly missed and gladly remembered by her family and
friends.

Please contact Nick at nickmead@lantic.net

The price of happiness

This article shows the contrast that exists in Zimbabwe society today - the old ways will always prevail!

http://www.zimbabwetoday.co.uk/
How the economy is wrecking the marriage market The great institutions of Zimbabwe continue to crumble into dust. The latest is education, as the government fails to open the schools for a new term.But despite this and everything else, I am continually surprised by the way normal life struggles on. A particular struggle is one in which my friend Gumbo finds himself embroiled this week.Gumbo is a man in love. His fiancee is Judith, 25. Judith is quite a catch -good looking and kind, with a degree in economics, a science much neglected in our impoverished state. She'd make any young man an excellent wife.With that in view, last Friday Gumbo travelled to Plumtree, in Matabeleland south province, to visit Judith's parents. The object of the visit was to settle the matter of Lobolo - the bride price.Lobolo, for western readers, is a traditional Zimbabwean custom. The Bride Price is exactly what it says. The intention behind it is to cement relations between the two families. In normal times it is not exorbitant.But these are not normal times. Gumbo arrived at Judith's home. Ten minutes later he was leaving, in a state of humiliation, bewilderment and despair.Through saving and scrimping he had accumulated a sum of 2000 South African rand. About US$200. He thought it would be sufficient. He thought wrong.Judith's parents demanded the equivalent of US$3,200.Thoughtfully they had itemised the total for poor Gumbo. It went something like this:
Fee for entry to in-laws' house US$100
Introduction fee US$150
Fee for status as son-in-law US$550
Six head of cattle US$1,200
Education compensation fee US$200
Added to these amounts was a fee for "damage". Yes, as many readers will know, this term refers to the undeniable fact that Judith is four months pregnant.
The fee - US$900.
And the additional US$100 still not accounted for? Judith's parents request a designer suit for the father and a designer dress for the mother. Oh yes - and three blankets. Normally lobolo payment is staggered over the years. Judith's parents want the lot now. And they want money for Judith's upkeep, for her maternity bills, for...Gumbo is a defeated man. He has no hope of finding the money. Is he a victim of the economic breakdown in Zimbabwe? Perhaps, yes. But then again, ask yourself this: would you sell your daughter for a designer suit, a designer dress, and three blankets?Posted on Sunday, 25 January 2009 at 12:01