Would you go to Zimbabwe now?
Dec 10th, 2008, 01:27 PM
#22
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That last comment of mine was just loaded with sarcasm.
Shumba's accusation is about as accurate as mine was. Yes I'm a white South African, and I do have experience with people who lived in zimbabwe, who were kicked out of Zimbabwe, and who were imprisoned in Zimbabwe.
To accuse me of being a typical Southern African white is extremely racist and uncalled for because it carries certain negative connotations. The poster knows absolutely nothing about me or my circumstances, and to automatically assume that I'm part of a small group that I don't particularly like or agree with is offensive.
Shumba's accusation is about as accurate as mine was. Yes I'm a white South African, and I do have experience with people who lived in zimbabwe, who were kicked out of Zimbabwe, and who were imprisoned in Zimbabwe.
To accuse me of being a typical Southern African white is extremely racist and uncalled for because it carries certain negative connotations. The poster knows absolutely nothing about me or my circumstances, and to automatically assume that I'm part of a small group that I don't particularly like or agree with is offensive.
Dec 10th, 2008, 03:53 PM
#24
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<i>tip in dollars and buy your gifts, meals and activities in dollars</i>
just what I was planning on doing - thanks! Don't have a choice really, since they don't accept credit cards anywhere, and I doubt folks change their money into the local currency.
With the number of tourists going through, I'm sure there are ways for the folks to deal with $ - through the regular economy, or black market, and I'm sure they've got it all figured out. I don't think we will be the first to tip in $.
just what I was planning on doing - thanks! Don't have a choice really, since they don't accept credit cards anywhere, and I doubt folks change their money into the local currency.
With the number of tourists going through, I'm sure there are ways for the folks to deal with $ - through the regular economy, or black market, and I'm sure they've got it all figured out. I don't think we will be the first to tip in $.
Dec 10th, 2008, 06:45 PM
#25
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Momliz
Hope you have a good trip. Please write a report on your experience at Victoria Falls.
We will be there at the end of March, spending one night also. We have always wanted to see the Falls.
Do you have a Travel group arranging your hotel and activities?
I have a proposal from Go2Africa, but haven't booked it yet. I told them I wanted to wait till almost time for the trip, given the situation.
Hope you have a good trip. Please write a report on your experience at Victoria Falls.
We will be there at the end of March, spending one night also. We have always wanted to see the Falls.
Do you have a Travel group arranging your hotel and activities?
I have a proposal from Go2Africa, but haven't booked it yet. I told them I wanted to wait till almost time for the trip, given the situation.
Dec 11th, 2008, 06:24 AM
#26
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Well, now I have nothing to worry about - Bob has declared that there is no cholera in Zimbabwe, and that the western powers are using this as an excuse to invade Zimbabwe.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7777178.stm
What a relief, I am very reassured!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7777178.stm
What a relief, I am very reassured!
Dec 11th, 2008, 08:00 AM
#27
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Well, if Comrade Bob says it, it must be true... NOT! In the BBC article, they have a map of where cholera has reared its ugly head. The Vic Falls area doesn't show to have a problem at present, so I don't think this will be a concern for you, Momliz. Victoria Falls is in the upper northwest corner of the country, where it meets Botswana and Zambia.
Dec 14th, 2008, 05:53 AM
#28
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ilala lodge is wonderful and you won't get even close to cholera. your support - any support - means a relief to the people of zim.
i would not travel the "country side" right now. but vic falls - go for it!
you won't regret it!
if you just avoid it because "an uprise COULD take place at any time" then one better stays home, and even that's not THAT safe -)
div
i would not travel the "country side" right now. but vic falls - go for it!
you won't regret it!
if you just avoid it because "an uprise COULD take place at any time" then one better stays home, and even that's not THAT safe -)
div
Dec 14th, 2008, 06:18 AM
#29
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For peace of mind, should there be an outbreak or a coup, you might want to register with the State Department
https://travelregistration.state.gov
By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency.
USD will gladly be accepted in Vic Falls. It's not recommended to exchange money from street dealers/black market; you could be caught up with local police if seen doing so. Besides, it's not necessary to have local currency in Zim.
https://travelregistration.state.gov
By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency.
USD will gladly be accepted in Vic Falls. It's not recommended to exchange money from street dealers/black market; you could be caught up with local police if seen doing so. Besides, it's not necessary to have local currency in Zim.
Dec 14th, 2008, 06:31 AM
#30
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Good idea, sandi - I already tried registering online with the State Dept - as a former foreign service brat, I understand how important that is - and it was really hard! Their website is not at all user friendly, for an itinerary with multiple stops, and particularly if one is not staying in a hotel, so I gave up. I will try again, when I am feeling more patient.
cwn - Eyes on Africa has been our TA, and has arranged everything.
cwn - Eyes on Africa has been our TA, and has arranged everything.
Dec 15th, 2008, 01:56 AM
#32
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At first
lease excuse my bad english.
I´m a little bit irritated because of the comments - Does anybody REALLY thinks, that visiting the country supports the people? Most of the money goes to Robert Mugabe and his buddies.... - it´s just a question of time until the people are dieing because of hunger. Just when the country totally collapses the government of that person will end.
To do something positive when visiting the country is in my opinion just a position to justify the holidays in such a country before yourself.
lease excuse my bad english.I´m a little bit irritated because of the comments - Does anybody REALLY thinks, that visiting the country supports the people? Most of the money goes to Robert Mugabe and his buddies.... - it´s just a question of time until the people are dieing because of hunger. Just when the country totally collapses the government of that person will end.
To do something positive when visiting the country is in my opinion just a position to justify the holidays in such a country before yourself.
Dec 15th, 2008, 09:14 AM
#34
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Well, Poldi, I always like to point out that the very first thing a family of four is doing as soon as they get off the plane is hand over $400 to Uncle Bob. Somehow people forget that the Visa fee goes directly to the government. If we have a thousand tourists visiting Zimbabwe, that gives Uncle Bob $100 000.
Dec 15th, 2008, 09:23 AM
#35
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what about the camp staff?
that staff member supports its family of at least 8 - 10 people!
of course the visa fee goes to the government. but that is no excuse for boycotting zim's people!
and i doubt there is any fodorite who needs any excuse for travelling to zim or elsewhere - not for themselves nor for others.
div
that staff member supports its family of at least 8 - 10 people!
of course the visa fee goes to the government. but that is no excuse for boycotting zim's people!
and i doubt there is any fodorite who needs any excuse for travelling to zim or elsewhere - not for themselves nor for others.
div
Dec 15th, 2008, 11:09 AM
#36
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Divine,
The point is that Mugabe has taken every single dollar that goes to the government and used it to hold the country hostage. He uses it to provide a nice plush living for his cronies. The cronies in turn steal, murder and rob the general population, but they don't care because they get to go home and eat and they have running water and electricity in their homes.
Once they don't have that luxuries anymore, and they have to live like the camp staff that has to support a family of 8-10, they're not going to want to hang around Bob no more. Look at the military. Bob kept them fed and happy, so in turn they protected them. What's happening now that they don't have any food? They're rioting in the streets of Harare
Where's Bob getting the money to support his cronies? From the tourists who are so happy to support the locals, that they forget the hundreds of thousands of dollars that they put in Mugabe's pockets.
It's a catch-22. No matter what you do, the camp staff is going to suffer. The longer Mugabe has access to funds (and especially foreign currency), the longer he'll be able to stay in power.
The point is that Mugabe has taken every single dollar that goes to the government and used it to hold the country hostage. He uses it to provide a nice plush living for his cronies. The cronies in turn steal, murder and rob the general population, but they don't care because they get to go home and eat and they have running water and electricity in their homes.
Once they don't have that luxuries anymore, and they have to live like the camp staff that has to support a family of 8-10, they're not going to want to hang around Bob no more. Look at the military. Bob kept them fed and happy, so in turn they protected them. What's happening now that they don't have any food? They're rioting in the streets of Harare
Where's Bob getting the money to support his cronies? From the tourists who are so happy to support the locals, that they forget the hundreds of thousands of dollars that they put in Mugabe's pockets.
It's a catch-22. No matter what you do, the camp staff is going to suffer. The longer Mugabe has access to funds (and especially foreign currency), the longer he'll be able to stay in power.
Dec 15th, 2008, 07:27 PM
#37
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I have a slightly different issue than Momliz: we are scheduled to spend three nights on the Zambia side of Victoria Falls early next month. Strangely, British Airways has cancelled its non-stop from Joburg to Livingstone Airport, and now flies non-stop only to Vic Falls Airport in Zimbabwe - and then the same plane takes off for a 25-minute flight to Livingstone.
It seems a bit silly for us to stay on the plane in Vic Falls and take the 25-minute flight into Zambia; it seems like a waste of time. I've heard that Vic Falls is still safe, but the situation seems so unstable.
What do you all think? Should we disembark in Zimbabwe and drive over the border, or stay on the plane and take what's got to be the world's shortest commercial flight?
Thanks in advance!
It seems a bit silly for us to stay on the plane in Vic Falls and take the 25-minute flight into Zambia; it seems like a waste of time. I've heard that Vic Falls is still safe, but the situation seems so unstable.
What do you all think? Should we disembark in Zimbabwe and drive over the border, or stay on the plane and take what's got to be the world's shortest commercial flight?
Thanks in advance!
Dec 16th, 2008, 03:00 AM
#38
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Your trip to Zim will not prop up the corrupt government, it will help some people endure the suffering a little longer.
Food aid is helping prop up the Zim government. BOB is too thrilled that the do-gooders are feeding the people he should be responsible for, thus perpetuating his reign.
Go and have a great holiday and forget the sufferings of the people. Wherever in the world you chose to go holiday there are poor suffering starving people.
The only thing I would be worried about is the time problem you have.
Food aid is helping prop up the Zim government. BOB is too thrilled that the do-gooders are feeding the people he should be responsible for, thus perpetuating his reign.
Go and have a great holiday and forget the sufferings of the people. Wherever in the world you chose to go holiday there are poor suffering starving people.
The only thing I would be worried about is the time problem you have.
Dec 16th, 2008, 04:14 AM
#39
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hitman
despite i would go to zim in a minute in your case i would fly to livingstone and not leave the plane in vic falls.
you would have to arrange for a transfer service from vic falls to liv and it's not that cheap. we paid 60US$ with "charly's angels". charles helped with the border formalities and the visa which we could have done ourselves but charles knew how to do it in order to make a 5-minute procedure.
and don't forget the visa fee (!!!) IF you get off in vic falls.
taking all that into consideration i would fly through to liv.
happy landings!
div
despite i would go to zim in a minute in your case i would fly to livingstone and not leave the plane in vic falls.
you would have to arrange for a transfer service from vic falls to liv and it's not that cheap. we paid 60US$ with "charly's angels". charles helped with the border formalities and the visa which we could have done ourselves but charles knew how to do it in order to make a 5-minute procedure.
and don't forget the visa fee (!!!) IF you get off in vic falls.
taking all that into consideration i would fly through to liv.
happy landings!
div
Dec 16th, 2008, 05:13 AM
#40
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It seems logical to me that if I got some cash in tips from a client that it would go straight from my pocket to goods needed rather than RM. People are very resourceful in times of need.
Unless RM's got the man power to tip ever single worker upside down it doesn't seem likely that every cent we give to actual people goes to RM's pockets.
True he can shake down the owners of the companies more easily but he can't take on every single worker who desperately needs the $$$.
Unless RM's got the man power to tip ever single worker upside down it doesn't seem likely that every cent we give to actual people goes to RM's pockets.
True he can shake down the owners of the companies more easily but he can't take on every single worker who desperately needs the $$$.
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