[Pablo]

Originally Posted by Rick b So why then before you asked this question and accept what I was trying to say did you compare me to an accused Murderer, someone who has been convicted of throwing a grenade in their tenants house to evict them and someone who has been convicted of several crimes in 4 separate countries? (Nicholas van Hoogstraten)

Because he too has a vested interest in portraying Mugabe's Zimbabwe in the best possible light.

[Rick b]

Originally Posted by Pablo Because he too has a vested interest in portraying Mugabe's Zimbabwe in the best possible light.

Er you do know he was arrested last month for money transactions, is not allowed to leave the country and is hoping as much as anyone else right now that Mugabe gets defeated!!!!

[Pablo]

Originally Posted by Rick b Er you do know he was arrested last month for money transactions, is not allowed to leave the country and is hoping as much as anyone else right now that Mugabe gets defeated!!!!

Er, yes I heard. But it struck me that "Nicholas van Hoogstraten until he crossed Mugabe and then got arrested on a suddenly-discovered infringement" was just too wordy, and needless too, since the comparison still holds.

This is how tyrants operate. They make everyone except the utterly downtrodden complicit in their crimes. When those stooges cease to toe the party line, they are suddenly caught out in some infingement or other.

[Rick b]

Originally Posted by Pablo Er, yes I heard. But it struck me that "Nicholas van Hoogstraten until he crossed Mugabe and then got arrested on a suddenly-discovered infringement" was just too wordy, and needless too, since the comparison still holds. This is how tyrants operate. They make everyone except the utterly downtrodden complicit in their crimes. When those stooges cease to toe the party line, they are suddenly caught out in some infringement or other.

In that case, yes I agree. He flouted laws all over the place and apparently the word is (this is a rumour I might add) instead of paying off each official as he used to, he decided to cut out the middlemen and pay just a couple which caused a lot of annoyance. Someone quite high up missed his payday and gave the order for him to be arrested. Nicholas van Hoogstraten is/was a nasty individual and I have absolutely no sympathy for him in any capacity.

[Pablo]

Originally Posted by Rick b In that case, yes I agree. He flouted laws all over the place and apparently the word is (this is a rumour I might add) instead of paying off each official as he used to, he decided to cut out the middlemen and pay just a couple which caused a lot of annoyance. Someone quite high up missed his payday and gave the order for him to be arrested. Nicholas van Hoogstraten is/was a nasty individual and I have absolutely no sympathy for him in any capacity.

Why has Mugabe not moved against you? Haven't you admitted that you too flout the law?

[Rick b]

Originally Posted by Pablo Why has Mugabe not moved against you? Haven't you admitted that you too flout the law?

Nicholas van Hoogstraten was caught with US$37,586 (£18,980), 92,880 South African rands (£6,552; US$12,975), £190 (US$376) and 180 Botswana pula (£15; US$29) all in cash (figures from BBC). Thats just a tad more than most!!!!!

Everyone flouts currency laws in Zim, if the government arrested all the black market exchangers they wouldn't have anyone to convert their wages. He though demanded rent in foreign currency, which is downright stupid and asking for trouble. So the law he actually got arrested for is not something that would affect many people at all.

[Pablo]

Originally Posted by Rick b Everyone flouts currency laws in Zim

So you're both criminals?

[Rick b]

Originally Posted by Pablo So you're both criminals?

I believe that the term criminal is someone who has been convicted of a crime. Now I thought we were getting somewhere, if you are going to be petty enough and immature enough to criticize me for being honest when lets face it, 99% of the world have broken a law at some point, then I'll gladly leave this conversation now.

[Pablo]

Originally Posted by Rick b I believe that the term criminal is someone who has been convicted of a crime. Now I thought we were getting somewhere, if you are going to be petty enough and immature enough to criticize me for being honest when lets face it, 99% of the world have broken a law at some point, then I'll gladly leave this conversation now.

Well I can understand that you must feel touchy, after all you have money to make etc., but the point is the one I made above, that tyrants operate by making everyone except the utterly downtrodden complicit in their crimes. You rock the boat, you get picked up on some 'technical' infringement of the law, irrespective of the fact that 'everyone does it'. Which is what happened to van Hoogstraten.

[shiftdelete]

hey rick- you sound like a reasonable enough pom, you'd better get out while you can though mate........too funny .

Originally Posted by Pablo Well I can understand that you must feel touchy, after all you have money to make etc., but the point is the one I made above, that tyrants operate by making everyone except the utterly downtrodden complicit in their crimes. You rock the boat, you get picked up on some 'technical' infringement of the law, irrespective of the fact that 'everyone does it'. Which is what happened to van Hoogstraten.

[Campbells]

Originally Posted by Redlippie So, the general population is able to go into the local supermarket and buy the necessities, any time they want I gather? And you can pull up and buy fuel anywhere, at anytime? Right? What utter bollocks. The wealthier ones perhaps can get food any time they want, but the MAJORITY of the population don't have such luxury. Makes me see red to see someone post such crap about a country which has fallen apart - once the breadbasket of Africa, now turned into nothing but another begging bowl.

Rick is obviously back in London after being in the bush for six months and looking for the next truckload of backpackers that will listen to his bush stories.

Obviously Rick and his tourist ( to Zimbabwe) business will not take payment in Zim $ and get the backpackers to pay in a Western currency so Rick can tell everyone stories of buying fuel and bread on the black market.

Anyone remember the thread by Stuart James on here, it turned out he was in the re-allocations business touting on here for potential business ( suckers considering South Africa)

I just love the way Rick just side-stepped the term “ freedom”

[newshoney]

Well, catching up after a day of doing some work... it seems the boys did what boys do... "see red" very quickly and retaliate. No-one remembers the original "sin"... it all just degenerates into name-calling and punch-swapping.

The OP on this thread posted a letter that was either 3 or 4 years old and whose validity and provenance are questionable. Turns out that a recent visitor and a current resident had an alternative view to report - cue shitstorm.

Those who cannot or will not believe there can be a single ray of light amid the gloom promptly turn into clones of Comrade Bob: paranoid and raging, wanting to censor any view that doesn't coincide exactly with their own, plotting revenge. How exactly does this help anyone?

[Mitzyboy]

Originally Posted by newshoney Well, catching up after a day of doing some work... it seems the boys did what boys do... "see red" very quickly and retaliate. No-one remembers the original "sin"... it all just degenerates into name-calling and punch-swapping. The OP on this thread posted a letter that was either 3 or 4 years old and whose validity and provenance are questionable. Turns out that a recent visitor and a current resident had an alternative view to report - cue shitstorm. Those who cannot or will not believe there can be a single ray of light amid the gloom promptly turn into clones of Comrade Bob: paranoid and raging, wanting to censor any view that doesn't coincide exactly with their own, plotting revenge. How exactly does this help anyone?

Agreed, as I said on the other thread, respect each others views please and dont resort to just attacking each others character .... thanks

[Rick b]

Originally Posted by Campbells Rick is obviously back in London after being in the bush for six months and looking for the next truckload of backpackers that will listen to his bush stories. Obviously Rick and his tourist ( to Zimbabwe) business will not take payment in Zim $ and get the backpackers to pay in a Western currency so Rick can tell everyone stories of buying fuel and bread on the black market. Anyone remember the thread by Stuart James on here, it turned out he was in the re-allocations business touting on here for potential business ( suckers considering South Africa) I just love the way Rick just side-stepped the term “ freedom”

Perhaps you can explain just what in any way of being constructive you offer to this thread?

Your post here is quite simply another attempt at a personal attack on me to get your little friends laughing. Very cheap effort.

1. Do you honestly think that anyone's clientel in Zimbabwe is based on these boards? We'd be pretty buggered if it did. Nope, I am back in London for personal reasons and will be going back to Zim at the end of May if all goes well.

2. If you knew anything about Zimbabwe you'd know that if the tourist/visitor is from outside SADC they have to pay in forex. Anyone else pays in Zim$. Don't let facts take you off your rants though.

3. If if I was "touting for business" as you put it do you not think I'd be missing one tiny little detail. The detail of telling everyone in each post or in my sig what my business is called, how to get in touch etc. I have made sure I do not want to be seen as doing that. All I want to do is show that there is another side to Zimbabwe than the side you portray. Why is that so unreasonable that you feel so threatened I have to attack you?

[Tegwyn]

Originally Posted by newshoney Those who cannot or will not believe there can be a single ray of light amid the gloom promptly turn into clones of Comrade Bob: paranoid and raging, wanting to censor any view that doesn't coincide exactly with their own, plotting revenge. How exactly does this help anyone?

I sure as hell hope there is more than a single ray of light Newshoney. I am also hoping they get rid of Mad Bob before he does any more harm.