Pablo

Where's the lies and slander? You say you're not that person, then glad to hear it, because that person had the moral stamp of those who deny, for personal gain, the existence of the Nazi death camps.

I don't think anyone seeks to deny that Zimbabweans are often welcoming. However, that has hardly been the central question over the past years when it comes to what has been going on in Zimbabwe.

I don't recall what the female reporter's analysis of the political situation was, if indeed she attempted one. Many others however were at the time covering the violence, political rape-as-terror tactics, the starvation, political violence, torture and economic collapse. Perhaps, when your female reporter said she had no 'issues', she failed to look. Even the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is hardly a right-wing extremist, has noticed 'issues' in Zimbabwe.

Is the BBC still banned from reporting on the 'issues'?

chazlondon

About 15 years ago i went to South Africa and lots of Zimbabweans were their they said the economic situation was terrible, and the only plus point was mugabe did not tolerate crime. (except against farmers)

And therefore it was much safer to walk the streets in zimababwe.

Rick b

Well the lie would be accusing me of being the person who you had obviously had an issue with for promoting some business thing on this website. Where as in fact you were wrong. I was someone who actually lived in Zimbabwe and simply seeked to show what it was really like, which is a far truth from your lies.

Remind me, when were you last there? In the country that you claim to know so much about?

Which was not what the OP was asking about, nor did she seek opinions of the media viewpoint of Zimbabwe. I assumed that the OP would have at least a smattering of knowledge about the recent Political history.

The OP asked what Zimbabwe, specifically Harare was like to live in at the current time. I answered that as I have lived there very recently, with facts and examples. You didn't. Remind me again, when did you last live there? In the country you claim to know so much about?

"My reporter" - actually an Independent reporter who got published on the BBC, but never mind the facts eh? What next? I'm a Zanu-PF stooge who hired a reporter to make a story about Zimbabwe being lovely and I seek to advertise it by going on Expat websites?

Zimbabwe is very simple -if you do not seek to farm or be involved in Politics in any way you are perfectly safe. As a tourist going to Hwange or Vic Falls you would not notice any problems at all, certainly not now the US$ is used as the official currency. If you live there you will find a community of probably 3000-5000 NGO's, Embassy workers and Internationals who are working and living quite happily in the city. There is a varied nightlife (not obviously anything like the West) but at Sam Levy's Village alone there are 5 bars now. There are plenty of restaurants ranging from Thai to Italian to Chinese to Indian to Pub food. Contrary to what someone else has said here, having Zimbabwe on your CV as an International actually gives the impression of being able to adapt, something that when moving countries (this is an expat website right?) is invaluable.

But I am also a realist, you do have to be cautious and you do have to understand the fallbacks. I mentioned Healthcare strongly in my previous post and I could also say the weakness of the Police Force and it's corruption should you ever get into any trouble could be a issue. Personally if I was in the OP's shoes, I would NOT go to Zim. Why? Because she said she had a child of school age. That to me is not going to be advantageous to the kid as he/she won't have the Western advantages that their parents are forsaking for their dream. If you don't have children to worry about health and education wise then Zimbabwe is a great place to experience for a few years. You really won't have too many issues, but if you have kids you should really think about how they will be able to get on there.

Pablo

I think you'll find that was a question, which you presumably, in your eagerness to launch into your self-referential tirade, failed to read.

See what I mean?

Rick b

Yes Pablo, you are correct. Always and in everything. Happy?

Great - are you able to give any particular advice to the OP regarding the question of living in Harare now in the present day? If so I'd be glad to discuss that with you, I'm not interested in taking this thread off topic. If you want to start a thread on the pro's and con's of Zimbabwe politics no problem, send me a link and I'll be there. You will probably be disappointed though as you would find I would agree with you in most things and there wouldn't be much of an argument. Although after Mujuru was killed last year my opinion which is shared by a fair few is that at the moment Mugabe staying in power comes under "better the devil you know, than the devil you don't".

Pablo

Then why drop in your foolish comment at the start: "Ignore the likes of Pablo and his hatred"? Did you lose control of yourself?

So please don't come over all prim and proper and self-righteous now.

Rick b

Perhaps because your second comment on the thread was: The fact the OP had to plead with you to stop kind of makes me think I'm not the only one.........

Have you ever sat back and thought for just a second that perhaps commenting so aggressively on a situation that you do not (by your own admission) know about from personal experience is not helping the OP?

I'm not being self righteous. When I first came here you and Campbell took every thread off track about anyone wanting to go to SA or Zim. Many people simply want to ask questions that are unrelated to the media, about real day to day experiences in these countries. This website gives them the chance to and you decide for some unknown reason to refuse to give them that chance. Perhaps instead of choosing which of my posts to answer you'll answer the whole post - why others should not be allowed to ask the questions they want to ask in peace and get answers from those who are on or have been on the ground recently?

Pablo

Clearly you're on a mission today, aren't you. But I think you'll find it is others, not me, who seek to censor criticism and demand that comment should be suppressed.

Rick b

You're cherry picking of my words to suit yourself is laughable and childish. Either contribute or leave others to. Criticism is fine when constructive, I think you'd find it hard to find anyone who agrees your words fall under that category. Go away or answer my whole last post - if you have the ability to construct the sentence.

Pablo

You quote my words about the tyrant, his tyranny and his crimes, and accuse me of hatred. Well yes, I do hate those things and I despise those who seek to airbrush them away.

But to suggest, as you seem to suggest, that I hate the OP is nonsense. The OP made it pretty clear that she was not concerned about the tyrant and his works, or perhaps regarded them as non-existent. She just wanted to know about the mechanics of living/surviving in that country.

My personal view is that it is not possible to live for long under such a corrupt regime without ending up corrupted and debased oneself. Some are forced to, which is another matter. Your view on this question may differ. So may the OP's.

ededed

I'm with Pablo. Not that he needs or wants my support. You must remember that the first thing a tyrant does is remove freedom of speech. Pablo and I have had our differences, but I am sure we both agree that as soon as you lose the right to comment and criticise, you lose the first principle of freedom and thats what Bob did in Zim. If you don't agree with what he says, ignore it...you have that right too. That's more than the people of Zimbabwe have had.

Tegwyn

and I second what Ed just said. Some people prefer the head in sand approach and simply want the "happy" response. I personally no longer subscribe to fairy tales to suit my needs or cater to that of others. I have learned that reality seems to hit the door awfully fast - especially when naive about the surrounding issues. I think the other Op was given the gift of a heads up to the real issues. Personally I would prefer they are only offended by words and not deeds from those that can do so much more harm.

Rick b

Yes, I had forgotten that whatever the OP wanted, which was a view of living in Harare and not anything about the Political situation, does not matter around here as long as you guys get your views in................

ededed

Easy tiger, let's not get our knickers in a twist.....

You can always ignore other people's posts you know...you don't have to read them....it's a democracy.

Rick b

Oh I quite agree, but the same applies that if you are not able to answer the OPs specific question, why not just leave the thread alone?