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Nairobi, Kenya
I an ex member of both 7 and 8 Squadron's of the Rhodesian war spending most of my operational time on Seven Squadron as a K Car gunner. I was credited for shooting down a fixed wing aircraft from a K Car on the 9 August 1979. This blog is from articles for research on a book which I HAVE HANDED THIS MANUSCRIPT OVER TO MIMI CAWOOD WHO WILL BE HANDLING THE PUBLICATION OF THE BOOK OF WHICH THERE WILL BE VERY LIMITED COPIES AVAILABLE Contact her on yebomimi@gmail.com The latest news is that the Editing is now done and we can expect to start sales and deliveries by the end of April 2011

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Thursday, May 22, 2008

THE RHODESIAN SPIRIT FROM ORAFS

By Peter Petter-Bowyer
A very colourful character in RRAF times was Noompie Phillips. He was one of a number of WW2 pilots who we, then junior officers, held in awe. I must say though that Noompie was seen to be something of a clown who never appeared to take life too seriously.
He was well known for his miners’ ‘Five Stamp Mill’ act in which occasionally he inveigled both willing and unwilling officers to participate after dinner on dining-in nights. As I recall, with referee’s whistle in hand and taking no notice whatever of rank (once including the Federal Governor-General), Noompie nominated a three man ore-face shovel gang, three men with sledge hammers to crush ore, two wheelbarrow pushers, five mechanical stamp mill crushers, a conveyer belt operator, two minders of the gold separating Jameson Table and three amalgam smelters who also filled gold ingot moulds. To each element was given the load noise applicable to their function such as ‘wa-doom’ to be shouted in turn as each of the five mill stamp crushers struck rock. At the sound of the Mine Manager‘s (Noompie's) first shrill whistle the diggers started their imagined thrust and throw of soil onto the barrows shouting ‘pagamisa – lasha’. The second whistle got the sledge hammers going followed by the barrow boys moving with loud screeching for un-oiled wheel axles – and so it went until the whole line was working and ‘noising’ loudly. Then came the mine manager’s exhortation to greater effort “checha wena – faga motto” whereupon everyone went up a pace or two.
Observing the mess-kit-clad mine manager Noompie and his working gang was akin to watching one of those now famous BBC Goon Shows. It was amazing to witness our Air Force Commander and other senior officers rushing about and shouting at ever increasing volume and pace until the final whistle blew and the order ”chaile” allowed breathless men to straighten aching backs and wipe volumes of sweat from brows. Whereas this allowed the likes of me to believe those crazy stories of WW2 mess games and antics, it certainly raised serious questions in the mind about leadership sanity within the very force I had chosen to serve.
I think I was a Flying Officer when I went to Noompie's office for some purpose that I cannot now recall. He was Station Adjutant (this was well before the post became know as Station Administration Officer). When I walked into his office Numpie was sitting behind his desk with brow in hand shaking his head. As I saluted him he rose abruptly, scooped up a large pile of files on the left side of his desk and, shouting loudly, threw them into the air with such energy that some actually impacted the high ceiling. Startled by his shouting, Noompie's secretary rushed from her office and looked upon the files scattered on the floor with an expression of amazement that must have equalled mine. Noompie very politely proclaimed, “I feel better now,” and asked his secretary to be a dear and sort out the mess. Then turning to me he asked, “So what is it I can do for you today?”
There are many untold stories of Noompie; though not one of them would ever involve threatening behaviour because he was a gentle individual whose ‘different’ thought processes caused him to occasionally act in a manner no other person could have dreamed up. In fact this trait undoubtedly worked extremely well for him when his Typhoon was shot downed behind enemy lines in 1945. So many years have passed since I first heard two separate accounts of this story; so my details may not be strictly accurate. Nevertheless I know the essence of what follows is correct.
Having parachuted and landed without injury, Noompie's immediate concern was to get as much distance as possible between his parachute and the near-by smoking wreckage of his aircraft. Unlike most other pilot, he also wanted distance between his uniform and all other items of clothing that might give him away to the German soldiers then moving towards his location.
Stark naked he went to the nearest farm and was met at the kitchen door by the farmer’s wife. Her natural surprise and embarrassment was quickly overcome by realisation of Noompie's identity. His knowledge of Afrikaans and hers of Flemish permitted a verbal interchange that allowed Noompie to understand he must hide in the barn and for her to know he wanted well-used working overalls and worn out boots. Once dressed in the items she found for him, Numpie collected four ordinary builder’s bricks which he arranged in a vertical stack then wrapped them in brown paper.
Assuring the woman he was suitably equipped to evade capture, and gratefully accepting her offer of a small parcel of food, Numpie set out to find the Germans who were looking for him. Uttering strange guttural sounds he walked directly to the senior man and greeted him in a screwed up manner that only Noompie could dream up and enact. The German saw this apparently dumb-mute half-crazed man, who placed a parcel on the ground and gesticulated an offer to sell his four prized bricks, as a damned nuisance. So the German chose to ignore him and simply moved on. Encouraged by this, Noompie approached every patrol and road block along his route with his huge crooked smile, grunts and waving arms to unwrapped the bricks which he always attempted to sell to the most senior man present. Every time without fail he was allowed to go his mad-man’s way and eventually came to the Dutch coast where he found a route back to Allied lines. Crazy maybe, but brilliantly successful.==================================================================================
Text by Peter Petter-Bowyer and photo by Noeleen Green daughter of Noompie. Thank you both.
Posted: May 22, 2008
I had to post this from the ORAFS website as it shows the true Rhodesian spirit that I recall so well. Real men!!!
Gordon Shaw thanks to Eddie Norris for his great site on what was a wonderful Rebel Air Force.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

A STORY OF A FARM INVASION

JUSTICE FOR AGRICULTURE - INCIDENT REPORT COMMUNIQUE, Dated 17 May 2008>> Email: jag@mango.zw : justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw>> JAG Hotlines: +263 (011) 610 073, +263 (04) 799 410. If you are in > trouble> or need advice, please don't hesitate to contact us - we're here to help!> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------> ------------------>> ANDREW PAUL ROSSLYN STIDOLPH state that:>> 1. I am citizen and permanent resident of Zimbabwe. My Zimbabwe national> registration number is 24- 042486L - 00.>> 2. The facts hereunder are true and correct according to the best my> knowledge and belief.>> 3. I am the registered owner of the certain piece of land called Grand> Parade Estate A, measuring 2270,4507 hectares in the district of Urungwe> (Hurungwe) commonly known as Grand Parade.>> 4. The property in question purports to have been compulsorily acquired by> Government through the expedient of Gazetted notices.>> 5. It becomes necessary to outline recent developments leading to my> unlawful eviction from the property details of which are set out below.> ATTEMPTED SPOLIATION, AND SPOLIATION>> 6. At around 06.30 am on 7 May 2008, against our will, and contrary to the> laws of Zimbabwe, and in contempt of a Karoi magistrate's court order bail> conditions, my wife Sheila and I were forcibly removed from our home at> Grand Parade farm in Karoi North. There were approximately nine armed> soldiers who came to the house to force my wife and I out at the command > of,> or at the instance of, Major Gen. Nick Dube of ZNA Defence Headquarters> Harare, and who ordinarily resides at Glen Lorne district of Harare, and > who> claims to be a beneficiary of the remaining portion of Grand Parade that I> was previously occupying with my wife and two sons. At the time this> incident took place my wife and I were resident in our homestead. Most of> the soldiers were in uniform. I recognized Cpl Shoko and soldiers known to> me as Chimsimbe, Chibatamoto, Jingura and Chewore. Some were armed with AK> rifles, whilst others carried metal pipes, or sticks and one, Sgt Gange, > had> a swagger stick.>> 7. By way of general background:> Soldiers have been resident at Grand Parade since they seized the farm on> behalf of Major Gen N M Dube and his wife Colonel Gertrude Dube, on 25> September 2007. The Major General had been given an offer letter for the> same portion of land already allocated or promised to me by the acquiring> authority consequent to the fact that I was an acknowledged compliance> farmer having given up more than two thirds of the farm and to the fact > that> I had "shared" the farm in harmony with A1 settlers.>> 8. I confirm that I was called to the Karoi magistrates to answer charges > of> allegedly contravening a section of the Gazetted Land (Consequential> Provisions) Act Cap 20:28 in late 2007. Pursuant to my initial appearance > on> remand I had denied the charge of unlawful occupation and indicated that I> wished to contest this issue at my 'trial'.>> 9. The magistrate dealing with my initial appearance stated - as a > condition> of bail - and in writing - that I should remain on the farm pending the> finalization of the alleged criminal matter. I subsequently appeared on> periodic remand and confirm that a provisional date for the commencement > of> my trial was set for the 14 May 2008 at the Karoi Magistrates court.>> 10. In regard to my tenancy, I also had an agreement with the Major > General,> witnessed in chambers by Judge Uchena and Mrs Mwatse of Ministry of Lands> that I and my wife were to remain in our house - pending finalisation of> proceedings and the issue of an eviction order by a competent court - and> that we be allowed to continue with our registered dairy operations.>> 11. I confirm that the commercial farming activities carried out on Grand> Parade constituted the sole source of livelihood. Apart from milk to the> local community, my wife and I supply dairy products - butter and cheese -> to supermarkets in Harare.> My son James was farming wheat, maize and tobacco on Grand Parade - that > is> until he was of a sudden barred from entering the farm by Dube's soldiers > in> September 2007.>> Since that date his tobacco crop and equipment and material have been> summarily commandeered and taken over without recourse to the due process > of> law and payment of compensation. The resultant loss runs to trillions of> Zimbabwe dollars.>> 12. There was a prior attempted eviction that took place on Monday 14 > April> 2008. On this occasion Cpl. Shoko called me to the house gate to the main> homestead. He told me that Tuesday 15 was to be my last day in our house;> that I was to pack my things and summon transport for my furniture, pigs,> dairy cows, and cattle. I refused.> I said I had permission to remain on the farm and that my case was sub> judice because I was awaiting a trial date at court, and that it was part > of> my bail conditions that I remain on the farm. I also informed him that I > had> obtained interim relief from the SADC Tribunal ruling, filed of record in> Namibia under SADCT 04/08.>> I displayed to Cpl Shoko some relevant papers. He said he was not > interested> in such things; he and his men just followed orders. To this end, at an> earlier time, my wife had asked the Major Gen why he was behaving above > the> law - did he not respect the laws of the land. His response was that 'he > was> army,' and it did not apply to him.>> 13. Re SADC, I confirm that I - along with other affected farmers - had> appealed to the SADC Tribunal to obtain relief from the Government of> Zimbabwe who had threatened our eviction; we get no fair justice from> Zimbabwe's Higher Courts.>> We sought to interdict the Government from directly or indirectly > attending> to our eviction from our properties before the merits of the Mike Campbell> case - filed of record under SADCT 2/2007 to which interim relief had also> been obtained - had been completed. In that regard Campbell and the> interveners assert that varying SADC Treaty and Protocol rights have been > or> stand to be infringed.>> 14. Interim relief was granted by the SADC Tribunal. The ruling to my> application was handed down in open court in Windhoek on 28 March 2008 by> H.E. Justice Dr Luis Antonio Mondlane (President).>> 15. I am advised and accept that Government has signed the Treaty and> relevant Protocols. The Treaty was signed by President R G Mugabe in 1992> and the Treaty was ratified by Parliament.>> 16. I am also advised and accept that Government has expressly or by> implication submitted itself to the jurisdiction of the Tribunal. It has> done so by appearing in Windhoek on two occasions and by reason that it > has> filed papers in that court. Additionally, Government's legal > representatives> expressly undertook to abide by and honour the decisions of the Tribunal -> whether of an interim or final nature.>> 17. My forced eviction - promoted or acquiesced in by Government - and the> determination by the State to continue with my criminal prosecution in the> Karoi Magistrate's Court offends the order of the Tribunal and runs > counter> to the undertakings made by Government through its legal representatives.>> 18. Returning to the background details:> An initial attempt to evict my wife and I took place on Wednesday 16 April> 2008. On this occasion I was called to the gate to the main homestead > where> I was residing with my wife by Cpl Shoko and five other soldiers who were> standing there with him. Most of them were in full army uniform and had in> their possession either AK rifles or sticks.> Cpl Shoko told me since I had not heeded his prior instructions that he > was> taking over the house, would throw out my things and that we must 'pack > and> go'.>> I refused. Despite efforts of my wife and I to stop entry, the soldiers> managed to force open the gate.>> My wife Sheila sustained slight bruising to her hands when she was> attempting to prevent access of the soldiers into our home.>> With the soldiers coming behind us we retreated to the house.>> We have four large dogs. The soldiers said they would shoot our dogs.> We managed to get the dogs in a bedroom and locked ourselves inside the> house.>> The soldiers gathered round the back kitchen door and tried to enter.> I went to the radio to call for help and told my son James to call the> police.>> The soldiers brought hosepipes and started putting water under the doors> into the house in order to try to flood us out.>> My wife said we were not moving.>> While I was on the radio she told the soldiers it was best that they shoot> her dead and get the matter over with for only her dead body would be> leaving her home, and in a box. They finally retreated back to the tobacco> barn area.>> 19. The Karoi police, who had promised to come immediately, never came.>> Inspector Chaguta, officer-in-charge of Karoi ZRP had been informed of the> incident at 0730am.>> The whole day his men failed to attend our call for help; even after 24> hours, they still had not come.>> 20. On May 5 Cpl Shoko sent another message to the effect that we had two> days notice to get out of our home.>> I phoned the Commercial Farmers Union.>> They asked me to phone Nelson Samkange, Governor of Mash West Province.>> 21. I phoned the Governor. He asked me if I had a court order. I said yes.> He then said that I should just contact the police and he stated that > 'they> will protect you'.>> I later wrote a formal letter to Inspector Chaguta requesting his> protection.> I sent another letter to Supt. Jiri at ZRP Dispol office Karoi, and yet> another to Assistant Commissioner Chihuri at Propol Police, in Chinhoyi. I> informed all of them of the unlawful threats of the soldiers and requested> their help. I advised that if they did not come to our aid when called > upon,> I would hold the Commissioner responsible for any loss of life, injury or> damage to our property.>> No police ever came to see me, and the letters have not been responded to.>> 22. The next attempt was made by the same group of soldiers, plus three> others, on 7th May 2008. On this occasion nine soldiers invaded the house> with sticks, iron bars, some holding AK rifles.>> At 0700 they refused our workers and housemaids to come to work.> They then patrolled round the house intimidating us.>> We managed to take some photos of them outside of the kitchen.>> 23. My wife Sheila who is aged 65 years was very stressed.> She has cancer and an artificial hip and high blood pressure. I was> concerned for her blood pressure and health.>> Finally the soldiers made entry into our house by forcing the kitchen > door.>> They commenced throwing out our property.>> My wife and I could do nothing to stop them.>> They threw all our belongings out.>> Once they had thrown everything out, they took occupation in the main> lounge.>> They kept only some chairs and our stereo there to play loud music with > our> CDs.>> Some drank beer taken from our pantry.>> 24. We managed to radio for help.>> My second son Alex went to see Inspector Chaguta at ZR police.> He promised to send someone, but of course they never came.> We had to sit outside with our belongings, but it was by then scattered> everywhere and I could not look after it. My wife and I were numb, > exhausted> and quite traumatised by this time. None of our employees were allowed in > to> help us.>> 25. Our family arranged for lorries to come, but they came late because of > a> diesel shortage. The first lorry came at sunset, at about 6pm. The loading> was not completed until around 11pm that night.> We then left the farm in our car. The soldiers had in the interim taken up> occupation inside my residence.>> 26. The next day when we unloaded the trucks that had been hastily loaded,> we found many things missing.>> Stolen was a Nikon camera, DVD, Nokia cell phone, brown safari boots, six> pair shoes, pair of 'Bose' speakers, most of our towels and many of my> wife's personal clothing including imported bras, a breast prosthesis and> underwear. The general self-help and theft is attributable to the army> personnel sent to Grand Parade to evict us.> Additionally, large quantities of property were - through force of> circumstance - left behind. This includes without in any way attempting to> be exhaustive - a 100 KVA Kohler mobile generator on wheels, contents of > our> farm office - filing cabinets, farm computer, printer, company and farm> records etc - contents of Chubb walk-in safe and contents, 10 new bicycles> for staff and numerous stock such as filters, oils, batteries, new tyres,> rope, workshop tools, fertiliser and numerous farm materials the latter of> which in fact are owned by my son James who has been prevented access to> remove the same since September of last year. His property also includes> many tractors and farm equipment and material and much irrigation > equipment> including two Valley centre pivots. The cumulative value of these items > runs> to trillions of Zimbabwe dollars>> 27. I confirm that the following day we were "permitted" to collect > certain> remaining items such as pots and plants and some remaining livestock. Some> pigs remained.> FURTHER BACKGROUND DETAILS:>> 28. On 25 September 2007 Major Gen. N.M. Dube came with his soldiers to> seize our compliance portion of the property.>> 29. In addition he seized all of my sons James and Alex's equipment that> include two centre pivots for irrigation, five tractors, much valuable > farm> equipment and materials, and his soldiers at a boom gate prevented my sons> from entering the farm.>> He also seized James' tobacco crop and his 10 tonne sugar bean crop> harvested by James in July of 2007, a crop that had been kept in his shed > on> behalf of Prime Seeds Company for seed, and to be delivered to Msasa > Harare> by December 2007. Prime Seeds sent a lorry to collect this on 1 October> 2007, but the soldiers refused it and sent him away empty. Other materials> were seized and have subsequently been used and/or stolen, such as farm> chemicals, plus minus 1000 bags fertilizer, two motor-bikes, all James'> workshop equipment and tools, oils, tyres, batteries, filters, his office> computer and printer, James' farm safe, filing cabinet, files, etc.>> 30. This ongoing theft and confiscation has been repeatedly drawn to the > ZRP> police and to Governments attention and protested. Again, without > pretending> to exhaust my efforts and that of my son, I wrote three times to the> Permanent Secretary of Lands, Ms Tsvakwi for her to authorise the> repossession of my son James farm equipment and materials. She has not> responded to the complaints at all.>> We supplied Ms Tsvakwi - the Permanent Secretary for Lands - with proof > that> my sons are still farming. They do so on land in addition to Grand Parade> farm that they lease. The equipment on Grand Parade was and still is > needed> by my sons for their continued farming operations and to earn a > livelihood.> Consequently the equipment so confiscated and currently been used without> the consent of my sons James and Alex is not 'idle equipment'.>> Ms Tsvakwi has not had the courtesy to reply.>> She would seem to us to be complicit with Major Gen Nick Dube in the theft> or unauthorised use of our equipment.> There has been no valid acquisition order, no agreement, no inventory, no> valuation, no handover, no receipt, and no compensation for this property.>> 31. My two sons and I have lost everything - not only our agreed > compliance> portion of farm, but now all of our equipment and materials - the results > of> a life's work, savings and investment.>> 32. My wife and I are in our sixties. We have nowhere to go and have no> savings. Practically everything had been invested in the farm, its> infrastructure and its assets. We built a large 3 km dam for irrigation of> 4000ml capacity with loans from the bank that took us some ten years to > pay> off. We have enjoyed minimal benefit from this investment.>> 33. My son James used to grow 150 ha wheat and was one of the districts'> volume growers. This is no more. Because of human greed (Nick Dube and his> 'agent' Temba Mliswa), our businesses at Grand Parade of tobacco, maize,> wheat, cattle, pigs, dairy, have been needlessly destroyed. Harare city > with> its current chronic food shortages will no longer receive our butter. Some> 150 workers are now unemployed.>> Meantime Gen Dube to date employs only 10 people.>> Since we no longer have a farm, our dairy products are no longer going to> Harare. The dairy cows will be killed for meat. I now have no option but > to> look for some kind of job. I have no house in Harare or elsewhere, and my> local pension is now worthless.>> 34. While we for our part have cooperated, in our opinion the Zimbabwe> Government has been most unfair to us. Senator R. Maramahoko, the Deputy> Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vice President J. Msika and his Director Mr> Madamombe, all know the truth of this unfairness and of our general> circumstances.>> We have given up two farms previously for Land Reform - in 1980 and in > 1984.>> We moved to Grand Parade Farm in Karoi in 1984.> From 2001, when the fast track Land Reform started, we voluntarily > downsized> the farm three times - sharing with A1 settlers as compliance farmers,> ending up with only 30% of the original farm.>> 35. Then in 2004 I was unfairly charged with unlawful occupation of Grand> Parade in breach of the then section 9 of the Land Acquisition Act Cap > 20:10> which was then in place. I denied those charges.> I was summoned to court.>> Evidence on Government policy about compliance farmers was given at court > by> then Perm Sec of Lands, Simon Pazvakavambwa. As a result of his evidence -> concerning Government's compliance policy - I was acquitted by the> magistrate.>> 36. Shortly after this acquittal my two sons and I were left with 650 ha > as> 'compliance farmers and we resumed share-farming in harmony with the> resident A1 settlers.>> 37. In early 2006 Temba Mliswa, nephew of Minister Mutasa, used his> influence with his uncle to get our compliance portion allocated to Major> Gen N.M. Dube.>> The Major General was given an offer letter.>> 38. We protested this fact and continued farming.>> 39 Many local leaders have supported our case.>> 40. In 2007 our name appeared on the list of the 'Cooksey Hall Resolution'> where a list of certain white farmers of Mash West Province was produced > and> who were recommended to stay on their land.>> That document was subsequently endorsed by Vice President J. Msika, Dr N,> Shamuyarira, Secretary for Information of ZANU-PF and the Minister of > Policy> Implementation Webster Shamu. I understand that it was endorsed by the> Politburo and Presidium, but it appears that it was opposed by Minister> Mutasa of Lands.>> 41. Nonetheless, on the strength of this resolution, we remained farming. > We> moved nothing off the farm up to the time of our forced eviction.>> 42. We did not leave the farm of our own free will.>> We have been unlawfully forced off by armed uniformed soldiers of the > ZNA -> who are effectively employees/agents of the Government - albeit used by> Major General Nick Dube for his private purposes.>> 43. Not only ourselves but our approximately 150 workers who are employed > by> my two sons and myself, are nearly all displaced. I am concerned for > their> welfare. They too are SADC citizens and are going to suffer chronic> hardships in the current economic climate.>> 44. I contend that the action conducted against the Stidolph family as> citizens of this country, and citizens of SADC, is contrary to the > domestic> law of this country as well as contrary to international law and > conventions> including the SADC Treaty.>> Dated at Harare this 10 day of May 2008.>> ANDREW PAUL ROSSLYN STIDOLPH>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------> ------------------>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Monday, May 19, 2008

MUGABE CAN SANCTION BUST TOO HE LEARNED FROM RHODIES

It would appear that the Chinese arms have reached Harare. The ship carryingthe arms having being refuelled by a South African Naval supply ship dockedin the Congo and the arms were then flown into Harare by a UK CompanyAvient - have a look at http://www.avient. aero/contactus. htm , which givesfollowing details:-Andrew Smith - Managing DirectorSamantha Smith - Commercial DirectorJames House - Commercial Manager - ChartersJulie Hedge - Reservations SupervisorPhone: +44 (0)1980 676010Fax: +44 (0)1980 626634Address: Unit 7, Minton Distribution Park, London Road, Amesbury,Wiltshire SP4 7RT**E-Mail: ***info***avient. aero <http://avient. aero>*** **Operations: *Phone: +44 (0)1980 67601024 Hour contact: + (0)1980 676010Address: Unit 7, Minton Distribution Park, London Road, Amesbury,Wiltshire, SP4 7RT*E mail:* *ops**avient. aero <http://avient. aero>*It was their Ilyushin Il-76 that did the job. Also have a look athttp://www.sundayhe rald.com/ international/ shinternational/ display.var. 2278991.0. 0.phpI believe that it is quite improper for a UK company to be involved in thisshipment.

Barnabas Shaw Blogspot: My Direct Lineage

Barnabas Shaw Blogspot: My Direct Lineage
check out www.openafrica.org/africa/ZA/ZANKamies

THIS IS WHAT MUGABE CALLS DEMOCRACY





CROSS ROBERT MUGABE AT YOUR PERIL as this article describes.


May 16, 2008
Gruesome photographs of Mugabe violence that the Daily Mail wouldn't publish
Yesterday I noted Peter Oborne's chilling article about a young woman called Memory, in Zimbabwe. Memory had her buttocks repeatedly thrashed by wooden poles - all because she is a supporter of the opposition to Robert Mugabe.
I was speaking to Peter about his undercover journalism yesterday evening and he has emailed me two photographs of Memory's savagely beaten body. The Daily Mail - quite understandably for a family newspaper - didn't want to publish the photographs but I reproduce them below as one powerful proof of the horror that Mugabe is presiding over in Zimbabwe. They are gruesome so please do not press "Continue reading..." if you are disturbed by bloody images.
If you missed Peter's article - which describes a process of "electoral genocide" - it's here.


Posted by Tim Montgomerie at 08:04
Comments
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Everyday we hear more and more of what is happening to those in Zimbabwe, but never via the media or the SA government. Violence has now broken out in SA and all feel this is the start due to Mbeki sitting on his arse and doing nothing about the 'crisis' in Zimbabwe, and this will come back to bite him. The on going genocide around us needs to come to an end, but needs the involvement of one and all of us. Lets us all send messages to all the powers that be (UK, USA and UN) telling them to put a stop to all this.
Posted by: Chris Heron May 19, 2008 at 09:45
Dear sir, The pictures of Memory are not unique, however, The UK, USA,UN,CHURCHES and the "PRESS" all helped toward what has happened in these pictures. So I do not believe they will do anything. Such "MORAL" people. They are no better than Hitler, or Stalin themselves. sincerelyA R

Sunday, May 18, 2008

ALOUETTE 3 BASIC INFORMATION




The Aerospatiale Alouette III is an enlarged and most successful development of the Alouette II, with increased cabin capacity, improved equipment, more powerful turbine engine and generally enhanced performance. The prototype, designated SE 3160, was first flown on 28 February 1959, followed by the first production series known as SA 316A. In June 1960 an Alouette III with seven people aboard demonstrated its extraordinary performance by making landings and take-offs at an altitude of 4810m on Mont Blanc in the French Alps. Five months later the same Alouette III with two crew and a 250kg payload made landings and take-offs at an altitude of 6004m in the Himalayas - both hitherto unprecedented achievements for a helicopter. The SA 316A was built for the domestic and export market and, in June 1962, became subject to a licence-production agreement with HAL in India. The first Indian-assembled Alouette III was flown on 11 June 1965.
Various experimental developments followed, including an all-weather variant which made its initial flight on 27 April 1964. The subsequent SA 316B, first flown on 27 June 1968, featured strengthened main and tail rotor transmissions and was generally slightly heavier, but could carry more payload. It became the principal production version, with first deliveries made in 1970, and was an immediate export success. The Alouette III prototypes and the first two production series were powered by Turbomeca Artouste IIIB turboshaft engines, replaced by the Artouste IIID on the SA 316C, built in limited numbers only.
The Alouette III's cabin is more enclosed than that of the Alouette II, and can accommodate up to seven. All passenger seats are easily removable to provide an unobstructed cargo space. There is provision for an external sling for hauling loads up to 750kg or, for the air/sea rescue role, a hoist of 175kg capacity. Like most other light general-purpose helicopters the Alouette III can also be used for casualty evacuation, carrying two stretcher cases and two seated persons behind the pilot.
Experiments with the thermically more efficient and more economical Astazou turboshaft engine led to the SA 319B Alouette III Astazou, which is a direct development of the SA 316B. The first experimental SA 319B prototype was completed and flown in 1967, but full production did not start until 1973.
The Alouette III variants were even more successful on the international market than those of its predecessor, and by 1984 no less than 1,453 machines had been sold to 190 civil and military operators in 92 countries. In addition to licence-production by HAL at Bangalore in India (200) similar agreements were signed with ICA-Brasov in Romania (for 130) and Switzerland (for 60).
D.Donald "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft", 1997
Based around the successful Alouette II but with an improved fuselage design allowing for six passengers and a more powerful 410kW Turbomeca Artouste III turboshaft. The Alouette III first flew in February 1959 and incorporated an increased diameter rotor and strengthened dynamics to compensate for the additional power. This variant was as much a success as the earlier Alouette II and was also sold around the world. Used in both the utility and armed roles, a more powerful version was developed in 1965 by fitting an Astazou XII power-plant giving increased performance for less fuel burn. The Alouette III was built under licence by India and Romania.
P.Allen "The Helicopter", 1996
SE.3160 Alouette III
Redesigned Alouette II with all-metal monocoque fuselage, fully enclosed seven-seat cabin and fixed tricycle u/c, powered by one 870/550shp Turbomeca Artouste IIIB. Prot. F-ZWVQ FF 28 Feb. 1959.
SA.316A Alouette III
New designation for SE.3160 revised in 1968.
SA.316B Alouette III
SA.316A with strengthened transmission and 100kg TOGW increase.
IAR-316B Alouette III
SA.316B built in Romania by IAR.
SA.316C Alouette III
SA.316B fitted with a 870/660shp Artouste HID turboshaft.
IAR-317 Airfox
Light attack helicopter prototype built in Romania by IAR.
SA.3164
Alouette III with stepped windshield and nose-mounted 20mm canon and external missile points. Prot FF 24 June 1964.
SA.3180 Alouette
Alouette II fitted with 450shp Turbomeca Artouste II Astazou turbine for high-altitude operation. Prot. F-WHHF FF 31 Jan. 1961.
SA.318C Alouette Astazou
New designation for SE.3180 revised in 1967.
SA.319 Alouette III
SA.316 fitted with 600shp Turbomeca Astazou XIV turboshaft. Prot F-ZWVQ.
SA.319B Alouette III
Production version of SA.319 for military and civil users.
HSA.316B Chetak
SA.316B manufactured by Hindustan in India. 200 built.
IAR.316B
SA.316B manufactured by ICA-Brasov in Romania.
SA.316B Alouette III
SA.316B manufactured by FFA in Switzerland. 60 built.
Basically, the SE.3160 Alouette III is an enlarged and more powerful development of the Alouette II, with an Artouste turboshaft engine and a strengthened transmission system. The cabin is enlarged to accommodate a pilot and 6 passengers, and the tailboom is an enclosed, semi-monocoque fuselage. First flown on 28 February 1959, the Alouette III embodied several of the features seen during the preceding two years in earlier Sud-Est designs. First of these to fly, on 10 May 1957, was the SE.3131 Gouverneur (F-WIEA), which was basically an Alouette II with an Artouste engine, covered fuselage and executive cabin seating 5 occupants including the pilot. The SE.3140, flown on 16 May 1957 was fundamentally a Turmo-engined Alouette II and the SE.3150 an Artouste-powered development of it.
Series production of the Alouette III began in 1961, after two prototype and two pre-series machines had been built, and the aircraft received domestic type approval on 12 December 1961. By mid-May 1968, four hundred and ninety French-built Alouette Ill's had been ordered, and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. have a licence to build a substantial number for the Indian forces. Most Alouette Ill's are for military customers: the Swiss Army (twenty-four) and Royal Danish Navy (eight), and the air forces of Australia (fourteen), Burma (thirteen), Burundi (one), Cambodia (two), Congolese Republic (five), Dominican Republic (one), Eire (three), Ethiopia (five), Hong Kong (two), India (thirty-seven), Ivory Coast (two), Jordan (seven), Lebanon (seven), Malaysia (twenty-three), Mexico (four), Nepal (one), the Netherlands (seventy-seven), Pakistan (eight), Peru (four), Portugal (fifty-four), Rhodesia (eight), Rwanda (two). South Africa (fifty-four), Tunisia (four), Venezuela (twenty) and Vietnam (two). In France, the ALAT is the prime user, though the Armee de I'Air has three, the Aeronavale has sixteen aboard the carrier Jeanne d'Arc, and others are used by the Gendarmerie.
Duties of the Alouette III include those of tactical or assault transport, flying crane (with 750 kg external sling load) or casualty evacuation (with 2 passengers and a stretchers carried inside the cabin). A close-support version, the SA.3164 Alouette III Armee, was flown on 24 June 1964. This carried a 20mm cannon in front of the left-hand seat, and can be armed with 7.92mm machine-guns, pods of 18 or 36 HVAR rockets or Nord AS.11 or AS.12 anti-tank missiles on mountings on each side of the cabin. A naval version with a mooring harpoon and all-weather capability is being developed for anti-submarine and other shipboard roles.
The Alouette III, developed in the mid fifties, is a streamlined, rather elegant aircraft with an extensively-glazed cabin to accommodate seven. The dynamic components are derived from its predecessors and it has a 870shp Artouste III turbine derated to 550shp. The usual skid landing gear has been replaced by a fixed tricycle undercarriage.
The prototype made its first flight on 28 February 1959 and immediately aroused the interest of the French forces, who needed a fast, well-armed machine for the war in Algeria. Various weapons fits were examined and, apart from a number of fixed or flexible weapons, provision was made for the installation of wire-guided missiles.
Thus equipped and with a maximum speed of approximately 210km/h, the Alouette III suited the armed forces' requirements very well. After it had been in production for three years, Sud-Aviation built a prototype expressly designed for armed missions, with a 20mm cannon in the redesigned nose. However, its performance was inadequate for a combat helicopter and, moreover, by that time the war in Algeria had ended.
At the end of 1970, the SA.316B version with strengthened transmission was introduced, and in 1972 the SA.316C went into production with the new 870shp Artouste HID turbine derated to 600shp. Another variant which adopted an Astazou XIV turbine with the same power rating was designated the SA.319B. This last version, which was in production in the seventies, had much higher capabilities with a 25 per cent reduction in specific fuel consumption. Construction of the SA.316B and SA.319B continued for many years in France and was also extended to India, Pakistan, Romania and Switzerland, where a number of both civil and military models have been manufactured under license. By spring 1976, over 1350 Alouette III helicopters had been built and sold to 120 operators in 69 countries.
The helicopter was also adapted for naval use and was equipped with better navigational aids — Doppler radar, a navigation computer, autopilot and two homing torpedoes for ASW. In the antiship role, it carried two missiles.
G.Apostolo "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Helicopters", 1984

Technical data for Aerospatiale SA.316B "Alouette III"
Crew: 1, passengers: 7, engine: 1 x Turbomeca Artouste IIIB turboshaft, rated at 649kW, main rotor diameter: 11.02m, length with rotors turning: 10.03m, height: 3.0m, take-off weight: 2200kg, empty weight: 1143kg, max speed: 210km/h, cruising speed: 185km/h, service ceiling: 3200m, range with max fuel: 540km

THE REASON WHY WE RHODESIANS FOUGHT THE WAR IN THE BUSH



Friday, 09 May 2008 13:13
HORROR IN ZIMBABWE STATEMENT MADE BY WILLIAM BRUCE ROGERS AND ANNETTE MARY ROGERSOn the day of the 6th May, 2008 at approximately 1300 hours I was visited by three men at our farm, Chigwell Extension Farm.They told me that I had two minutes to vacate my property otherwise they will send the mob there and the house is not worth sacrificing my life for. Because we would lose our lives. They said they were like hungry lions.My wife made a report to the Chegutu Police Station about this incident, naming the people involved. At that stage I asked them if they would react to any incident that my occur and they informed my wife that they would speak to the Assistant Inspector. My wife also saw him before making the report and informed him of the visit and he told her to go and make a report at the charge office.At about 1700 hours on the same day a vehicle – a white Datsun 1800 pickup arrived at the gate with approximately 10-12 people. They demanded that I opened the gate because they wanted to talk to me. I refused and went into the house together with my wife. We locked ourselves into the house. They came to the house and wanted me to go outside to speak to them which I refused to do. They started smashing windows and the front door was smashed open. One of them pointed a single barrel shotgun inside the house at us – we were by then upstairs. He fired a shot directly at us which went just over my head and close to my wifes’ head. He obviously intended to kill us. After he fired the shot he went out and it went quiet for a while and then we heard three shots coming from the workers housing area. They returned with all the workers and fired another shot whilst outside.I managed to get through to the Assistant Inspector and the Chegutu Police Station to ask for assistance before there were dead bodies in the house. He said that I must phone him back in half and hour. Throughout all of this my wife was on the phone to numerous friends who were at the Chegutu Police Station trying to get assistance from them with absolutely no result whatsoever. My wife and I also made many phone calls to the Member in Charge on his cell phone and he refused to answer.By this time it was dark and the power went off so we were left completely in darkness and unable to identify our own employees.They then used the workers as a shield so that they could all come inside the house and then were downstairs chanting and singing and making threats.They sent one of the workers upstairs to demand the shotgun from me to take back to them. I refused and this employee stayed upstairs with us. They then grabbed the son of this employee who was downstairs and from what I could gather they threatened to either kill or injure him if he didn’t go back downstairs with the weapon. He went back downstairs without the weapon. After about five minutes they told all the singing workers to go upstairs using them as a shield once more. We tried to identify the workers one by one as they came up the stairs, as my wife was standing at the top of the stairs with a can of mace. After about 15 workers came through, she could not identify a person and used the mace and sprayed them. After this they ran back downstairs and out of the house.This incensed the thugs who then proceeded to break down the back door and started a building a fire in the downstairs lounge directly below us. As we have a wooden floor upstairs this posed a great threat and we thought we would be burnt alive which is when I said that we would come out and asked if they would let us leave peacefully which they agreed to do. We asked the ring-leader to identify himself. We came downstairs and they demanded the shotgun from me which was loaded and off safety and I refused. They then insisted that I give it to them and I tried to start unloading it and they attacked me. They then grabbed my wife around the throat and she started screaming. While they were trying to take the shotgun from me three shots went off outside the house into the ground as it is a semi-automatic shotgun. They then took the shotgun from me and wrestled me to the ground and started beating me with what I assume was sticks, or pipes and kicking me with their boots. They dragged my wife outside and they were trying to strangle her. At this stage she managed to bite the hand of the man who was grabbing her round the throat. Whereupon he started to beat her. At one time there were at least four men beating and kicking her. They then tied me up with rope and threw me into the back of their pickup. At this stage my wife was still being beaten. When they had finished beating her, one of them grabbed her by her feet and dragged her over to the vehicle. They then demanded that she stand up and get into the back of the truck which she was unable to do. One of them grabbed her by the hair, pulled her into a standing position and pushed her up against the back of the truck and told her to get in. She did climb in. They searched my wife and found the car-keys in her pocket and demanded she show them what vehicle the keys were for. They couldn’t find the keys to the other truck. They drove my vehicle onto the lawn, parked near the truck where I was tied up. The immobiliser for the vehicle went off. They demanded that my wife show them where the immobiliser switch was situated which she did do. One of them drove off with the vehicle which we never saw again. They still had all the employees on the lawn around a fire that had been lit by the front door and they were still forced to sing.There were about four or five of them around the vehicle watching the two of us, all the time they were shouting verbal abuse and racist comments and threatening to kill either one or both of us and also stating the manner in which they should kill us. This must have gone on for almost an hour. They were burning my feet with cigarettes and then we saw vehicle lights shining towards us and then my wife was told to get out of the vehicle and was dragged towards the headlights of the vehicle that had arrived. When she got to the vehicle she saw there were four armed policeman from Kadoma Police Station who asked what had happened. She told them briefly what had happened and demanded that they fetch me immediately from the vehicle as she feared for my life. One of the thugs came and untied me and told me to get out of the vehicle and made me walk towards the headlights of the parked vehicle. I noticed that they were armed policeman. The incident was described in more detail to them and they accompanied us into the house to get some warm clothing. Once we were in the house we saw that the gun cabinet had been opened and ransacked and that my weapons were missing. I informed the police that the weapons were missing. They then took us out of the house and told us to get in their vehicle as we were going to Chegutu Police Station to make a report.We got to Chegutu Police Station and they had to call some superior officer to take a statement and he only arrived as were were leaving to go to Harare to get urgent medical attention. No police personal of any authority seemed to show any interest in taking our statement. We were attended to by medical staff at the Avenues Clinic where numerous x-rays and CT scans were taken.My injuries are two cracked verterbrae in my lower back. Fractured cheekbone, fractured nose there was copious bleeding into my sinuses and extensive lacerations and deep-tissue bruising to my face and back and a bite to my right earlobe.My wifes injuries are fractured cheekbones, fractures around her orbital socket round her eye, perforated eardrum, cracked ribs and extensive bruising to her face and back and throat.W.B. ROGERS ………………………………………..A.M. ROGERS
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TEXT AND PHOTOS FROM THE ZIMBABWEAN