I was up and at it early the following morning and left Bulawayo just after 5am to head for Harare. You can be sure of one thing in Zims, unless you are driving a truck you don’t want to be out driving after dark. There are very few fences still up alongside the roads and still plenty of cattle, goats and donkeys roaming around at night.
While I was on my way I gave Attie a call to see how things were going. It was decided that he was deteriating quite fast and that he should be flown down South ASAP to get to hospital. He was scheduled to fly before I made it to Harare. Once I arrived in Harare, I took the opportunity to get the paper work for the upcoming December /Christmas trip in the system.
I spent the Wednesday night in Harare. After sorting out some final kinks in getting the paper work 100% in the system both Bruce (Driving the Bakkie) and I (Driving the UD90) were ready to hit the road and go our separate ways by 1pm on Thursday. Bruce left for Gweru and due to tradition something had to upset the applecart and when I turned the ignition on the UD to let her start warming up I was greeted with a deathly silence. A flat battery, life I tell you. I phoned Dave Payne (Who according to me has the best Guest House in Harare) came to the rescue with his old Land Cruiser and helped to tow the truck and get it started. A BIG Thank you Dave for once again being a life saver.
From there I was off to Marondera to drop off the boxes there and then to Rusape (Resthaven). As usual these lovely generous Golden Oldies of ours who literally live from hand to mouth these days had a spread of food and something to drink. Their generosity never ceases to amaze me. Just goes to show, the Rhodie spirit is still alive and well.
After taking a time out I was ready to hit the road and head for Mutare. Here I dropped off the boxes for S.O.A.P. Mutare, EHT, Strickland Lodge and Nyanga Outsiders at Des place of work for delivery the following the day. I spent the evening with Des and Sally. A big thank you for the food and warm bed.
By 8am the following day I was on the road and heading for Chivhu. Here I was met by Freda and Piet De Klerk where I dropped off the boxes. From there it was on to Masvingo where I was met by Dusty and Johnny, with everyone acting like 70year old teenagers we managed to get the boxes off the truck chop chop. And as they say no rest for the wicked, so I was now on my way to Zvishavane to drop those boxes by Lynne. Due to some serious time constraints I had to pass up on the normal snack we receive there.
From there it was on to Boggies Trust in Gweru were I was to spend the night. Once there we first offloaded their boxes. The following morning I was once again up early so I could drop off the boxes at Huisvergesig and Anna Scheepers. By 10.30am both myself and Bruce were ready to hit the road to Bulawayo. Me once again driving the truck and Bruce following in the bakkie.
On Saturday morning Bruce opted to go back to Gweru by bus saving me a 4 hour round trip. Here I must say a HUGE THANK YOU to Bruce Chilcott, you were an absolute lifesaver on this trip. Both from mine and Atties perspective. Please accept our grateful thanks.
Monday and Tuesday were spent dropping off all the food parcels at the various homes and kitchens we support in Bulawayo and Esigodini.
By Wednesday afternoon I was ready to head to the border with me driving the truck, Shannon Wheeler driving the ZPSF bakkie and Rachael Wheeler following him. Thank you both so much. I can do many things however splitting myself in half to be in 2 places at once is not one of them unfortunately. After some hickups at the border, we were finally through and I was back in SA. The bakkie was to stay over by Joe for a couple of days until it could be collected. We spent the evening in Musina and early the following morning we went our separate ways.
Driving the UD 90 I finally got back to Malelane just after 5pm.
We are once again busy with our “Adopt A Golden Oldie” for Christmas campaign. Funds are coming in slowly for this. Please if you are adopting a Golden Oldie or making a contribution towards the Christmas trip can you just send Linda an email at linda@zpsf.co.za so that the funds can be correctly allocated.
One pensioner at Boggies Trust in Gweru described what we are doing as “CHRISTANITY IN ACTION”. On the Christmas Trip “when we also hand out a small present to each of our pensioners, one pensioner had this to say. “ I have family all over the world but the only Christmas present I had to open on Christmas day was The one from the ZPSF “.
We appreciate any and all support received as every little bit helps us to assist the people of Zimbabwe. As you are aware it is solely your donations that keep us running.
Blessings
Hannes Botha