On 30 May 2023 I leave Malelane in the truck for Zimbabwe to deliver the “Goodie Parcels” for the third trip of the year. I depart at 09:00 and have an uneventful trip to Musina where I spend the night at Aunty Hester Joubert’s. I am spoilt with beef stew and a warm bed. As we prepared to go to sleep, the power goes off and it is our turn to have load shedding. In South Africa there is shortage of electricity generation, and the electricity is shut off at set times in predetermined areas while other parts of the country are on, thus load shedding. So, we use torches and are off to our beds for the evening. I am also very sure Musina has the most unique and vicious mosquitoes in the world. They sit on the ceiling and watch you …. as you close your eyes and start dozing, they release from the ceiling and do a Kamikaze-style dive bomb onto your face. No biting just a thud in the face and shortly after a buzzing in your ear as to say zzeee you zoooonnn. And as soon as you are comfortable, the ritual is repeated. This all in the darkness of load shedding, a definite planned conspiracy to ensure you are not alone in the darkness.
The next morning, I watch the sun break the darkness and am relieved to be on the road and put these tormentors behind me. Aunty Hester makes me a cup of coffee and I am off to the border to enter Zimbabwe and head for Bulawayo where I will spend the next few nights and prepare for the round trip and deliveries. I am at the border at 08:00 and have an easy passing with the assistance of Robert. My first stop is at Makado Ranch to pick up empty boxes from Paxi Watson, to find that Boet Holmes have picked up all the empty boxes on the previous trip. I have a short visit and depart for Bullies. The road is not too bad, the first 100km is the worst, up to the Makado ranch turn-off, thereafter it gets better. Except for the outsized speed bumps just before toll gates and small settlements, the going is good. The road gets bad again from Esigodini to Bulawayo. I get to Bulawayo at about 17:00 and Caroline is waiting at the warehouse to take me to her house where I’ll spend the weekend.
On Thursday I spend the day with Caroline visiting some of the people in Bulawayo and repacking the warehouse. I also visit some of the shops to experience the pricing of basic goods. The inflation on the Zim dollar is soaring and changing rapidly, people mention that the black-market rate is so unpredictable that is changing by the hour. Some shops have their pricing in Zim Dollars, and they are in the thousands, some have the pricing in US Dollar and Zim Dollar, and some in SA Rand and Zim Dollar. It is very difficult to keep track and find myself constantly calculating everything back into SA Rand, remembering the Rand USD was at 20 to 1 when I left home. I conclude that everything in Zimbabwe is about double the price of the same item in South Africa. Keeping in mind that people are earning their salaries and pension pay outs in Zimbabwe Dollar. I am baffled as to how people in Zimbabwe manage day to day life and strife.
On Friday we load the truck and ensure all is ready for the truck to leave on Monday for the round trip. Michelle in the SA office arranged for some hand knitted goodies (scarves, beanies, bed socks and knee blankets) to be made by donors and we distribute to those we can help. We also load some walkers, wheelchairs and crutches for those who might need them.
On Saturday I am off to Falcon Collage in Esigodini with Willem and family to watch some school’s rugby. What an enjoyable day with Peterhouse from Harare visiting Falcon Collage. Congratulations to Falcon for winning the day, but it was an excellent display of sportsmanship and community getting together for a day in the sun and a dose of healthy bantering. Thank you to the Nel family for taking me there.
Sunday, I took a relax day to build some courage for the trip to come.
Monday morning, I am up early to start at first light, just to find out that the lock for the warehouse was lost during the weekend meaning that I cannot leave as early as planned and had to wait for the complex manager to open the door before I could depart, resulting in me leaving Bulawayo at 08:00.
My first stop was at The Boggie Trust in Gweru where I was met by Bruce and some of the residents who assisted in the offloading, name checking and distribution.
While at the Boggie Trust, we noticed that one of the tag axle shock boots on the truck was leaking air. After offloading the truck would not build air to release the braking system. I had to deactivate the rear wheels shocks in order to leave. Ricki Schonken from Huis Vergesig, the next drop in Gweru advised for me to meet her at her husband’s workshop. PJ is a mechanic and could give advice or assist in repairing the problem. PJ had a look and immediately advised that I would not be able to repair the tag axle in Gweru and what I had done was sufficient to keep going, as long as the truck is not overloaded, and I take it easy. As I was driving, I felt the truck had an additional sway with the weight, but it would be manageable. We offloaded the boxes for Huis Vergesig and the Gweru outsiders onto Ricki’s vehicle to distribute for us. Thanks, you guys for the assistance and advice.
From here I was off to deliver in Redcliff. I was met by a bunch of residents, thanks for the welcome and assistance in offloading of the parcels.
From here I departed for Kwekwe where I was met by Ken, Margot and team. We offloaded and had some Mazoe orange juice under the tree, as always, very good to see you all.
Here I am off to Kadoma where I will spend the night at Westview Home. I arrive at about 17:00 and decide to offload the following morning. Del Parkin puts me up for the night in the guest cottage and feeds me supper. We have spaghetti bolognaise with a dash of curry, very good for the cold weather. After dinner I am off to my cottage and a shower before bed, just to discover that there is no cold water, and the hot water is HOT. I take a walk around the cottage with a torch to open the water, this cannot be too difficult, can it? As I leave the cottage, I see a grey-haired person in the dark gloomy distance staring at me making me feel very self-conscious. I ignore it and continue my quest. I discover that all the relevant (all I could find) water valves and stop taps are open. As I reach the door to my sleeping quarters, I see the person still looking in my direction…strange. I decided to just jump into bed as I am and I will sort this out in the morning.
The next morning, I am up early after a good sleep. I see Dell is up as well and ask for advice. We find the main water valve at the JoJo Tank and open it. as I approach my door, I see that the grey-haired person is in fact a large swan in the garden, the shape of the neck was the grey hair I saw… I go inside the room, switch on the kettle for it to boil while I take my warm shower. The power suddenly goes out, I go to the shower to discover that if there is no power, there is no water, the pressure pump does not work. So, it will be a roll-on shower, just to hide the scent, I was going to be alone most of the day anyhow. I get dressed and off to the truck to offload. By this time, I have so many empty boxes I have to offload all the empties to get to the packed parcels, luckily there are staff to assist. With the full boxes off and the empties reloaded ready for the road to Chegutu, I say a quick hello to Clive and Estelle O’Reilly, as Clive was not well. He is in good spirits and doing better than when I last saw him.
My next stop will be Greenway Trust in Chegutu, here I am met by Kendal, we offload the goodie parcels and reload the empty boxes before I leave for Chinhoyi.
After a bumpy road, I arrive in Chinhoyi, and I am greeted with a big smile and a welcome from Johan Haasbroek and a lot of the residents and recipients. We offloaded and distribute in no time and Johan decides to catch a lift with me to Harare to pick up his car he had left there a week before. It’s great having some good company and someone to talk to on this leg of my journey. After dropping Johan, I head to John and Leonie Herbst where we offload with the assistance of the local neighbourhood gardeners arranged by James, John’s gardener. For dinner John makes a fire, and we have a braai and a couple of cold beers. At last, I am able to have a warm bath and clean myself before I get off to bed.
By 07:00 on Wednesday morning I am off to Concrete Structures where I meet Dennis who assists me collecting a donation of fuel. Thanks to Vic and his team for this donation, it is much appreciated. From here I am off to Marondera to drop off and thereafter I’m off to Rusape and Resthaven. I am met with a spread of eats, tea and coffee. We offload and I join the residents in the hall for a bite to eat and a drink. We spend some time chatting and exchanging stories.
After my tea party I am off to Mutare where I will be spending the next night. The truck is a lot lighter by now and the going is good. At every stop I check on my tag axle to make sure I am not going to lose it or, worse case scenario drive over it. By now the air cushions are crumpled up and one of the welding on the brackets has come loose, fortunately the large u-bolts are still in place, and I am still good to go, as the trip progresses, the load gets lighter, and the risk reduces. I arrive in Mutare without incident, we offload at Des Beckers warehouse with his team doing all the heavy lifting while I have a cup of coffee. A well-oiled machine in action, thanks so much. Des and Sally put me up at their house, where I am fed and watered me before I have the most amazing shower and comfortable sleep.
The next morning Sally drops me at the truck, and I am off to Gweru with some stops to make on the way. This is the long haul, and it is going to be a long day. First stop is Birchenough Bridge where I have to weigh the truck, as there is a 25-ton weight limit to pass over the bridge. This is also one of the most scenic parts of the country with the old trees growing next to the road, traditional markets where anything is for sale, and the traditional transport. Unfortunately, there is no way of translating the majesty of this area in any photographs.
My next drop off point is Masvingo and Pioneer Trust, where I am met by Cindi, the Administrator. We offload the truck and reload the empty boxes, whereafter we have a cup of tea, and I am off to Zvishavane where I meet Mike Timvios at the roadside. Mike assists with the deliveries around the town, as the truck is too big to enter the streets and home where the deliveries are done, thank you Mike for the help. The next on route is Muus Lodge in Shirugwe. The road between Zvishavane and Shurugwe is probably the worst road one will encounter; the pass in between has been patched many times and it is full of knobs and holes. A very bumpy stretch of road indeed. Just before entering town, there is a stretch where the tar has been removed and one drives on dirt road, which is better than the tarred parts. At Muus a bunch of residents come out to greet me and we offload and distribute the parcels. I have a cup of coffee with Martha Daily and am introduced to new residents.
After the short visit I leave to reach Gweru before dark. I get to Boggie trust and Bruce opens the gate for me to enter where he gives me the keys to the guest cottage. I have a hot shower and a very comfortable sleep. The deliveries are all done, the next morning I am off to Bulawayo where the empty boxes are checked and stored, ready for the next trip. I depart early the next morning and the team in Bulawayo is ready to unload the truck to wrap up the trip. I make a quick stop at Colbro Depot in Bulawayo where Terry assists me with a fuel donation that will ensure I get home, thanks guys for your continued donations, you are awesome. Caroline and Angela had done the deliveries around Bulawayo. I spend the last night with Willem and Caroline before leaving for home the next morning.
On Saturday 10 June I leave Bulawayo, with the last few deliveries to take care of on the way to the border. West Nicolson, Makado Ranch and Beitbridge.
Pat Hales on his stoop in West Nicolson.
My departure from Zimbabwe is quite interesting and takes 4 hours to get through the border post because the truck drivers on the SA side had caused a traffic jam and the road is blocked with a bottleneck in the parking area of the border. I manage to reach Louis Trichardt where I spend the night. The next morning, I am off to Malelane and home, I get home at 14:00 on Sunday afternoon with the tag axle still under the truck. Mission successful.
A short breakdown of time and kilometres travelled.
Day 1: Malelane to Musina 545 km
Day 2: Musina to Bulawayo via Beit Bridge 343 km
Day 3: Bulawayo to Kadoma via Gweru, Redcliff and Kwekwe 298 km
Day 4: Kadoma to Harare via Chegutu and Chinhoyi 242 km
Day 5: Harare to Mutare via Marondera and Rusape 263 km
Day 6: Mutare to Gweru via Masvingo, Zvishavane and Shurugwi 517 km
Day 7: Gweru to Bulawayo 162 km
Day 8: Bulawayo to Louis Trichardt via Beit Bridge 431 km
Day 9: Louis Trichardt to Malelane 453 km
Total distance traveled: 3254 km.
A special thanks to every one that makes this very important and essential work going. That includes donors, people assisting in deliveries, drop points, packers, loaders, drivers and people that put us up in their homes while on the road. Fund raisers, admin staff, auditors, peeps assisting with border crossings, the professionals with advice when we are in need, directors and vehicles that keep together when needed.
Until next time, Stay safe and blessings to all.
Johan Schultz
