A gentle touch of misogyny

For centuries, I have wondered what mystical attributions Poly Toyboy has, to make her worth so much to tell us, the public, what we are doing wrong. She has a twin in that awful Independent correspondent, Jasmine Alibbaabbaa Black sheep. Tried wiping my bottom on their papers but the shit would not stick.

Why British politicians hate America

clipped from www.nytimes.com Senator Charged in Scheme to Hide Oil Firm Gifts WASHINGTON — Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska, a legendary political figure closely tied to the rough-and-tumble history of his home state, and who wields outsize influence over federal spending, was indicted on Tuesday on seven felony counts of failing to disclose gifts that he received from an oil services company.

What a difference. All the Wendy Alexanders', the Conways', the Wintertons', the Mandelsohn's et-al have to thank themselves fortunate that they do not live in the USA. If you get caught in the trough, you go to prison. No doubt the Speaker of the House does not know or understand this?

Fylde RFC helping the injured soldiers

clipped from www.fylderugby.co.uk Fylde v Tynedale proceeds to go to Help for Heroes Charity campaign Ahead of the Fylde v Tynedale game will be a match between the 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards), based at Weeton Barracks, and a Fylde Wanderers/Development XV (ko time tba). The Green Howards have a fine record of producing excellent rugby players and will be expected to field a very competitive team. A number of Fijian soldiers usually feature in their line-ups. This match will be an important build up to the new season for the Wanderers squad.

Well done Alan Townsend for your initiative to help the service injured. Hope you do not have a karaoke as you'll never get the mike off Adder and his sibling.

Crime over the water

clipped from www.torontosun.com In the last 12 days, seven men have been murdered and an eighth is clinging to life following another weekend of shootings in the city. All but one of those victims was gunned down. Whilst British politicians pontificate over what not to do about British (and largely immigrant) gangs carrying weapons, our Canadian cousins are wrestling with exactly the same problem. Why not take a leaf from New York. Increase and smarten up the local police force, then go for a zero tolerance regime on all criminals? When I was a kid, in the most notorious neighbourhood in my home town, there was a police station at the top of our street. The local 'Bobby' was nicknamed Tiny. When we, the kids got out of hand, he would walk us home, gripping a lug-hole tightly. If the parents were not there Tiny knew where to find them. I saw him walk into the local boozer dragging an urchin by the lobe, point at a man at the bar and then to the door. The man tried to ignore Tiny, but the pint was taken from his hand and Tiny frogmarched the odd couple outside and all the way to the boy's home. We craned to listen as Tiny admonished both boy and parent. "You put a mark on the lad and I'll see it..." When he came out he just glared at us and we headed off home, terrified Tiny would follow and knock on our doors. Tiny knew everyone, and everyone knew Tiny. Today he has been replace by a 5' 4'' blond who arrives two days later in a panda car, knows no-one, knows no law, knows not how to handle a violent father with just enough money to get pissed (English - shit faced), hasn't the faintest idea of poverty and social problems. Britain had thousand of Tiny's and they were the conscience of the community. Now we have politicians stealing from everyone and replacing them with no moral fibre at all.

Labour and the electorate

Labour stalking the disgruntled electorate electorate.

Speaker of the House

clipped from www.timesonline.co.uk Michael Martin: the speaker cornered One of the oddities of parliament’s opaque procedures is that a Freedom of Information request will show that on February 19 this year, Speaker Martin gave tea to the Polish ambassador and claimed back £3.77 on expenses. Yet there is still no requirement for him to reveal which members of his ownfamily he employs on the public purse, and at what salary. Ann Keen, Labour MP for Brentford and Isleworth, ran his campaign for Speaker eight years ago and remains a close ally in the Commons. She and her husband, the fellow Labour MP Alan Keen, earned the joint tabloid sobriquet “Mr and Mrs Expenses” after it became known that each was claiming £17,669 in housing allowances for the mortgage on an apartment on the south bank of the Thames, even though they live only nine miles from Westminster.

A must read. If you have a friend who is dogmatically Nu Lieber, give them a copy of the Times report. Then just sit back and listen to them whine, prattle and lie.

For Art lovers only.

After two years touring the United States, Michelangelo's David is returning to Italy...

proud sponsors of his tour were:

White poverty in South Africa

clipped from www.sowetan.co.za Grants for poor whites reaching out: Bethlehem residents queue to register for social grants and IDs. PHOTO: PEGGY NKOMO “During my first visit I was very touched by the living conditions around here and I promised I would come back,” he said. “I did not have all the answers then but today I brought people who can help with some of the problems.”

This belies the tainted history of exploitation by whites on blacks in Africa. I can imagine that a great percentage of these disenfranchised group would have been former Civil Servants, police and Armed Forces.
The Real Estate industry is all but destroyed. Many of the whites, especially those from Portuguese extracts, have been in Southern Africa for 500 years. There pot of gold was the endeavour, the hard work and pure grind of existing in such a hostile environment. The turned nations into a virtual paradise, created stability and a place worth living in.I will always remember the last words said to me by my domestic. "Iche, I don't like Black Africa. No good, Boss." He ought to have known, he is a Malawian.
If David Cameron really wants to know Africa, go talk to Jackson or the poor Whites. Better still, stay at home and solve the problems of the poor Brits.

Not in MY NAME.

clipped from www.gordonmarsden.co.uk MPs Gordon Marsden and Joan Humble have been elected to top offices in a new All-Party Parliamentary Group which has been set up to advance and lobby for veterans’ interests in both Houses of Parliament. At the inaugural meeting of the all-party group which includes both MPs and Peers, Mr Marsden was elected chair and Mrs Humble secretary. The new Veterans Group, which already has over 90 members who have joined from both Commons and Lords, drawn from all the main parties and crossbenches has among its aims “Emphasising the importance of veterans, young and old, in our communities and way of life”. Last evening I had dinner with a former comrade and his sons, one a veteran of the Iraq illegal campaign. So incensed were all that the elder son said he was prepared to stand against Marsden in the next election "to show the hypocrisy of the position". I have not had a single reply from Mr Marsden since I pointed out that the British Armed Forces were the only force in the World, especially in Europe, that has not derogated against homosexuals into the Armed Forces. And I asked him why not? It is a tool of enormous blackmail. From members of my own immediate family, all long serving members of HMF's, the abuse against heterosexual members is wide spread and getting worse. As with the race situation, you try to comply with QR&R's and you are hit with..."you can't do that, I'm a homosexual (substitute Black for race)." If you raise the problem you are immediately labelled homophobic. Nothing can be further from the truth. I did a twelve week stint on an OP in Belfast with five other men. When I got back from leave two of the corporals had disappeared, gone, whizzed out of the Mob because, as rumour had it, they were caught in the brown trap. I was angry on two levels. One, because I had no inkling or even cared if the lads were nosh or not, they did their duty. Two. I was aware that mere association could tarnish my career. Under the Official Secrets Act no questions were asked and no explanation given. What I cannot get out of my head is the idea that Gordon Marsden would have been branded unfit to serve, has no concept of service life, has no empathy with servicemen and women other than never answering reasonable queries from me on issues from procurement to the housing of divorced serving personnel. Will someone inform me to whom I must raise my most serious objection to this position and it's head and secretary? As the protesters said against the illegal Iraqi War, not in my name. As for Joan Humble? Most local ex service men are still trying to digest her crass 'Polish immigrants' comments. Stick to your Gay Rights, Gordon and let real soldiers argue for former soldiers rights. As you all know, we have none.

Broon modelling for Michaelangelo.

clipped from www.scotsman.com Glasgow East by-election: Westminster trembles as the tremors of a historic SNP victory reverberate Glasgow East by-election: Brown dismisses leadership speculation as SNP record memorable win GORDON Brown brushed off the threat of a leadership challenge today after the disastrous defeat of Labour in the Glasgow East by-election.

Put maer Gin in yer tonic, Gordin.
Labour Cullodened in Glasgow east. Within the next eighteen months that will be the same in Blackpool.
Why? Last night I talked to a young man who echoed the derision of youth and the enthusiasm of not having lived through past Labour miseries on the late 60's and mid 70's.
With prospective Conservatives swanning it in deepest Rwanda, now is an ideal time for the youth of the region to kick these fossils in the dangly bits.
Go for it Ben. If you can't find a decent Party to adopt you, follow the lead of the Independent Doctor in the Forest of Dean and go it alone. I think the Conservatives have dropped a clanger with their nominee and I will be doing everything in my power to explain why to the electorate. Already the hierarchy of the local CP(Conservative Party) refuse to debate their situation with anyone not in their local party. Where was that article that say it takes £20K to get a nomination as a CP prospective candidate?

George Cross awarded

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk Royal Marine awarded George Cross A Royal Marine who threw himself on a grenade to save his comrades' lives is to receive the George Cross.

What is remarkable about this tale is that it is only a George Cross. Despite having taken the blast, refusing evacuation, he went on to confront the Taliban and killed his enemy in a subsequent close quarters action.
What people do not realise about the Royal Marines is that they do not expect to get reward. Fair payment and a covenant to look after them in ill-health and old age is all a Royal asks for.
But who cares?
Well done, Royal, and all the other men and women in the Front Line.

Tories in Rwanda

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk Diary: Cameron's trip to Rwanda In his speech to the Rwandan government, David Cameron said that some people in Britain had told him not to come here, to stay and deal with the problems at home.

Blackpool Tories take their lead from Cameron and join the Tories volunteers in a country that has no association with Britain what-so-ever. Why?
There are Africans in Blackpool who can tell them exactly what Central Africa is like, why waste their own time. Getting to grips with the problems of housing and poverty in Blackpool would be more beneficial and practical. Professor Peter Beighton, Chair of Genetics at Cape Town University could enlighten them to many aspects of needs with 35 years experience of the Continent. A 4 week soiree is nothing more than an idiots' folly , and they want you to pay for it.
Tip. Do not take that fat Tory Pickles. He could feed a kraal for a month.

British hostages

clipped from www.timesonline.co.uk Kidnappers claim British hostage in Iraq has killed himself The kidnappers of five British hostages seized in Baghdad last year have claimed in a videotaped statement that one of the men has killed himself. According to the statement, the hostage — named only as Jason — died on May 25, four days before the first anniversary of the abduction.

Notareargunner will try to keep the hostages in the minds of the British public. We implored the Government to do everything to get these people back, and continue to do so. Our thoughts are for the families.

Blackpool not disabled friendly.

clipped from www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk Blackpool Council 'chucks out' disabled daughters Dawn Ashton, 40, who suffers from cerebral palsy, and Joanne Smith, 38, who has been diagnosed with spina bifida, spend two to three days a week at the facility on Whitegate Drive. For around 20 years, Dawn and Joanne have enjoyed going to the day centre for lunch and to take part in craft and pottery sessions – giving their mothers a much needed break.

The evidence is overwhelming. Carrying on from the woeful Labour regime, this soporific administration has done nothing for the disabled. When the National Servicemen told the Council that the organisation for their disabled members was inadequate, they were attacked.
Try getting an 18 stone former regular soldier onto a bur with his wheel chair. As often as not you cannot, because their is a pram already on the bus. The Disabilities Act requires the Transport Authorities to make available disabled spaces. Only Stagecoach in this area enforces the Law and requires young adults to fold away their carriages and sit their children on their laps. I would love to be able to do this with the 18 stone gentleman, but I cannot.
All the disabled ask for is their RIGHTS underwritten in Law. Unfortunately, it is not the young parent who is the pariah, but it is usually the elderly who have no conception of what it is like to be imprisoned in a wheel-chair, the problems that carers have and the sheer hard work to get a wheelchair up and down the pavements of this unfriendly slum.

Gordon Marsden MP Blackpool South voting record

How Gordon Marsden voted on key issues since 2001:

• Voted against a transparent Parliament. votes, speeches
• Voted moderately for introducing a smoking ban. votes, speeches
• Voted strongly for introducing ID cards. votes, speeches
• Voted very strongly for introducing foundation hospitals. votes, speeches
• Voted strongly for introducing student top-up fees. votes, speeches
• Voted very strongly for Labour's anti-terrorism laws. votes, speeches
• Voted very strongly for the Iraq war. votes, speeches
• Voted very strongly against an investigation into the Iraq war. votes, speeches
• Has never voted on replacing Trident. votes, speeches
• Voted moderately for the hunting ban. votes, speeches

Voted very strongly for equal gay rights. votes, speeches

With so much energy left ovre from doing so little, it is no wonder he voted against reforming MP's expenses and the retention of the John Lewis list perks. This certainly is how to defeat inflation.

Wrist-band for your comrade.

clipped from www.modoracle.com OUTRAGED Marines were ordered to remove their Help for Heroes wristbands at a funeral of a comrade who died in Afghanistan. They were told the bracelets “weren’t smart enough” and threatened with a £50 fine if they continued to break strict uniform rules. Yesterday one Marine revealed that the barring of the wristbands – which is at the discretion of commanding officers – was causing “huge upset and divisions” in the forces. Retiring General Sir Richard Dannatt and Princes William and Harry have been pictured wearing their wristbands in full uniform. A military source yesterday said: “The issue over wristbands is becoming a sticky one. Some stuck-in-the-mud commanding officers believe they infringe strict uniform rules. Then again, no one is as supportive of the charity as the Armed Forces.”

This has to be examined and commented on.
I cannot imagine the Head of the Rhodesian Army issuing edicts to Selous Scouts over dress and getting away with it.
Discipline is disciple, but common sense is common sense. If there is an overwhelming response from those doing the job that a matter has to be dealt with in a certain manner, then any reasonable senior rank would take that into consideration.
I was told by an individual that I cannot wear my Rhodesian GSM on parade. My response..."Do you want that finger broken or do you want to clean your teeth from up your arse-hole?"
Word of warning to the Marines. Collective dissent is Mutiny. There are arse-holes out there who would use QR&R's to pervert your desire to give homage to your comrades.
You will not remember this, but these are the words scribed into history by our forefathers from the Great war...
"Fuck 'em all. Fuck 'em all.
The long and the short and the tall.
Fuck all the sergeants and WO 1's.
Fuck all the sergeants and their f**king sons..."
Get one of the bandies to play you the tune...

Legal right to defend oneself?

clipped from www.telegraph.co.uk 'Have-a-go heroes' get legal right to defend themselves They will be able to use force against criminals who break into their homes or attack them in the street without worrying that "heat of the moment” misjudgements could see them brought before the courts. Under new laws police and prosecutors will have to assess a person’s actions based on the person’s situation "as they saw it at the time” even if in hindsight it could be seen as unreasonable. Earlier this year, Tony Singh, a shopkeeper, found himself facing a murder charge after he defended himself against an armed robber who tried to steal his takings. During the struggle the robber received a single fatal stab wound to the heart with his own knife.

This headline concerns me.
We have always had the right to use reasonable force in certain circumstances. The problem, as I see it, is poor legal advice. When the Everton centre forward Duncan Ferguson was acquitted not once, but twice, for defending his property and family, it was good advocacy that kept his out of prison even though he has a record and past prison life for assault. What is good for Ferguson should be good for every individual defending himself and others against attack.
Poor advocacy is a problem, not just in the UK but everywhere in this commercial world, where the poor get inferior service to those with full wallets.

Inflation figures

clipped from www.dailymail.co.uk Inflation soars to 3.8% as Bank of England warns: 'There's NOTHING we can do to stop prices rising'

Electricity up 60%.
Food up double in most supermarkets. Most wines have been massively increased just so these thieves can offer reductions.
Have you tried to get a quote from an alternative electric supplier? Very interesting. If you do not tell them who your present supplier is they will not quote you a price. Try asking for a 'blind quote', or their absolutely cheapest tariff. The young man at Scottish Power got most offensive when I would not comply. "You must..." No Scottish Power you must not. It is common practice and legal to ask for a quote without you having all my information. Had I agreed to their terms I would be paying about 40% over what I presently pay, on a fixed rate tariff until August of 2009.
This conversation is going to Energywatch www.energywatch.org.uk . If you wish to contact energywatch call our helpline 08459 06 07 08.

Zimbabwe early leaders and supporters

Meeting the army commander

Apr 25 2007

This is an edited extract from the forthcoming book Through the Darkness: A Life in Zimbabwe, by Judith Garfield Todd. It is quite long but tomorrow I will add a few morsals to this intriquing tale.

The Bulawayo Chronicle reported on Saturday February 12 1983 that Sydney Sekeremayi, Minister of State (Defence) in the Prime Minister's Office, had said that 5 Brigade was going to operate in Matabeleland for a long time. The headline was "Five Brigade here to stay".

Not all readers could have comprehended the report, but rumours had been mounting about the commission of terrible deeds by armed forces in different parts of the country, particularly Matabeleland -- rumours like ghastly nightmares from which you struggle, but don't quite manage to awake.

Then Henry Karlen, the Catholic Bishop of Matabeleland, telephoned my father to inform him that the state was perpetrating atrocities. People were being terrorised, starved and butchered and their property destroyed.

Bishop Karlen said he had tried without success to make an appointment with the prime minister to tell him what was happening and to get him to stop.

The Catholics had been assembling evidence from their network of churches, schools and hospitals throughout the rural areas. The bishop asked if he could send a copy of these documents to my father and whether, as a senator appointed by Mugabe, he could seek an appointment for Karlen and others with the prime minister.

My father said he would do whatever he could. Karlen would courier the material to me and I would hold it for my father, who was due in Harare shortly.

The documents were delivered to my office on Thursday 17 February. I rang my father to report their arrival and he gave me permission to look at them, which I immediately did. Then I wished I hadn't.

Events chronicled were far, far worse than I could ever have imagined. It seemed that state armed forces -- whether only 5 Brigade or others too -- had gone berserk in an orgy of violence against defenceless civilians.

I felt so horrified, sick and faint that I longed to go straight home to bed. But I had an appointment early that evening with a representative of an overseas agency which could benefit the Zimbabwe Project.

I couldn't cancel.

We met at the Quill Club, a haunt of journalists and others who relished informed gossip, in the Ambassador Hotel near parliament. We had an adequate, if short, conversation and then I excused myself.

As I was leaving, someone hailed me. I turned and there was Justin Nyoka, now government's director of information, waving at me and calling "Judy! Come and say hello!" He was with two other men, one of whom I didn't know. When I joined them, he was introduced to me as Brigadier Agrippah Mutambara, head of the Zimbabwe National Army Staff College. The other was Lieutenant General Rex Nhongo, the army commander.

I shook hands with them, sat down and we exchanged courtesies. Justin bought me what was gladly described as a bitterly cold Castle Lager.

Bishop Karlen's documents started burning in my handbag. I knew I would never have an opportunity like this again and steeled myself to speak to Nhongo.

I suppose Bishop Karlen had thought that perhaps Mugabe did not know what was happening. I suppose I thought that maybe Nhongo didn't know either.

I said how wonderful it was that we were having this chance meeting, as I had information about army activities in Matabeleland that he might be unaware of.

The noise around us was increasing as more people came into the club and I could tell he was straining to hear me. I persevered and said it appeared as though forces were out of control; that atrocities were being committed and that mass graves were being filled with the corpses of helpless citizens.

Then, with terror, I fell silent. I had been noticing huge trickles of sweat pouring down Justin's temples. He was mopping his face and saying, "Judy, keep quiet! Judy, keep quiet!" but Brigadier Mutambara intervened and said, "No, let her speak. She may know things we don't. Let us hear what she has to say."

Nhongo was stuttering, whether with horror or anger I couldn't tell. I learned later that the stutter was a normal part of his speech. People passing our table kept trying to greet him, and he waved them all away.

He asked me for specific localities. I said I would find out for him. He said he was going to Matabeleland by helicopter the next day. He would send a car for me and I could go with him and show him the mass graves. I said unfortunately I couldn't, as I had only heard about them and not seen them myself.

But, I said, thinking of Bishop Karlen, I might be able to find someone else to accompany him. Certainly I would try to compile information for him about what appeared to be happening. I gave him my telephone number and said if he really wanted someone to guide him, he should let me know as soon as possible and I would try to help. Then I said goodnight and slipped away.

Early the next morning, I telephoned Bishop Karlen and told him of my meeting with the army commander. I asked permission to copy all his documents for Nhongo.

He was quiet and obviously troubled but eventually said yes as others, including my father, of course, had, or were about to receive copies.

At about 9.30 I received a call from our reception area a floor below to say someone from the army was waiting for me in a car downstairs.

I scribbled a note to Sister Janice McLaughlin, saying something like: The Army Commander, Lt Gen Nhongo, has sent a car for me. I put it in a sealed envelope and gave it to Morris Mtsambiwa in an adjacent office, calmly saying, without explanation, that I was going somewhere and he must deliver the note if I wasn't back before our offices closed that afternoon.

On the street I found a very smart looking Brigadier Mutambara in khaki uniform waiting for me. He opened the passenger door at the front of the olive green army car, I climbed in and we drove away -- to where or what my mind refused to consider.

I greeted him and started talking, trying to act as though everything was normal. I said I had just been on the telephone to Bishop Karlen and had told him of my meeting with Nhongo and himself the previous evening.

I said Bishop Karlen was the one who had compiled the information I had talked about and that he had given me permission to copy all the documents for the army commander. Mutambara seemed preoccupied. He was driving in the direction of Chikurubi Prison and started talking about himself and the fact that he was divorcing his wife, who had been unfaithful to him, and preparing to marry someone else. He stopped at a bottle store, went in and bought a couple of bottles of beer and orange juice and then proceeded to a house which, I think, was in the Chikurubi complex.

A servant let us in, not looking at us. The brigadier led me into a bedroom, opened a bottle of beer for each of us, unstrapped his firearm in its holster, laid it on the bedside table next to my head and proceeded. I did not resist.

Before long the subjugation was over, he dropped me back at our offices and, in the words of Eddison Zvobgo, I tried to continue on my road precisely as if nothing had ever happened.

Should you fall, rise with grace, and without/ Turning to see who sees, continue on your road/
Precisely as if nothing had ever happened;/ For those who did not, the ditches became graves.

I collected the unopened letter I had left with Morris and destroyed it. Then I made copies of Bishop Karlen's documents and drafted a covering letter to accompany them to Lieutenant General Nhongo and now, also, to Brigadier Mutambara.

After the weekend I contacted Mutambara, who had given me a card with his number. We met at the reception desk of the Ambassador Hotel.

I handed over an envelope for Nhongo and one for Mutambara himself, each containing a complete set of Bishop Karlen's horrifying documents on death and destruction, my letter to Nhongo and a copy of it for the brigadier.

Dated Monday 21 February, it read:

"Lieutenant General Nhongo
Army Commander
Zimbabwe

Dear General

It was a privilege to talk to you and your friends at the Quill Club last Thursday evening, and to hear your views. My own strong feelings were based in part on evidence which I was not then authorised to pass on to you.

I now enclose a copy of a letter and reports compiled for the Prime Minister. I believe that Cdes Sekeremayi, Muzenda, Mnangagwa and perhaps others have also been given these copies. Bishop Karlen has given me permission now to give them to you. You can see for yourself the terrible suffering which they portray, if even half of these limited reports are accurate.

It seems to me that if, in the hunt for dissidents, we inflict such enormous damage on people who are Zimbabweans, and who are poor, weak, hungry and defenceless, all we will achieve is the creation of more dissidents forever.

I believe that this policy can only harm Zimbabwe. I also believe that, when Zimbabweans throughout the country learn what is happening, they will lose confidence in our government and in our national army.

When I hear of such damage to our people, I find it very difficult to sleep at night or to work during the day.

But while I am not in the position to provide these tormented peasants with food, with comfort and with safety, at least I can pass on to you what news I have of them.

I am sure that you are able to help [to] provide food and protection, and that the army can be redirected to healing and construction.

One of the things that frightens me most is to be told of the "disappearance" of so many young men from the affected areas -- people who have never been proved to be dissidents, but who probably played a brave role in the struggle for Zimbabwe -- their Zimbabwe as well as ours.

Surely the way to "deal" with dissidents is to establish first why they are dissidents, then to think of remedies? In other words, surely a political solution -- perhaps then backed up by the military -- is required, rather than an intransigent military one which, in my humble opinion, cannot be a solution but which can breed only more violence, bitterness and grief.

Thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,
Judith Acton"

There was no further reaction from either Nhongo or Mutambara. I had unburdened myself on the very Friday I was collected to Professor Noel Galen, a retired American psychiatrist and dear friend teaching psychiatry at the University of Zimbabwe's medical school, but to absolutely no one else.

Judith Todd is the daughter of Sir Garfield Todd, erstwhile prime minister of colonial Southern Rhodesia. She spent eight years in exile in Britain as an opponent of white minority rule in Ian Smith's Rhodesia. She returned to Zimbabwe shortly before independence in 1980 and soon realised that, far from being the solution to Zimbabwe's ills, Robert Mugabe and his ruling Zanu-PF party were increasingly becoming the problem. As the country slid into economic and social decline, Todd had a front-row view from her position as director of an international aid agency. Over the first 25 years of Mugabe's rule, she kept journals, notes and copies of letters and documents from which she has compiled an intensely personal account of life in Zimbabwe.