Offer the hand of friendship to Zimbabwe
ON A recent holiday in Zimbabwe, I was struck by the beneficial influence of Christian schooling, the patient decency of the people, the high levels of awareness of world affairs and the careful retention of British administrative procedures evident in municipal affairs, the traffic police and the national parks guides.
Many expressed a wish to see Robert Mugabe gone, others lamented the passing of British democratic rule.
It is the favourable memory of Britain that promotes the good administrative practice. English is spoken everywhere.
The report about the influence of China in Zimbabwe (Mail) confirmed what I witnessed. I was told lurid stories of Chinese gangmasters beating locals and the exploitation of mineral and agricultural resources.
On my flight, I sat between two Chinese men who admitted their government had sent them to Zimbabwe ‘to take the gold’.
There is clearly an opportunity in Zimbabwe for a British presence. People are eager to welcome us for our fair play, sense of humour, human decency and ability to get things done.
It would be better to work with Zimbabwe than to waste more time and money on the EU.
PHILIP HODSON, Newmarket, Suffolk. HAD the then British government sent the Army to protect white farmers — British, Australian and New Zealand passport holders with dual citizenship — the tragedy of the past 37 years might have been averted. And Zimbabwe, the bread basket of Africa, could have prospered.
My grandparents were driven off their farm near Bulawayo. They lost their life’s work, as did the 20 families they employed.
My grandparents escaped to the UK with no help from the British government, and after a year without benefits, they emigrated to New Zealand.
They never forgave the UK for its failure to support them against the terrorists. Britain did nothing to save white farmers in what was then Rhodesia.
ALAN LEWIS, Evesham, Worcs. IS THE takeover of power by Robert Mugabe’s right-hand man, Emmerson Mnangagwa going to make any difference in Zimbabwe? Probably not.
Despite their apparent delight at Mr Mugabe’s resignation, the MPs and ruling elite of Zanu PF, who supported him for 37 years, are not going to want details of their activities revealed.
While Mr Mugabe siphoned off billions to support his lavish lifestyle, many of his acolytes also had their snouts in the trough, while ordinary people suffered.
Mrs IRIS DAINTON, Louth, Lincs.
Clash of cultures
YOU might think the chaos in the NHS would keep Shona Robison busy, but the Health Secretary has found the time to complain Dundee is being ejected (Mail) from the European Capital of Culture contest ‘because of Brexit’.
Actually, it’s the EU which is kicking Dundee out – the same EU the SNP says we must never be parted from.
Let’s also remember that had we been fooled into voting for independence in 2014, we would have been out of the EU too.
Finally, consider how many SNP members either did not vote in the EU referendum or voted Leave, Miss Robison.
KATE DALTON, Edinburgh. WHEN is Nicola Sturgeon going to stop the nonsense of saying Westminster is to blame for every thing she doesn’t agree with?
She said the reason the city of Dundee cannot be the European Capital of Culture in 2023 could be the Tories’ obsession with Brexit.
She and her cronies are in denial over the people’s vote in the referendum and the fact that Scotland is still part of the United Kingdom. JOHN McLEAN, Cumnock, Ayrshire.
All I want for Christmas
CHRISTMAS is looming and children are writing their present lists asking for expensive games consoles and other techno items.
So I was surprised when my eight-year-old grandson, who loves writing stories, told me all he wanted was a typewriter. How great that he hasn’t been swayed by all the TV advertising, I thought — until I realised that perhaps Jessica Fletcher of TV’s Murder, She Wrote has had an influence.
G. FRENCH, Chichester, W. Sussex.
A crying shame
THE UK hands the Scottish Government a ‘consequentials’ windfall of £2billion and all the First Minister can do is moan about it. If ever that good old Scottish saying ‘a greetin’ face’ applied to a politician, it’s Nicola Sturgeon. PHIL JOHNSON, Bishopton,
Renfrewshire.
Divining intervention
THE fact that using a divining stick has been proven to work (Mail) is no surprise to me.
As a 12-year-old, I was summoned by the headmaster to prove my dowsing prowess before a class who had hidden a bowl of water in one of the desks.
Blindfolded, my Y-shaped hazel stick twisted in my hands and pointed down — but there were shouts of derision because I was standing like a wally in between a row of desks. At my second attempt, I found the bowl.
Later that day, the headmaster apologised for doubting me as the caretaker had pointed out my first attempt had indicated an underfloor water pipe.
D. WILLIAMS, Guilsfield, Powys.
Drain this swamp
HOW shocking that the brilliant MoneyMail is full of words such as con, trick, trap, beware, crooks.
The financial sector remains a byword for malpractice. Who can drain this swamp?
KAy TRAFFORD, Edinburgh.
Modern fairytale
HOW extraordinary that Sarah Hall, a mother from North Shields, has demanded that schools should ban Sleeping Beauty.
It seems she is concerned that the Prince kissing the sleeping Princess to break the evil spell depicts deviant sexual behaviour.
If Sarah is serious about protecting children, a better use of her time and energy would be in campaigning to prevent youngsters accessing online porn.
ALAN CARTER, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Regular lazybones
I WAS amazed to see ‘slug-a-bed’ – one who stays in bed through laziness – listed as a long-lost word (Mail). I use it to tease my children about what time of the afternoon they emerge, so I use it at least seven days a week! PETER MITCHELL, Stranraer,
Wigtownshire.
Wild about foxes
I WOULD like to send a warning to the young family who have taken in a fox as a pet (Mail).
The student son of my local pub landlord brought back a fox cub he had found. He fed it and it was a cute novelty until the day it bit his nose and was left scarred. Foxes belong in the wild.
PAT RICHARDSON, Oldham, Gtr Manchester.