Another week and loads more experiences to talk about!

So this week I won’t complain about AirZim, even though it was the same old apologies routine from them. Unfortunately for me, I left my travel arrangements for the last minute and couldn’t get a seat from Harare to BYO so I booked myself onto Pathfinder. I have used it before and it went well so it wasn’t a terrible alternative to have. Well everything went as well as usual until 60kms from the destination. The bus ground to a halt and the attendant announced that there was a fault and the driver has gone to get a mechanic to get it fixed. Zimbabweans are a very patient bunch so we all waited waited without complaining and those that couldn’t wait got off the bus and jumped onto whatever stopped for them. I couldn’t bare the annoyance after the an hour and half so I asked for a number to call and rang everyone and their uncle at Pathfinder only to be told that the fault would be fixed in 20-30 minutes so we should wait! Never mind about a contingency plan should the mechanic fail to fix the fault. 2 hours later the driver comes back, pours diesel into the bus and off we went. Hang on!, did the bus just run out of diesel? Imagine that, the premier bus company in Zimbabwe which does 2 trips 2 times a day, everyday of the year and their bus runs out of diesel!!! How does that happen, Pathfinder?

And the big event of the week was some personal possessions of mine have finally arrived from England after sailing dates were cancelled, chopped and changed! They arrived in Namibia so my driver went to fetch my van laden with the said possessions and drove it to Plumtree. I had to meet him there so I could clear it and boy was it an education!!. The day was long, stressful and could have been expensive! Well it was expensive but could have been much worse. The first lesson was you need a good driver first of all, one who is well known at the border otherwise it could be 2-3 days there. Secondly, unlike what I had been told, claiming returning residency is not easy at all. You must prove all manner of things before they accept it so it’s not an option. Thirdly they don’t care what you say your vehicle is worth, it depends on what they find on Autotrader at that point that remotely resembles your car and is more expensive. The final lesson is even if you have been given the last stamp to get out, you can still be searched and be asked to pay more! You will need a lot of patience because you wait for everything and everyone! And you won’t make it anywhere without paying a bribe. Sometimes it’s the only way out and thank you to the officers at the border who took bribes from me, it was worth it!!! Yes, it does happen!

Lastly, some work related goings on. I have spent all week meeting people with potential projects for me to consider for funding and there is a death of meeting etiquette in this place. People don’t take serious shit seriously, I have grown tired of under dressed, under prepared and downright uninspiring people coming into share their dreams with me. The great shame is that some of the projects have a lot of potential. So I have been teaching people how to present themselves, their ideas and to think 360 degrees about the impact of their projects. Now, where else in the world would the person with the money tell them person who wants the money how to get the money? I want to help my kin folk but come on! Who do we blame though, for grossly under prepared graduates leaving university with degrees but little to offer the world? Is the government, the lecturers or the students? Why is this happening?

But it’s not all doom though, I have been compiling a catalogue so business opportunities for some of your to consider, I am just working on an investment vehicle that will manage the venture on behalf of investors. And, no! I don’t want to steal anyone’s money! You can keep your money if you don’t trust the scheme but there are areas in which a little investment and long term thinking can bring good returns to investors. We are capable of building businesses that are ethical and founded on trust. If you are into get rich quick, this won’t be for you.