Whitewing said:
Were you born there Andybob? How many years were you there? I've never asked much about your personal circumstances there but would love to hear more about ranching experiences.
Yes I am a "Rhodie" Whitewing, my hometown is Bulawayo, unique in many ways, but especially for the wide streets (designed to allow a team of 24 oxen to turn around with a waggon)
I left after 28 years with my family, built up my ranch from denuded bushveld, with no development at all,left a developed ranch fenced for rotational grazing, dams storing summer rain water, well built house, staff cottages and workshops, and a wildlife population that would be the envy of any game reserve, all part of my holistic goal, but now all gone!
I sold Tuli seedstock (started my herd while still at school, on my parents property) F1 heifers to commercial ranchers, and exported cattle and embtyos from 1978 till 1985. My neighbours an I mentored local subsistance farmers by training and donating bulls to improve their cattle, and built a school and clinic for them (staffed by the government).
I grew up in a time and place where hard work could achieve great rewards for everyone (my immediate neighbour was a 'local' Matabele school headmaster), just a pity for everyone that we were not allowed to continue developing our country and the people of all persuasions.