Insults and Ridicule. A Sunny but Expensive Scotland and Family Visits.

Loch Awe from my cousins' deck

I do not know why it happens, but every few months, the rhetoric around compensation for Zimbabwe dispossessed white farmers (TDHs) rises on social media, which eventually culminates in the exchange of insults and inevitably the ridicule of those trying to do something for us. Most of us are doing nothing or are incapable of doing something due to circumstance or age. There is no doubt some of the rhetoric would rile a dead man. Still, we need to accept that while the present regime, ZANU(PF), is in place, there will be no likelihood of meaningful compensation. Unfortunately, meanwhile, in our compassion for the desperate, we have allowed the Government to crow about its false largesse in paying farmers. I do not think we should be too heated under the collar with these lies, as they have no credibility, and any country with an interest in Zimbabwe will know this. But in saying that, as I have said in the past, we must keep reminding everyone of the facts and the truth. In all likelihood, the present Government will default on these bonds that have accompanied the token and meagre first payments for the farm improvements. As is known, the majority of TDHs rejected these bonds as payment, and for those that accepted momentary relief, I wonder how poisonous that chalice may be found to be? 

Am I being hypocritical in what I say, considering how much I ridicule those who have tied the Farm Compensation Agreement (FCA) into the defunct Global Compensation Deed (GCD)? My excuse for their criticism here is that the promoters and self-styled implementers of this deal neither heeded the wishes of the majority, legal independent opinions on the recipient's rights and means to address default or non-performance by the Government, nor even now fully understand the financial implications of such a deal to the individual. In place of a mandate, they cried in a bullying manner, “Take this deal, there is no other deal.” Surely, interim payments against the final payment would be better to preserve the individual's rights for compensation? 

The rugged splendour of Glen Coe

One of the most outrageous things I read this week was an announcement by the PROFCA Exco, “Taking into account previous compensations, the benefactors under BIPPA, and the 20% of people receiving bonds (compensation) under the FCA; 34% of those registered with Valcon have been paid”. I would only consider myself compensated if paid in full, not when I am given a piece of paper of yet to be known value at the time of redemption or sale.

“A bond is a promissory note, not payment. To term it as such is a gross exaggeration of the facts.” - Peter McSporran

I know, I am being repetitive, so just skip this if you're bored, but for the few still interested, they may ask why I raise this topic again. Firstly, the Government has never at any time ever looked at abiding by its constitution in regard to paying compensation for the improvements to TDHs let alone abide by International Law by paying for the land. It now seems to think it can buy or pay for anything by issuing bonds, be it for overvalued mining corporations, civil servants' wages or paying farmers compensation in this likely to be proven worthless paper. They are happy to continue to do so even though the Financial Times has recently reported that Zimbabwe could default on $4.5 billion of foreign debt, with over a billion due this year. It is also suggested by Standard & Poor’s that Zimbabwe could default on foreign debt payments, which makes me question what their paper, or in fact their promised value, really is. It is close to twenty-five years since they took our farms, and if I have heard correctly, despite everything being done so secretly by the facilitators, PROFCA, they have paid out less than the equivalent of one year's genuine interest on the money owed by law. 

“There is no credibility in the Zimbabwean Government's pronouncement on paying the farmers. Nevertheless, we have to remind those with influence of this fact continually. If we do not, and it gains some credibility at a later date, it can only be deemed as our own fault.” - Peter McSporran

Therefore, keep fiery statements for the Government and listen to others' views and present your point of view rather than attacking others. For myself, I am rather far outside of the knowledge pool to make any substantive statement in the present state of play regarding alternative opportunities for compensation. Still, I have confidence in stating my views on the chances of getting compensation from the present regime, which does not have the wherewithal to pay or the will. Meanwhile, withholding foreign currency has once again brought a flurry of bankruptcies and administrations of long-established, once blue-chip companies. Its latest so-called gold-backed currency, the ZIC, is verging on obsolescence because the state cannot prove it has the gold or assets to support it.

We have been in Scotland for over a week now, and following our son's marriage, we have spent some time visiting friends and family. Believe it or not, other than a light drizzle one morning, the days have been filled with sunshine. Yes, I am in Scotland.

An old visitor standing at the bus stop asks a child, “Does it ever stop raining here?” and the youngster replied, “I don’t know, I am only six years old.” - Old Scottish joke told to me by my cousin John

Ironically, before leaving Portugal, we had rain almost continuously for the previous month, and even now our security cameras have shown it has rained nearly the whole time we have been away. The daytime temperatures have been higher here in Scotland than at home. Of more present concern, though, is that prices are much higher here than in Portugal. Not just a little bit, greatly or perhaps grossly is a better word. The price of a beer here is nearly the cost of a meal, including drinks, back at home. Even takeaways are very expensive with fish and chips, ranging between £14 and £18. Of course, I am old enough to remember when a fish supper was one shilling and ninepence (1/9), the same price as a beer. I wonder why fish and chips are now double the price of beer? Even worse, a portion of chips can cost £4.50 as opposed to 6p then. That is a 180 times increase. If you use a portion of chips to estimate buying power, the minimum weekly wage would need to be £1440, while in fact it is presently only £490. I used to think we were very poor! Most of the food outlets, be they takeaway or dine-in, offer foreign food of inferior quality served by non-Scottish-speaking staff with little interest in their tasks. Do not get me wrong, there are some excellent traditional restaurants offering Scottish fare, but when you leave their premises, the cost makes you feel you bought the furniture as well as the meal. 

“Dunediners were never thought to be as friendly as Glaswegians, but Edinburgh always felt like the heart of Scotland. With its rising cosmopolitanism and commercialism, to me, that heart seems to be dying.” - Peter McSporran

As I say, we have been here over a week and following the wedding, we headed for my sister's in central Scotland, and as we entered the countryside, my spirits lifted as I viewed the green fields. My age makes car hire very expensive, so Rozanne is the designated driver, allowing me to farm while we drive. Mind you, it never stops me when I am driving, much to Rozanne’s consternation. Last year, here in Scotland, the farmers had a horrendous time with many crops still unplanted due to the wet weather and massive lamb mortality due to the wet and cold. On our trip so far, we have only seen well-developed dark green crops and happy well-grown lambs. In fact, many of the unshorn sheep could be seen huddled under whatever shade was available due to the heat. No doubt, if no rain comes soon, the farmers will start moaning about the dry weather. Nice that the weather is being kind to the farmers, but it's sad that the British government, with its plans to introduce an inheritance tax on farmers, is not. Although cattle and sheep prices are excellent presently, grain prices are awful, and it's doubtful they will improve at harvest. Farmers just cannot have it all ways.

“Unlike most businesses, farmers not only suffer price risk but also climate risk. Here in the UK, a new risk has been introduced politically. Does it sound familiar?” - Peter McSporran

While staying with my sister Fiona and her partner Gordon, my friend Mike Clark, or rather his good wife Vari, organised a lunch with some old friends in the form of Drew and Helen Shedden, who I have seen in recent years and Drew and Rosie McLaren who I probably have not seen for some thirty years. Luckily, the venue chosen by Mike and Vari served excellent fare, and as visitors, we were treated to the meal. What a wonderful afternoon of catching up and enjoying each other's camaraderie.

Auld Aquintences, well met.

“Why is it with good friends, no matter how long you are apart, you can just pick up where you left off. You have no worries about what you say when you are amongst good friends, no matter how long since you last spoke.” - Peter McSporran

As an added treat, my sister Fiona and Gordon took Rozanne and me to one of his relatives' farms, one which I have been following on YouTube. Some of you may know it, “Crawford's Farm.” The family is Niven, the podcaster is the youngest son, Crawford, who we did not meet. After an excellent meal at their farm Restaurant, Gloagburn, his father took us around the farms and showed us some of his cattle in the magnificent new shed they had just built. We then set off for my cousins, Robert and Linda Hamilton, who live overlooking Loch Awe. This time we really enjoyed the view in the sun. The last two previous visits included one in the snow and the following one in the rain and the mist, giving only a glimpse of the grey waters of the Loch. There was a clear view this time, and the water was blue. We would have liked to visit the Island of Mull, where I was brought up, but the ferries are unreliable and the few that run are fully booked. In consolation, we drove up Glen Orchy on the single-track road along the River Orchy before turning up into Glencoe, doing a circular trip back to Loch Awe via Port Appin. In Oban, we eat

Rozanne on the banks or the River Orchy

West Coast scallops on the pier, a plateful costing about the same as fish and chips in Edinburgh. We are now back in Edinburgh after visiting my brother Archie’s new home in Kinross and lunching with him and his partner Angela, along with my cousin John Anderson, in a farm restaurant overlooking Loch Leven, Kinross Shire. Staying home tonight, Tuesday, with a Scotch egg for supper, much more enjoyable and cheaper than a Doner Kebab or a Vietnamese soup. Later in the week, one more sister, Mandy, to catch up with, and then we head off to visit friends in Northumberland. I will write about that trip next week. 

“There is nothing better than a good Scotch Egg.” - Peter McSporran

Disclaimer: Copyright Peter McSporran. The content in this blog represents my personal views and does not reflect corporate entities.