Mandy Retzlaff’s Letters from Africa – Africa My Home, Interview

Mandy`s Letters from Africa about her life in Africa are now on the web. They are full of vivid descriptions and stories, documenting her life in Africa with ups and downs and twists and turns.

Mandy spoke about the letters, her life so far and hopes from Casa Bella in Mozambique. Excerpts from interview

Home sweet home, where is home for you?
I would have to say Africa as Zimbabwe is no longer our home.

How do you remember your childhood?
Like most children born in Africa, my childhood can be described as interesting and colorful.

You describe yourself as a child of Africa what does this mean to you?
Africa is beautiful sunsets, exhilarating dawns, starry nights, wide open spaces and a feeling of familiarity with everything around you its has a strong magic and most Africans find it very hard to leave..

Letter from Africa are now on the web full of vivid description. What was the idea behind, what responses are you getting?
I love to write about my experiences but Letters of Africa was compiled to amuse people who are in similar circumstances to myself. I try to see the lighter side of our lives. I receive many emails but most of them our from exiled Zimbabweans.

Is there an event from your letters which is particularly close to your heart and you to talk about?
Not particularly but I do like people to be aware of the horses that were brought over to Mozambique and I of course like people to see there is always an amusing side of life no matter how hard things are.

You left Zimbabwe when circumstances became unbearable, when was that, tell us about it?
We moved to Mozambique in 2004 after six evictions. We ran out of grazing for the horses and it became increasingly difficult for us to carry on. A decision was made to get the horses over the border and we did it as legally as possible. Morally, my husband and I felt we could no longer live in Zimbabwe under the present circumstances.

You went back and how was the reception and how did you feel?
We seldom go back to Zimbabwe and I have not been back to Chinhoyi since we were trashed and looted. Zimbabweans are happy and joyful people living under a dictator one always feels sad going back. Most Zimbabweans are unable to buy a loaf of bread or a pint of milk that is how difficult things have become.

What immediate challenges faces your part of Africa, what future lies ahead?
Nobody, specially if they live in Africa know what lies ahead, Mozambique has emerged from a long and horrible civil war. Things are getting easier but it still has a long way to go. We hope that Mozambique Horse Safaris will take off and the horses will be self sufficient. Mozambique has been very interesting but I have found the country fascinating and the Mozambicans have been very kind to Patrick and I.

Are you please the way your life has turned out, what would you wish to be different, what are you hoping for?
Zimbabweans have found themselves in extraordinary circumstances and people are living in places they never dreamed of and doing things they could never have imagined.

Like all people who suffer your life becomes more enriched. I have no regrets except for the people that have died in Zimbabwe unnecessarily all because of one man’s struggle to stay in power. If I wanted anything back from the trashing and lootings it would be the photograph albums of my children.

If you would have the power to change things in your part of the world, what would you do?
A rather difficult question but I would try and make Africa more independent and not to rely on hand outs. I feel it has been the worst thing for Africa. I would like Africa to gain more respect and begin an African Renaissance without the help of foreign aid. That of course is my personal opinion I know people think differently.

You are now making home in Mozambique in Chimoio in an old Portuguese villa, "Casa Bella". A glimpse into your day to day life there
Casa Bella is a beautiful old Portuguese mansion built in a bygone era. It has wooden floors and turrets and most people who see it fall in love with it. It needs a lot of repair work but it is home for me at the moment and still belongs to the owner of Text Africa which was a huge cotton company before the civil war.

No day is the same so would be very hard to describe a typical day. Our lives revolve round the horses so each day has something to do with horses.

You are offering Horse Safaris, tell us about your latest venture?
We have 17 horses in Vilankulos a coastal resort. Mozambique has 2000 km of beautiful coastline . In December we decided that it would be an opportunity to try and get into tourism and make the horses self-sufficient. Vilankulos is the gateway to the Bazurutto Archepelago, a group of islands that are truly beautiful and home to turtles, dolphins, migrating whales and the Dugong an endangered mammal.

Any last comments or wishes
I thank you for taking an interest in my website. In this busy world of ours many people can not spare the time to take an interest in other people’s lives and I thank you for taking an interest in mine.

Wishes, well I have lots but I have learnt what you really need in life is absolutely free.

EXCERPTS FROM MANDY`S LETTERS FROM AFRICA

THE VILANCULOS BEACH RIDE

And for those of you who continue to ask how we are doing with the horses this is especially for you.

As the situation in Chimoio became untenable I decided to visit Pat in Vilankulos to see how he was fairing. Due to a shortage of cash we decided to hitch hike. I have very little experience in in this mode of travel but I was in good hands as I was accompanied by American Sherry who is a seasoned traveler and very streetwise. She knows how to squeeze herself into to a shappa and climb over forty people without injuring the chickens. I learnt a lot on this trip but its too long a story to tell. We arrived unscathed and Pat was pleased that I was there to help as he had clients booked for a beach ride.

Patrick instructed to me to ride Lady down to the beach to meet his clients under the shade of the swaying palms at Archipelago Beach Lodge. He was running a bit late so wanted me to go ahead and meet them. They were about the only tourists in Vilankulos as they are thin on the ground after the cyclone so its important to take good care of them. He gave some vague directions pointing to the sky and with his head bent continued to saddle up the other horses. "Chat to them and keep them occupied and I will catch you up later" he shouted after me. I headed off down a sandy path the wind in my hair breathing in the sea air, leaving all my troubles in Chimoio behind and I must say never feeling healthier. It was low tide and the sea was an artist's palette of turquoise and indigo. Lady shook her mane with delight and snorted gently. I trotted over the sand in the direction of Archipelago.

There was no sign of Pat or the other horses so I pressed Lady into a canter wondering if he had taken another route. Now for those of you who have not experienced malaria it can hit you very suddenly. As I approached a group of people who I presumed must be the clients I was suddenly hit by the most terrible wave of nausea and broke out into a cold and terrible sweat. I slowed Lady to a walk and held a hand to my mouth to prevent myself from retching. The clients came out from under the palms to greet me and you can imagine their astonishment when I tossed them the reins, leapt off the horse and lay flat on my back in the sand with my eyes closed. "Christ she has had a bloody heart attack" I heard somebody say. I managed to sit up and try and reassure them that it was only malaria before I flopped back in the sand but I could see they looked extremely doubtful. "Do you think she has been drinking" one of the lady's whispered.

A crowd had now gathered and there were shouts for a doctor. I was just too sick to care. I opened one eye briefly to see a man sprinting towards me. It was a doctor who was staying at the lodge and right behind him was a landcruiser zigzagging wildly across the sand. As I was hoisted inelegantly up into the front seat assisted by the lodge manager Patrick arrived with the rest of the horses. I waved feebly as we tore past him. I noticed his mouth was agape but I was far too ill to explain.

A few hours later tucked up in bed feeling a little better after my Arinate I was confronted by a disgruntled Pat who had returned from the ride. "For God's Sake what a bloody circus! that's the very last time I let you meet and greet the clients" he said pulling off his socks in a huff. "I could not believe it when I saw you carted off in the front of a truck and the client left all forlorn holding the horse". "Well Patrick" I reminded him smugly "your last words to me were to keep the clients occupied" and I think I managed that. He just had to laugh.

With love,

Mandy
Casa Bella,
Mozambique.

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