From tragedy to tourism

MOZAMBIQUE: In southern Africa, there is a saying: “Farmers make a plan”. It means that, no matter what happens, farmers will find a way to make things work. Zimbabweans Mandy and Pat Retzlaff are a good example. They turned a trauma into an opportunity.

The Retzlaffs lost their farm in 2000, when President Robert Mugabe encouraged the violent takeover of white-owned property. The Retzlaffs were given four hours to leave their farm. Many farmers shot their animals before they left, not wanting them to be mistreated or starved to death.

But the Retzlaffs couldn’t part with their horses. So when they fled, they took their horses, and their neighbours’ horses, with them. Other farmers began bringing them their horses, too, and telling them about other horses that needed to be saved. Pat would sneak back to farms at night to rescue them. “We’re animal lovers,” Pat told The Christian Science Monitor.

Not having any plans, the Retzlaffs moved to Mozambique, where many Zimbabwean farmers were going. It took three years to move all the horses, but they used this time to set up their next venture: a horse safari business for taking tourists along the country’s white beaches.

• Letters from Africa, Mandy Retzlaff’s website