TO OUTSIDERS Zimbabwe appears a violent basket-case of a country.Inflation is out of control, people are beaten or killed as a result of their political beliefs and once-productive farms and industry are no longer.It is a reality not disputed by former Zimbabwean and now Ballarat resident John Petheram, who returned to Australia recently after spending a month in his homeland visiting family and friends.But he is worried people will write off Zimbabwe as being beyond help. He says despite the many reports depicting turmoil, there is still a degree of normality and dignity in the lives of many Zimbabweans.Much of his visit was spent with relatives living in a relatively peaceful part of the country, in the highlands near the Mozambique border. On this and previous visits he travelled freely throughout the country. His friends and family still go about regular daily activities _ working, shopping, cooking and socialising. They find a way to cope with power, phone and water cuts.The most obvious sign that all is not well are the massive wads of cash people are required to carry because of the near-worthless Zimbabwean dollar. Dr Petheram, 65, has fond recollections of his life there when there was ``relative harmony between the races, a multicultural university and growing black representation in parliament". He said in the 1960s the United Kingdom was unsatisfied with the rate of progress towards majority rule in Rhodesia, which was self-governing, unlike other British colonies in Africa. When Britain threatened to force constitutional change, there was a Unilateral Declaration of Independence. International sanctions were applied and a guerilla war started.Mr Petheram was conscripted and for several years would do six-week stints of army service followed by six weeks back at his job as an agricultural adviser. In 1977 with no progress towards political settlement, Mr Petheram took a job in the Middle East and then moved with his family to Australia in 1978. At the time he was concerned about inter-tribal violence and an exploding population. After Zimbabwe achieved independence in 1980, the inter-tribal violence was curbed with the massacre of 20,000 Matabele people.Mr Petheram describes Zimbabwe as a ``confusing enigma". ``All sorts of amazing things happen in Zimbabwe, despite what's going on in politics," he said.``In one month and travelling over 1000km in Zimbabwe I never felt unsafe or threatened ... Everyone I met was friendly and polite. I naturally avoided areas that were being targeted by the Zanu PF party."I think their thugs and youth brigade are mainly embarrassed by what they are asked to do."Cars are frequently searched at government road blocks. Dr Petheram said police were ordered to do this and to check for pamphlets or other documents that supported the opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change.Inflation has made life very difficult for the poor and those requiring medical attention. Dr Petheram's mother recently spent time in a Zimbabwean hospital at $Z1 trillion a night, equal at the time to about $30. Many families survive with the help of relatives who send foreign currency to them.Along with the decline in farm production, infrastructure has been neglected.Of the three hydro-electric turbines at Lake Kariba on the mighty Zambezi River, only one is working. Dr Petheram still feels the pull of Africa and has returned 11 times over the past 30 years to visit national parks, "which are beautiful, wild and welcoming".