Orange, Bloemfontein City.
"Kimberley has absolutely no population to support its continued existence. Before the war, this was the most developed city in the entire Boer Republic, with railways, telegraphs, and everything else one could want. But now it has fallen completely into paralysis. Worst of all, we simply do not have enough people to restore local construction." Yulta, the mayor of East African Kimberley City, complained with a face clouded in gloom.
Within East Africa, the most miserable places were the former Boer Republic territories. East Africa had truly driven the Boers away, leaving the Orange region empty in nine households out of ten. Nearly all those who remained were soldiers.
Thus, the Kimberley City government and the other Orange regional governments found themselves in a more difficult position than governments anywhere in Mozambique or Angola.
"Even the cleverest housewife cannot cook without rice. How are we supposed to develop the place without people? Kimberley is now like a ghost city. Apart from the city government and the military camp, there is not the slightest trace of human life. And we cannot exactly order the army to do this kind of menial labor."
"Kimberley still has production targets to meet. Every mine has come to a complete standstill. If no one maintains them, the mining areas will likely collapse within a few months. Restoring them afterward will be far more difficult."
In response to Yulta's complaints, Helvishin, the mayor of Bloemfontein City, still wore a dead-fish expression. "You are asking me for people, but what can I do? Bloemfontein is an empty shell too. If not for the garrison here, I would not doubt for a moment that our lives could be threatened by wild beasts. The outskirts of Bloemfontein are now overgrown with weeds. With so many empty