News and Vie'ws from and Southern Africa IAOBA OrIEl Volume 1 Number 9 August 1992

Chissano and Dhlakama General Strike a Success in Mother, woman Agree to Sign Cease-fire by South Africa Mother , woman: October 1, 1992 Walk and raise your fist, An estimated 4 million people Affirm your desire to be free. , August 7 -- In an important stayed away from work August 3- 4 in one of the largest strikes You are soil. You are sap. step toward peace in Mozambique, You are strength. You are work. Mozambican President J oaquim South Mrica has experienced. The Thus you are life. In the fields, Chissano and RENAMO leader strike was followed on August 5 by occupations of major urban In the factories, Monso Dhlakama agreed that a In the home, General Peace Agreement should centers throughout the country. In You have the truth of your strength From your life-giving bosom. be signed by October 1, 1992, Pretoria alone over 15,000 people, including Nelson Mandela, thereby ending the 16-year-old Don't walk three yards behind war. (See Joint Declaration, p. 3) marched on the government Your comrade and the Revolution, building to present their demands Walk, in front of them. for an interim government and It's your place by right. The Declaration establishes guar­ And when they want to exploit, antees for "complete political constituent assembly. (South prostitute, violate your naked body, refuse them, freedom" and "personal security to Africa Political Update, August 14, 1992) fighting, refuse them. all the citizens of Mozambique and Mother, woman: the Revolution is you. to all members of political parties. " An anonymous Mozambican poet It also makes the two leaders (Challenge, June/July 1992) responsible for monitoring the Angolan Abductions implementation of the General Peace Agreement, in particular the A separatist faction from the Contents: relatively moderate Front for the cease-fire and the electoral pro­ Liberation of the State of Cabinda cess. Chissano and Dhlakama Agree to Sign Cease- (FLEe), wants independence for fire by October 1, 1992 Angola's oil-rich northern province General Strike a Success in South Africa The Rome Summit was organized Angolan Abduction ofCabinda. by Presidents Robert Mugabe of Poem: "Mother, woman" US Military Moves Into Southern Africa Zimbabwe and Ketumile Masire of Last week the guerrillas abducted Malawi Shelters Bulk of Refugees Botswana. Gender Bias in South African Schools and took hostage two more for­ RENAMO Steps Up Mutilations eign nationals and have threatened South African 32 Battalion Released to In his speech at the signing of the not to release them or any others RENAMO Joint Declaration, President Women Will Have to Fight who will be captured in the future. Chissano hailed the occasion as Minimum Wage in Mozambique Continues to Both Unit a and the MPLA govern­ Fall "an important step" for peace. ment, who are the country's Mozambique Granted Il\.1F Loan Peace, in his words, means "recon­ Joint Declaration leading political parties, have ciliation, tolerance, tranquility, AIDS in Southern Africa rejected the demand to give inde­ Mozambican Runner an Inspiration in 1992 solidarity, and common thinking." pendence to Cabinda. (New Na­ Olympics (Press release, Embassy of the Teachers Pass Resolution to Support tion, July 30, 1992) Republic of Mozambique, 7 Mozambique Ideas for Action August, 1992) US Military Moves into Southern Africa RENAMO Steps Up Mutilations According to a report in a Botswana paper, Mmengi, an air base In Gaza province RENAMO gangs have stepped up the practice 105 km northwest of the Botswana capital Gaborone has of mutilating victims. In the case of men this includes cutting of reached an advanced stage and is scheduled to be completed in their sexual organs or castration. Recently, the road to Maqueze two years at an estimated cost of US $1 billion. New African in Gaza was a scene where RENAMO had placed several magazine reported in April that the Botswana government women's bodies whose vaginas had been cut open with sticks intends to lease the building to the US Government in order to inserted inside. A captured RENAMO commander, Severiano recoup much of the building costs. Cumbe, asked why RENAMO did that, said, "it's to show FRELIMO that we're angry, that we're annoyed." (Mozambique The US and Botswana forces held joint military maneuvers in Information Office, August 11, 1992; MozambiqueFile, August January. "Operation Silver Eagle" was one of the largest field 1992) exercises ever seen in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Analysts view US interest in South African borderline states as South African 32 Battalion Released to an attempt to put itself in a position for direct military interven­ tion in South Africa, should it be needed. Apparently, the Bush RENAMO administration is worried about the policies to be followed by a future black-ruled democratic South Africa. (SARDC, July Some members of two South African battalions, 32 and 31 1992) battalions, which President F. W. DeKlerk has ordered to be dissolved, are being integrated into RENAMO. (Mediafax, Malawi Shelters Bulk of Refugees August 7, 1992) Faced with a country ravaged by war and drought and the fact that 3 million of the 15 million population is in imminent danger of starvation, many Mozambicans have been seeking Women will have to fight refuge in other countries. The biggest Mozambican refugee concentration is in Malawi, which is providing for over one ANC and SACP Executive member Cheryl Caorlus stated in a million. Malawi has one of the highest ratios of refugees to speech at a seminar on empowering women that the fight for nationals, with one in every 8 people being a refugee. democracy must include emancipation for women. "Democracy cannot be complete when 53 percent of the population is not Canadian External Affairs Minister Flora MacDonald, at an free." She demanded that policies be put in place to buttress international conference on the crisis held last month, said the constitutional provisions for women in the bill of rights. Also to plight of the refugees and their Malawian hosts deserves more improve their legal position, women must push for improved attention. "[The press] is saturated with reports of atrocities in matrimonial, rape in marriage, and abortion laws. South Yugoslavia and Azerbaijan," said MacDonald. "But little African laws often placed the affairs of women in the hands of attention is paid to the trials and tribulations of millions of their husbands. (New Nation, July 10-16, 1992) refugees in southern Africa and the crisis that precipitated their movement. " (Africa News, August 3-16, 1992) Minimum Wage in Mozambique Continues to Fall Gender Bias in South African Schools Since the introduction in Mozambique of structural adjustment According to a study for the National Education Policy Investi­ measures in 1987 by IMF and the World Bank, there has been a gation (NEPI) on how gender bias in the schools effects stu­ massive deterioration of living conditions for low-paid workers. dents, affirmative action may be needed to ensure that girls get While prices for basic food items rose in Mozambique, the equal treatment in South African classrooms. minimum wage remained at US $16 per month, resulting in a nearly 50 % reduction in real wages over the past 18 months. "Gender ghettoization" -- girls relegated to academic streams which prepare them for domesticity and certain job sectors -- is common knowledge. Researcher Kate Truscott documents that Mozambique Granted IMF Loan 90 percent of women go into jobs which reflect the caring, servicing role of wife and mother, such as nurses and teachers. On June 17 Mozambique was granted its fourth World Bank Truscott traces this sexual division of labor to the classroom. loan since 1987. The newest loan from the World Bank's soft loans affiliate International Development Association (IDA) of Truscott suggests that a range of practical skills, both technical $180 million is targeted to support the structural adjustment and domestic, should be taught to both girls and boys in order to program and to further measures of privatization. (Mozambique make the curriculum more inclusive. (Weekly Mail, July 24-30, Information Office, July 9, 1992) 1992) Baobab Notes 2 August 1992 Presidenf Chissano and Dhlakama sisn a Joint Declaration -- Rome. Aususl 7. 1992

We, Joaquim Alberto Chissano, President of the Republic of Mozam­ bique, and Afonso Macacho Marceta Dhlakama, President ofRENAMO, recognizing the need for the immediate establishment of Peace in Mozambique; having met in Rome, in the presence ofH.E. Robert Gabriel Mugabe, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe; H.E. Emilio Colombo, Minister reaffirming the commitment of the Government of the Republic of of Foreign Affairs of the Republic ofItaly; the representative ofH.E. the Mozambique and RENAMO to put an end to the hostilities in President of the Republic of Botswana, Dr. Gaositwe Keagakwa Tibe Mozambique; Chiepe, Minister of Foreign Affairs; the mediators in the Mozambican Peace Process, on. Mario Raffaelli, representative of the Italian Govern­ determined to do all in our power to end the catastrophe resulting from the ment and coordinator of the mediators, Mgr. Jaime Goncalves, Arch­ combined effects of the war and the drought in our country; bishop of Beira, professor Andrea Riccardi and don Matteo Zuppi of the conununity of st. Egidio; AND noting the progress achieved in the Rome peace negotiations between our respective delegations; Recognizing that considering the spirit of the Gaborone meeting of July 4, 1992; the attainment of Peace, Democracy and National Unity, based on national reconciliation, is the greatest aspiration and desire of all the people of We now, therefore hereby bind ourselves to the following: Mozambique; i. guaranteeing the conditions allowing complete political freedom, in in pursuit of this objective, the peace process was initiated in Rome accordance with internationally recognized democratic principles; between the Government of Mozambique and RENAMO, assisted by the ii. guaranteeing personal security to all the citizens of Mozambique and mediators from the Italian Govenunent, the st. Egidio Community and the to all members of political parties; Roman Catholic Church of Mozambique; iii. accepting the role of the international community, and especially that of the , in monitoring and guaranteeing the implementation important results have so far been achieved as exemplified and demon­ of the General Peace Agreement, in particular the cease-fire and the strated by the signing of the partial cease-fire agreement on December 1, electoral process; 1990, and the adoption of the following Protocols and Agreements: iv. honoring the Principles contained in Protocol No.1, enjoining the Govenunent of Mozambique "not to act in a way that is contrary to the i. Agreed Agenda of May 28, 1991, and the amendments introduced terms of the Protocols that are established, not to adopt laws or measures therein by the Agreed Minute of June 19, 1992; and not to apply current laws that may eventually be contrary to these ii. Protocol No.1 on Basic Principles, signed on October 18, 1991; Protocols". Also requiring that "RENAMO undertakes not to combat by iii. Protocol No.2 on Criteria and Modalities for Forming and Recogniz­ force of anns after the entry into force of a cease-fire, but to conduct its ing political Parties, signed on November 13, 1991; political stmggle observing current laws, within the framework of the iv. Protocol No.3 on the General Principles of the Electoral Law signed existing State institutions, and respecting the conditions and the guaran­ on March 12, 1992; tees laid down in the General Peace Agreement"; v. Agreed Minute of July 2, 1992, to improve the functioning of the v. safeguarding political rights, clarifying that the principles contained Joint Verification Commission; in Protocol No.1 are valid and also related to the problem of the constitu­ vi. Declaration on the Guiding Principles for Humanitarian Aid, signed tional guarantees, raised by RENAMO, and illustrated in the document on July 16, 1992, AND; presented to President Mugabe. To this end, the government of the Republic of Mozambique will submit to the Assembly of the Republic the also complimentary to these efforts in the pursuit of Peace, Democracy adoption of the legal instruments, incorporating the Protocols and the and national unity based on national reconciliation in Mozambique, a guarantees, as well as the General Peace Agreement, into Mozambican meeting took place in Gaborone, Botswana, on July 4, 1992, between Law, and, H.E.Robert Gabriel Mugabe, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, and vi. on the basis of the above principles, and of our conuuitment, as H.E. Sir Ketumile Masire, President of the Republic of Botswana, on the contained in this Solemn Declaration, We, Joaquim Alberto Chissano, one hand, and the President ofRENAMO, Mr. Afonso Macacho Marceta President of the Republic of Mozambique, and Afonso Macacho Marceta Dhlakama, on the other; Dhlakama, President ofRENAMO, now hereby mandate and instmct our respective negotiating delegations in the Rome peace process, to complete, following which the President of the Republic ofMozambiqu~ H.E . by October I, 1992, the approval of the remaining Protocols as foreseen in Joaquim Alberto Chissano, was fully briefed by the President of Zimba­ the Agreed Agenda, therefore allowing the signing of the General Peace bwe, on July 19, 1992; .. Agreement by that date. noting that Mr. Afonso Macacho Marceta Dhlakama declared pis The signing of the General Peace Agreement and the adoption by the readiness to sign an immediate cease-fire agreement, ifhe was provided Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique of the provisions referred to in with certain guarantees and assurances as to his personal safety and that paragraph "v" of the present Declaration, will make effecti ve the cease­ of his members as well as the freedom of his party to organize and fire agreed upon in the General Peace Agreement. campaign without let or hindrance; Joaquinl Alberto Chissano Afonso Macacho Marceta Dhlakama considering his request for assurances that RENAMO would be allowed to President of the President operate freely as a political party after the signing of a General Peace Republic of Mozambique ofRENAMO Agreement; Robert Gabriel Mugabe convinced that the suffering of the people of Mozambique, caused by the President of the war and aggravated by the effects of the worst drought in living memory, Republic of Zimbabwe, chariperson necessitates the laking of expeditious measures to end the war; Baobab Notes 3 August 1992 AIDS in Southern Africa Mozambican Runner an Books available from the Inspiration in 1992 Olympics Mozambique Solidarity Office: The spread of the killer disease, AIDS, is casting a dark shadow over health • Joseph Hanlon. Mozambique: WIlD Calls the programs across the world, according to a Mozambican runner Maria Mutola Shots? ($26, hardcover) 1991 UNICEF report. The situation is placed 5th in the women's 800 meter race • Alex Vines. RENAMO: Terrorism in even more desperate in view of the years and 9th in the 1500 meters in the Olym­ Mozambique. ($13) • Iris Berger. Threads of Solidarity: Women in of efforts and successes achieved by pics this summer. She remains Sout/, African /mhlStry, /900-1980. ($18) Southern Africa member states in reduc­ Mozambique's hopeful for the 1996 games in . ing deaths through primary health care. Checks can be made out to the Mozambique Solidarity Office. Please add $3 per book for postage. AIDS is already having a serious effect on Teachers Pass Resolution to health services which are now burdened Support Mozambique Also available: Authentic Capulanas from by AIDS diseases. In a country such as Mozambique. Capulana fabric is traditionally worn by wrapping it around the body. Other Malawi, which already has a high infant The American Federation of Teachers purposes include panel designs for decoration. mortality rate, deaths of children with adopted on August 15 a resolution of their Call the MSO for more information about AIDS are_dramatically increasing the support for the people of Mozambique. prices and specific designs. figures. HIV incidence of children under Submitted by the Albany Public School five ranges from six percent in Malawi to Teachers' Association, Local 2455, this Subscribe 25 percent in Botswana, most of whom unprecedented resolution advocates peace are unlikely to live over three years. and increased humanitarian aid from the To sign up for a year-long subscription to US, and affirms the AFT's solidarity with Likely to be worse off in the near future in Baobab Notes, send a check made out to the the teacher unionists in Mozambique. Mozambique Solidarity Office to 343 s. terms of coping with the disease are Dearborn, #300, Chicago, II., 60604. Mozambique and Angola. In Angola, where only 30 percent of the population Ideas for Action 0$5 low income has access to health facilities, AIDS will o $10 regular income and organizations be difficult to monitor and control. • The MSO is continuing its appeal to raise o here is a contribution for the continuation Despite the fact that war in both countries funds for emergency food aid for victims of the MSO's work $_ _ has slowed the spread of AIDS, it has of the drought in Mozambique. Checks fostered other illnesses which will make made out to the Mozambique Embassy or name:______people more vulnerable to the epidemic. the MSO and memoed "drought relief' can be sent k> the Mozambique Solidarity . . .'. "In large numbers, people here suffer from address:------hunger and sickness," says Maria Jones, Office. Secretary General for the Angolan city, state, zip: ___~ ____ _ Association for the Fight Against AIDS. • The MSO is currently acquiring more information about the situations in Angola "In these conditions, the ability to fight t------o4-Editors: Karin Candelaria. Prexy Nesbitt. and East Timor. Any ideas or suggestions diseases like AIDS is greatly reduced." Christille Schuch. and Angela Wiens. Special (SA RDC, July 1992) would be most welcome. Thanks to Maureen Lai-Ping Mark.

Moza:m],ique Solidarity Offiee 343 S. Dearborn, Suite 300 Chicago, IL 60604

312/922-3915

ADDRESS CORRECTION RE2UESTED