MEETING NEW CHALLENGES I t has been a tough year for our con­ cerns in Washington. Congress has slashed programs for the poor in the US. and in Africa. Jesse Helms has found allies in his call for U.S. isola­ tion from the world. As the mood and tide seem to shift against us, people ask constant­ ly, "So, what are you doing now?" At THE AFRICA FUND we still be­ lieve that active U.S. citizen engage­ ment with southern Africa and with U.s. policy is critical for the survival of the new democracies. u.s. relations with Africa must not be left to the exclusive control of State Department experts, corporate interests and isola­ tionists who see no US. national in­ terest in Africa. Among the actions we have un­ When The Africa Fund brought Florence De Villiers, General Secretary of the South African Domestic dertaken this year: Workers Union, to tour the United States, the borough of Manhattan honored the occasion by proclaiming • We took up the fight to stop Con­ October 10 Florence De Villiers Day. Here De Villiers (left) joins Africa Fund Executive Director Jennifer Davis to receive the proclamation from Deputy Manhattan Borough President Fred Davies. gressional destruction of devel­ opment aid to Africa. Our sup­ porters phoned, faxed, and sent DOMESTICWORKERS' LEADER ONTOUR hundreds of letters to their Sena­ tors and Representatives. Cities In South Africa, more than one mil­ it assists about 50,000 domestics each as far apart as Newark, NJ and lion Black women live in tiny back year, through literacy programs, so­ Seattle, WA passed resolutions rooms in white homes. Far from their cial services, and help settling griev­ calling for continued Africa assis­ own families, these domestic workers ances. tance. Similar resolutions were raise their bosses' children, cook their De Villiers told the story of how passed by denominations such as meals, clean their homes, and live un­ she and a handful of determined wom­ the Churchwide Assembly of the der their roofs. They toil for wages as en organized this most oppressed of Evangelical Lutheran Church and low as $25 a month, with limitless work forces to audiences across this the Progressive National Baptist hours and responsibilities. country during her October 1995 tour, Convention, raising their voices But one indomitable woman, Flo­ arranged by THE AFRICA FUND. against cuts in aid to Africa's poor. rence De Villiers, has emerged from "Seventeen years ago, people • We sent a delegation of state leg­ the back room to empower maids asked me, 'Florrie, why do you want islators on a mission to southern through the South African Domestic to organize the impossible?1II she re­ Africa to establish strong links Workers Union. called at an AFRICA FUND reception in with their counterparts in Zim­ Today SADWU has 28,000 dues­ ~ew York. Her courage and persis­ babwe, South Africa and Namib­ paying members, and De Villiers, Gen­ tence have made it possible, and now ia, and to assess the impact of U.S. eral Secretary of the union, estimates she sits on the leadership of South (continued on page 5) (continued on page 4) LEGISLATORS FORGE NEW LINI(

The delegation meets President Sam Nujoma in his office in Windhoek, Namibia. Left to right: Rep. Arthur Hamilton, Rep. Irma Hunter Brown, President Nujoma, Elizabeth Smith, Sen. Virgil Smith.

New eras are rarely as clearly marked Africa today, but they also remain on eled to southern Africa to meet their as those in southern Africa this centu­ the table every day for local legisla­ counterparts and learn more about the ry. Zimbabwe won its independence tors here in the United States. challenges facing the young democra­ in 1980, Namibia triumphed ten years cies there, and to gauge the effective­ later, and South Africa finally defeat­ ness of U.S. policy in the region. They ed apartheid in 1994. A;;;:~i~~ ;~;;idii; ··i~· ~t went as part of an AFRICA FUND pro­ Now each of these countries grap­ just money to us. It is gram to encourage continued U.s. cit­ ples with problems that beset all de­ izen engagement with southern Afri­ mocracies, such as: ammunition for the ca and U.S. - Africa policy. toughest fight we Accompanied by THE AFRICA FUND • How best to ensure representa­ Projects Director Dumisani Kumalo, tion of voters once elected offi­ are involved in - the three state legislators spent May cials take office? the fight against 1995 in South Africa, Namibia, and • Where to find the money for poverty and ignorance. Zimbabwe - meeting with members roads, schools, water, all at the of government, unions, churches, same time? - Sam Nujoma, women's organizations, and business • How to balance the relationship President of Namibia leaders. The project was made possi­ between central and regional gov­ ble by a grant from the Carnegie Cor­ ernments? poration of New York, which bears, • How to answer immediate needs Three such state officials - Rep. however, no responsibility for the del­ while planning for the future? Arthur Hamilton of Arizona, Rep. egation's findings. These questions present them­ Irma Hunter Brown of Arkansas, and Reporting on their experiences, selves in extreme forms in southern Sen. Virgil Smith of Michigan - trav- delegation members stressed the need

Delegation members consult with the Executive Council of Ministers in Mashonaland West Province, Zimbabwe.

2 5 IN SOUTHERN AFRICA seems to me that the u.s. is not doing enough to support the transition to democracy. Much more can be done," he said. The message was the same every­ where they went. Namibia's President Sam Nujo­ ma told the delegation, "We get con­ cerned when some people in the Unit­ ed States are calling for cutting aid to Africa. American aid is not just mon­ ey to us. It is ammunition for the toughest fight we are involved in - the fight against poverty and igno­ rance. We must do something, and we need the United States to continue to be on our side." The delegation also saw the over­ whelming disparity between the haves and have-nots in each country, with the colonial pattern of white wealth and Black poverty still basically un­ disturbed. In meetings with members of five of the nine provincial parliaments in South Africa, as well as with leaders ill. the far north of Namibia and in Zimbabwe, the three Americans were struck by the similarities of their jobs. Rep. Smith observed, "We all have to address basic infrastructure needs of our constituencies. We are expected to provide water, electricity, sewage, adequate housing and police services. But the difficulty of the task is multi­ plied in South Africa because apart­ heid policies purposely placed the Black majority in townships with the worst location and without any infra­ structure. Housing is often no better Delegation members meet with local politicians at the provincial parliament of South Africa's Free State. than shacks built out of whatever was Left to right: Rep. Art Hamilton, Dumisani Kumalo, Rep. Irma Hunter Brown, Deputy Speaker of tllC Free State Dr. J. Nel, Speaker of the Free State Rev. Motlalepula Chabaku, Sen. Virgil Smith, Elizabeth Smith . (continued on page 4)

for continued u.s. economic and po­ litical support for these emerging de­ mocracies. As Rep. Hamilton said, "We now have an opportunity to help secure democracy in a part of the world that colonial rule made a pow­ der keg. With the rapid growth of the African nations, a relatively small in­ vestment now will pay huge divi­ Tokyo Sexwale, dends down the road. This is good Prem ier of government policy and good busi­ South Africa's ness." Gauteng Province, Sen. Smith echoed that advice. receives a gift "With the immense task of building a from Rep. democratic future in South Africa, it ~ Art Hamilton.

3 NIGERIAN RULER THREATENS DEMOCRACY I know THE AFRICA FUND well from their support of our struggle for freedom. They were with us even in the early days when hope was very faint. Theirs was an important contribution to the victory over apartheid. I am confident that they will bring the same dedication to their new campaign for democracy in Nigeria. - Desmond Tutu Archibishop of Cape Town, September 27, 1995 Archbishop Tutu wrote these words ues to escalate its brutal repression. sales alone last year. Sanctions direct­ after a visit to Nigeria. He was sent Promises of an eventual return to de­ ed at their oil industry would serious­ there by South African President Nel­ mocracy notwithstanding, Gen. ly weaken Gen. Abacha'sability to son Mandela to attempt to secure the Abacha has closed newspapers and stay in power. release of Chief Moshood Abiola, im- imprisoned journalists, executed op­ THE AFRICA FUND is urging Wash­ . prisoned by Nigeria's military gov­ po~ition leaders, dissolved trade ington to use its economic leverage to ernment. But Abiola remains behind unions, and effectively extinguished help restore democracy in Nigeria. We bars, because he won Nigeria's last all human and civil rights. are also working with city legislators democratic presidential election in Nigeria's civil society stands on to pass resolutions calling for econom­ 1993. the brink of extinction. Meanwhile, ic sanctions against Nigeria. But like THE AFRICAFUND has started a cam­ U.S. and European oil companies, in­ the sanctions on apartheid, this move­ paign for the freedom of all Nigeria's cluding Shell and Mobil, continue to ment will only succeed with the hard political prisoners - including Abio­ do business with the outlaw govern­ work of people in local communities. la - and the restoration of democracy ment - and the United States is a THE AFRICA FUND is encouraging to Africa's most populous country. major customer. Nigeria's economy churches, civil rights, and community Nigeria's military government, depends almost entirely on petroleum groups to get involved in the cam­ led by General Sani Abacha, contin- exports, worth over $4 billion in U.s. paign for Nigerian democracy.

available to the people." difficulty lay in achieving those goals," Milwaukee, WI. AFRICA FUND Execu­ Rep. Brown said she could relate she said. tive Director Jennifer Davis and the to the problems of many of the public In July the group reunited when speakers of all nine of South Africa's officials she met on the trip. "The leg­ the legislators formally presented their provincial legislatures also joined that islators we met all knew what their report to the National Conference of meeting. needs were. They all had goals. The State Legislatures annual meeting in The report has been distributed to more than 1,500 political, religious and community leaders, Congression­ al and State Department officials and opinion makers in the U.S. Key rec­ ommendations include: Africa's national trade union federa­ by Borough President Ruth Messing­ tion COSATU, among 14 other union er. De Villiers went on to Detroit, Chi­ • The U.S. should help southern Af­ General Secretaries - all men. But cago, and Washington DC, meeting rican countries preserve and ex­ bucking the system is a way of life for with Senator Nancy Kassebaum, tend their hard- won democracies. De Villiers. "I have always been a trou­ union leaders, and women's groups, • U.s. development aid to southern ble maker," she said. and participating in the national con­ Africa should be increased. These days she joins the leader­ vention of the Coalition of Labor • U.S. legislators should work with ship of a democratic South Africa, with Union Women. the National Conference of State the priorities of housing and a mini­ On her U.s. tour, De Villiers said Legislatures, the National Black mum wage for her constituents fore­ she hoped to learn, especially from Caucus of State Legislators and most in her mind. "The goal is to work African Americans, "what worked for THE AFRICA FUND to build direct eight hours a day, like the normal peo­ you and what did not work. So we links and share expertise. ple do," she explained. "Then go home don't make the same mistake and • Trade and investment should in­ at night and be with your family." think it's all roses and fold our arms." crease. THE AFRICA FUND'S Labor Desk co­ Evaluating South Africa today, ordinator, Mike Fleshman, organized she said, "We're not absolutely free. Copies of the "Report of The Africa Fund her tour which started in New York Until the unemployed, farm workers, Delegation of u.s. State Legislators to City on October 10, proclaimed Flo­ and domestic workers have equality South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe" rence De Villiers Day in Manhattan - then we're absolutely free." are available for $6 from THE AFRICA FUND.

4 EDUC~liION ...c: TEACHERSVISIT SOUTH AFRICA'S SCHOOLS This summer, THE AFRICA FUND spon­ sored 12 teachers from across the Unit­ ed States on a visit to South Africa to develop Africa curriculum for Ameri­ can schools. Over five weeks in July and Au­ gust, they traveled to Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, meeting with teachers, principals, artists, workers, and members of government. They saw well-equipped white schools with laboratories for science, music, and art, and impoverished Black schools that didn't even have buildings for the students' shelter. "What I saw was very different from what I read or what I expected," said group leader Dr. Evelyn Jones Rich. "I was blown away. The rural areas and the poverty were much worse than I expected, but the cosmo­ U.S . teachers listen to their guide during a tour of the Albert Lutltuli Institute in Durban, South Africa. politan cities were also way beyond Left to right: guide, He/en Harris of Milwaukee, Dr. Evelyn Jon es Rich of New York, Vera Johnson of Bostol1. my expectations." The trip, co-sponsored by THE AF­ and educators at Cape Town and "We went to African schools RICA FUND and the Phelps-Stokes Fund, Western Cape universities. where the buildings were made of received major funding from the U.s. Of course they also visited schools sheet metal, and they were so hot you Department of Education. Teachers in the impoverished Black townships couldn't breath inside," Rich said. from Maryland, Pennsylvania, West where they learned to say, "Good The group returned with a new Virginia, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, morning, how are you?" in Zl.llu, appreciation of the challenges facing New York, and North Dakota partici­ Xhosa, Afrikaans, and Arabic. South African educators, a commit­ pated. Its purpose was to examine the Monumental problems face South ment to remaining engaged, and some new South Africa in order to develop Africa's schools. Education for Black preliminary recommendations, in­ course ideas for American classrooms children has been free and compulso­ cluding: and to offer assistance to South Afri­ ry only since President Mandela took • U.S. corporations should contrib­ can educators. The group is launch­ office last year. Inevitably, the quality ute money, computer equipment ing a World Wide Web page on the of education - from buildings, to text and training to South African Internet, where educators from books, to teachers - for Blacks still schools. around the world can access lesson remains far below what whites receive. • u.s. foundations should sponsor plans about South Africa. Basic access to school was one of teacher exchange programs The group kept to a busy sched­ the key problems the group identi­ between this country and South ule wherever they went. In Cape Town fied. Many Black children must walk Africa. alone they met with Mayor Reverend miles to school, if they go at all. There Looking back on the trip, Rich William Bantom, the Domestic Work­ is no system of school bus transporta­ said, "I'm optimistic, but I am mind­ ers Union, the Human Rights Com­ tion. And once they get there, the con­ ful that the problems they have to mission, the Cape Times newspaper, ditions are rough. overcome are so enormous."

foreign policy in the region. tic Workers Union on a tour of the cult. But recent history has shown that • Following the victory of democ­ U.S. with the energy of all of you out there racy in South Africa's election we • An AFRICA FUND delegation of who care about Africa, we can have . have continued to work with key school teachers from across ' the an impact on this debate. It matters sectors in civil society, helping U.S. visited South Africa to devel­ that we do, because in everything that build the capacity of grassroots op a new curriculum for schools Washington does, people's lives are organizations. This fall, as part of here. at stake. this program, we brought Flo­ In the coming presidential elec­ rence De Villiers, General Secre­ tion year keeping attention on the U.s. - Jennifer Davis tary of the South African Domes- role in Africa will be vital and diffi- Executive Director

5 ~~--~~'---- ~~--~8_ RELIGI90l!JS ACTION NE-ryvORK ___ NEW COORDINATOR BRINGSWORLDVIEW

Today he combines his theologi­ he said, "We are building a move­ cal training, Pan African outlook, and ment to support African development commitment to African liberation and and African reconstruction. It has to development as the new Religious Ac­ be a grassroots movement in the tion Network coordinator. (RAN is a churches." project of the American Committee Pastors who would like a visit on Africa, THE AFRICA FUND'S associate from Rev. Harris should contact him organization. ) at ACOA, 17 John Street, New York, 'Tm still fighting a battle, but it's NY 10038 or call (212) 962-1210. not with guns," he said. Rev. Harris' battleground is the fight against injus­ tice and oppression. He plans to en­ gage churches across the country in 0<-" this effort. AFRICA FUND TRUSTE.ES "The churches that we have to­ day are the traditional villages of yes­ terday." he said. "The church is the Marvin Rich, bedrock of our community." Treasurer Religious Action Network Coordinator Rev. Paul As a student at Hofstra Universi­ Owen Bieber Harris works at his desk in ACOA's NY office. ty in Long Island, NY, he actively Robert Boehm raised money and awareness to sup­ William H. Booth Jennifer Davis, When Paul Harris was a child in port the ANC and SW APO in their Elizabeth Calvin Executive Director Jamaica, they called him "deacon." fight for freedom. He remembers The Ahica Fund News Years later, when he served in U.S. working with the staff of ACOA and is edited by R~chael Ka~an. Typography by Kra Communications. Army peacekeeping forces in Egypt, THE AFRICA FUND on ideas for student he heard the calling to become a min­ o Printed on recyc organizing. © 1995 THE AFR1CA ister. Reflecting on his plans for RAN,

THE AFRICA Fl!JND 17 JOHN STREET NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE NEW YORK, NY 10038 PAID NEW YORK, NY Address Correction Requested PERMIT NO. 4598

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• New Poll!" nks in Southern Africa •