E EPISCOPAL CHURCHPEOPLE for a FREE SOUTHERN AFRICA c 339 Lafayette Street, New York, N.Y. 10012-2725 s (212) 4IT -0066 FAX : ( 212 ) 9 7 9 -1 0 13 A #161 30 May 1995 The Truth and Reconciliation Commission MAIL & GUARDIAN II Mar 19 to 251995 South Africa can draw upon a wealth of international experience of truth commissions, writes Eddie Koch HY, I asked Minis- ter of Justice Dul world -including Guatemala. Sri most countries in Eastern Europe Iah Omar, did he Lanka, Malawi, Haiti and South have chosen not to reopen their his think that, ofan the Afrtca-areconslcleringorareinthe tory books. "Ex-communists have issues before our process of setting up new truth com regained power thl'Ough fair elec first Government of missions. tions in Poland, Hungary and Bul WNational Unity, the one that nearly The first to receive major interna garia." says S1lv1u Brucan in the brought the whole damn house tum tional attention was set· up in same edition ofThe World Paper. bling down was his 1iuth and Rec Argentina and reported in 1984 on -nre transition to a market econ- onciliation Bill? abuses committed by the military "AD of us involved in this bill, • he during that country's "dirty war" omy .throughout Eastern Europe replied with those sad, Basset eyes against internal political opponents bas proved much more diiilcuit and so perfectly suited to truth and rec between 1977 and 1983. pa1nful than 'We thought and, for the onciliation, ·are forced to look at om m3jorlty of the population. their liv selves, to see whether we, person · ere have been less publicised ing conditions are harder than ally, are IMng up to the standards truth commissions" in before. Hence, people are now con 'We hope to set in the legislation. It is Uruguay, Bolivia, the Philip cerned about the present and the a painful process". pines, Germany, Chad, Zimbabwe, future, rather than the past" · Paraphrase: it's not just about pol Ethiopia and Uganda (which has itics; It's about Freud and Christ, had two human rights inquiries). about repressed memmy. confession Rwanda has also just instituted a and redemption. It's about needing formal probe into genocide commit to deal, or not being able to deal, with ted there. the past Those legendaiy 300 hours Vaclav Havel, the poet and hero of the Select Committee on Justice sat Czechoslovakia's velvet revolution, "Were not simply about horse trading became famous for Insisting the - they were an intense course of problems of his new government PHOTOGRAPH: SAL!. Y SHORKEND psychoanalysis. were not about choosing between Once the 1hlth Commission is up socialism and capitalism, or poverty and running. Omar hopes It will trig and wealth, but "about truth, how to ger •a time of national soul search purge a society of past lies and Father Michael Lapsley hands. Unlike that psJchologtst, Ing"'. It's going to be a tough time, rebuild people's faith In the XACJLY two months after Nel- particularly for white men. White autonomous, integral and dignified son Mandela was released, they, "the perpetrators, have the people, and specifically white men, . human." · Father Michael Lapsley, a New audacity to tell the victims, 'it is your Says Hayner: ·such commissions E have perhaps a far more complex Zealand-born Anglican priest with job to forgive and forget,' while at the are often referred to as having a same time refusing to acknowledge and ambivalent relationship - and the Mrlcan National Congress In thattheyhavebeenpartytoevll". thus, perilaps, more of an attraction 'cathartic' effect on society. as fulfill~ Harare, received a letter, on ANC sta- or repulsion-to the memory of this ing the Important step of formally tionery, telling him to expect books "Just by ex1stlng." he says, waving country's history. acknowledging a long-silenced past from South Africa. A few days later, about the metal pincers that have But not an truth commissions have two parcels arrived. The first con- replaced his hands, "I am a problem been such successes. Some have tatned a religious book, the second a to the forgive-and-forget crowd. been significantly limited from a full bomb which blinded him in one eye. Priest, white, no hands. If fm dead and fair accounting of the past - blew one of his hands off, and left the there's not a problem, you can deny OT.ITH AFRICA Is not the limited by mandate, by political con only country to scour its other severely mangled. tt all; bury the evidence. But fm liv- straints, restricted access to infor In Australia, as part of pre-opera- tng, fm a big problem." past in a cathartic endeav mation or a basic lack of resources our to uncover deta1ls tive counselling before his second And he intends to remain one. He - and have reported only a narrow hand was amputated, he was seen is already unhappy that we have about human rtghts slice of the 'truth'." Sabuses. There have been at least 15 by a psychologist. She turned out to only a Truth and Reconclliation truth commissions in 13 countries Hayner notes a commission Oi be a white South Mrtcan. "Sud- Commission rather than a "1iuth, ·over the last 20years. and a number Inquiry set up In Uganda by !eli Amln denly." recans Lapsley. "there was Justice and ReconcWation Commis ofcountries are setting up new ones, under international pressure In thls fascinating role-reversal; now slon. No trials mean no justice. Per 1974 was simply banished from the according to the latest edition of The she \vas the client and I the father- · sonally. I would say it would be bet country after It issued a 1 000-page World Peper. confessor. She experienced some ter if we had trials and then report about hundreds of disappear Countries that have emerged from sense of collective responsibility. a amnesty. You'd have the truth, and ances under three previous periods sense In which she saw herself as an then you'd say, "Well justice is that authoritarian rule face powerful of Amln's rule. pressures to fill the blank pages of indirect party to the bombing." you are sentenced for 10 or 20 years, In the Philippines. a truth com history. "If not addressed directly, Lapsley now works as the chap- but in the interests ofreconc111ation mission was created In 1986 by new this silence past can fester into lain for the deliberately un- "We'D gtveyou amnesty:" president Corazon Aquino Without resentment and that can threaten a euphemistically named Trauma His is the language of confession. new democracy, and can reinforce a any real budget or staff. The com absolution and redemption. "of mission ultimately resigned over ' Centre for the Victims of Violence bringing good atit of evil, life out of system of Impunity for the perpetra continued abuses by the new gov and Torture. He 1s appaDed at the death". He is lnitated with "cheap tors," says human rights researcher ernment as Aqino's Initial commit lack of contrition among those who reconciliation". In the New Testa Priscilla Hayner. ment to human rights waned in the were in power when he lost his ment, he says, "the Greek word for "If combined with needed political. face of continued armed rebellions. military or judicial reforms, a truth forgiveness Is the same as that for Despite Havel's eloquent appeal, commission report can perhaps help untying a knot". Both involve hard keep the past from being repeated." work, particularly If you have no This Is the primary reason why hands. many governments around the '· · · 8 . em r t.ZS: Southern Afrlca11 Eal~D~Ist (Zi•) , Apt-il/May 1995 (abr) Namibia and democracy at five amibia celebralcd five years of in Among anomalies raising eyebrows Was A second elected house of parliament, Ndependcn:e last month with agrow· the appointment of deputy Home Affairs the NationaJ Council. has bec2l running ing economy and a reputation fur peace Minister N angolo Ithete as deputy minis· for about two years, though observers and stability. But political analysts have Ia' oC Environment and Tourism. He is say its a lame duck with little ability 1o sounded gt"BVe warnings about the fuwre currently under investigation following enforce iU right of vote or amendment of democracy in the OOIUltry and !he allegationsagainsthimofillegal}ycaptur· againstthenationalassernbly'stwo-thirds conc:entratioo of power under President ing ostriches in CQIM1unal areas. override power'. Sam Nujoma. Even Swapo..supporting cabinet minis- Public participation in political life is "'ur demcaatie ·c::oostitutiM is still ters have been outspoken in their aiti· limited, not least due to the limited access pretty good it\ theory, but that is where it cism of' the changes, IUlUSUal in a country many have to media and the logistic.a.l en~. Swapo (the rul~_Soulh W~t where party loyalty carries~ _status ~!ems~withasmallpopula- Africa Peoples Organisation party} JS and is widely regarded as a requiSite for bon m a b1g country. dominant in the countty and not very well advancement Grassroots democracy and public con- versed in democratic practices," says Education and Culture M.inis1er Nahas sultatioos have been slow to evolve in the Gwea Lister, a Namibian journalist and AnguJa, whos:e mjnisuy wu split in two 13 eleded regional councils. though Ms publ.isher. . . . . by the reshuflle, said he had not been Martin ~ this is improving an;d there is Sbe was among !he c:nbCS ofNu.JOID8's consulted oo the move. He said it could a growmg tendency to take 1.5Sues to n:cent cabinet reshuftle, when be added create instability and lead to a loss of public forums for debate. the Home A1fa.in portfolio to his already con.f'lde~. ..Jonathon Rets siz:able powers. This gave him direct Local media reports said Enviromncnt cootrol ~ the police, in aidition to his and Tourism Minister Nico Bessinger, ~ ~the ~ fon:es and Na· and his permanent secretary Hanno THE NAMIBIAN of 15 May 1995 reports tiona! Security Intelligence Agency. Rumpf. lo!>t their posts due to their oppo- on a meeting that week between Sam He also assumed a degree of control of sition to Swapo's relationship with a health by appointing his persc:mal doctor, major South African consttuction and Nujoma, the president of Namibia, Iyambo lndongo as Inspect« of Hospi· tourism film. which has sought a mo- and Nigerian dictator General Sani tals. ' nopoly on gambling righm in Namibia Abacha, in Nigeria. Mr N ujcma is already leadct ofSwapo, It appears many otben affected by the Chanoel]Qt of lhe University of Namibia reshuffle were informed ocly hours be-- and first recipient of the Order of r~ the announcement was awie. Abacha and fellow generals annulled Wdwitscbia, the country's highest boo- "It is quite cleat anyODC who speaks an election two years ago which was our. out against the president is not going to widely hailed as honest and which Questioas ha\'e been aslccd about 1be advancc,"notesMsLister."Whitemem- selected Chief Moshood Abiola as constitutionality of his new role, and bersofparliamentwhohaveriseninrank president. Chief Abiola has been wilere Mr Nujocna will find the time serve have only done so by being subservient." as president, head of state and govern· Observm say Swapo is still run along held in solitary confinement since. ment, and cabinet minisler in a key port· 1he loyalist and disciplined lines of a In April Archbishop Desmond Tutu was folio. And wiU be, lib other ministers, be liberatioo movement. and has not made sent to Nigeria by President Nelson a.;x:ountable to parliament and forced to the real transition to a political party. Mandela. The Cape Town prelate re ~ questions from the house. Namibia may teclmieally have a totally Observers noCc the development of a free press, but the media's role is ham· ports Chief Abiola has been brutaliz personality cult around Mr Nujoma, who pertd by illi~mcy, loyalty and fear. Voices ed and 'near the end of his tether'. reignsuncluillenged. Amoogvisibleman.i· critical in private remain silent in public, f~ of his supremacy is the huge or shelter behind pseudonyms. The Abacha regime has one of the worst cavalcade that accompanies his move- President:Nujomacanrightlytakec:redit human rights records on the African ments. for havin& lead Namibia through fm The voters seem happy enough with his years of peace, quite nmuicable consid· continent. It is holding hundreds of five years 'pctf'ormancc. He was n:tumed ering the bitter animosities arid open war· political prisoners without access to office with 76% of the vote in last fare that characterised the colonial period from family, clergy, doctors,lawyers. year's p-esidc:ntial poU. Swapo took 13% untill990. Nigeria has been under a reign of in parliamentary eic:c:tioos and the hro His policy of national rec:onci.liation has terror for two years . Foreign in thirds majority it needs to unilaltfally seenaslowbreakdownol'racialbarricrs, change the coastitutioa. though UWIY whites remain racist and vestors continue to support Abacha's Nujoma has promised a rcferendUDl many blacks subscrviem. A senior cabi· regime, notably US oil companies and ahead of aey mnendtnents. The reshutlle net minister ~ characterised race with anns shipments continuing to be saw Swapo continue to reward loyalty rclatioas as "an uneasy marriage of in· shipped from the United Kingdom. above meri~ making office bearers ac- convenience". countable more to 1he party and president Solne analysts have noCcd democratic than to the elec:torate... It shows the growth in Swapo over the five years. President Nujoma invited General demand tbt absolute loyalty is still there. The National Assembly in its fi.m five Abacha to visit Namibia at a mutual People wbo questioned were moved out G ...... ~,..;d 1 · 1 · and ly convenient date. and loyalists were~ Criticism is years scr.spped "t""' .. - egiS atlon seen disloyalty. this is problematic iD passed a host of law~ among them 118 a "'--...... Ms List=" ~ legislation oo land re{onn, mining and the ...... _, -;- key fishing industry. Tbereshuflle,commentatocssaid.Caikd But there is little or no scrutiny of the to signal any commitment by the J"Si· executive and debate in the house is dent ro combat abuse of public funds or sterile. "Parliamc:nt.ariansfeel they report top-level conuption. Instead, be either to lhe party and not the people who r;romotai or retained those under public elected them," says Ms Lister. scrutiny in this ~ 10 SOUTH AFRICA
Land refonn: An in-depth look at an issue with no easy solution ... 'Ms land' has a grand plan to reshape SA ~~. ~s Sue Lund has calmly onaDofus.• regulations. negotiated the '!;__ .. :,. -·~.lef' That collectiYe approach. she insists, That was her ftrst spell behind l:ms. of the land issue to write Is the ~t strength of the land~ 1be next came a year later. She was ~ trfbution ~Its single chance detained again tmderthe emergency In a balanced five-year of success to the fare d overwhelming November 1986 and released after 11 plan for land distribution, odds derives from a team of assistants months with orders barring her from who honed their skiD In ~ d fight working with COIJlJJJUllitles that had writes Edcle Koch Ing forced removals to the countJ:yslde been fOrdbly rentoYed. durtngthe 1980s. 'You know, you stt In prison think ~ agoshewasanide Which is where the 33-year-old Ing about Hfe and It strengthens your stic young student who woman's path to an office near the resoiYe.. So when she got out she left: wanted to change the world. Union BuiJdlng; to Pretoda begins. In iJr England where she studied at the Today. stflllooklng wi
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a range of nieChaniStns tb revoeree the effects_ of Concerns coming mainly from white l8I'Il'lens the past without resorting to expropriationS 3.nd about possible degradation ofland that has been high-handed state interventions that have reallocated to black settlers can be dealt with in bedevilled land refonn in many other countrtes. local forums which will be set up. under the , BuOt toto it are articulate replies to most ol!lec scheme. Plans submitted by these to the provin tlons levelled at the programme. On the com cial land reform committees will be carefully plaint that the poorest of the poor lack the scrutinised for their sustainabllity, she says. · wherewithal to participate in land purchase •Prople will have to look at things like canying achemes, she notes that a thorough review ofthe capacity, erosion and a range of possible land is counby's credit institutions under way and uses. Their plans will ~veto meet strict stan 9Chemes will be implemented to ensure that dards and must be euvironmeiltally sustainable those who don't have existing collateral will get ••• How this will work in practice. we will have to aree88 to land purchase loans. wait and see.· What about the moral argument that people Sometimes. when she sits to hfr Pretoria oftlce llhou1d not have to pay for land that was stolen pondering these things. or sneaking time to work from them and the prediction that. despite the on her novel, a fax will arrived addressed to Miss reforms, there will be mass land invasions in Land. There Is a meaning in the mistakes. To many parts of the country? many South Africans she is Ms Land: author of . , don't think these are as likely as some peo the Bingle biggest piece of social engtneertng this ple assume. Rural people are risk-averse and countJy has seen since apartheid. don't easily look for conflict ... There are plans to ' acaie up the national programme even before the two-year period for the pilot projects Is up. Within that time the pilots will expand as we develop a budgeting system for the rest of the country ... We are putting a lot of faith in local govmunent and local p~ abilities.• THE NEW YORK TIMES INTERNATION_AL WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1995' A3' . ' . . - ----::--- Now for Hire: South Africa's. Out-of Work Commandos
By HOWARD W. FRENCH PRETORIA, South Africa, May 17 - To the old apartheid regime and South African officials describe · In the past, Mr. Barlow has re supporters of Its influence in this Executive Outcomes as a dangerous acted angrily to suggestions that he region, they were heroes,_ fighters 1 outfit and concede that it could de is running a mercenary outfit. who in units with names like Selous stabilize the region. So far however "Where the security in a country Scouts or Crowbar carried out dev the officials say current l~ws leav~ is a problem, we assist," he recently astating clandestine operations the Government nearly powerless to tol~ the Reuters news agency. "We against neighboring countries or crack down on such groups. ass1st in water purification con propped up clients of South Africa. With its Angolan successes high on struction and medical ae~ces. To most of South Africa's neigh its resume, Executive Outcomes has White South Africans are the only bors, they were seen as brutal en been aggressively marketing itself ones prepared to make a differ forcers of this country's unchal to other African countries with civil ence." lenged dominance in the region. wars or other security problems. • People familiar with the opera- · With the apartheid era now over Just last week, the company an tions of the company scoff at the and the cold war a memory, South. nounced that it had signed a deal notion that civil construction is a Africa's special forces, as they were with the Government of Sierra Le large part of its activities. Instead, known, briefly found themselves one to help its poorly organized for hire." they describe a business that takes At the same time, people who have without a role. But now, with civil army fight its civil war against a little interest in the moral Implica wars still dotting this continent and shadowy but increasingly effective followed the company's involvement tions of its work and is willing to sign in Angola say it has expanded into outside powers less interested than rebel force known as the Revolution on-with whoever can pay them. U it . ever in becoming involved, scores of ary United Front. numerous business ventures in is true that the company is piimartly areas like shipping, fishing and retired .officers have signed on with Beyond Angola and Sierra Leone, involved in training, experts say · a new breed of military outfit that trucking. Executive Outcomes has declined to that its men also become closely straddles the line between the role of involved in battlefield operations if "These groups encourage a coun classic foreign adviser and outright specify the African countries in which it is involved. Experts in Afri i~s record in Angola is any indi~ try not ~.IY ~continue a war, but to guns for hire. uon. escalate, sa1d Aileen Marshall an Nowhere have these new outfits can military affairs say there are indications that the group has "Our concern with Executive Out expert in conflict management at played a larger role than in Angola comes is that something of a rogue the Global Coalition for Africa a which has been embroiled in civii opened talks with the Sudan Soma lia, Mozambique and Malawi. in the region has been created," said Washington-b~sed research org~ni war for most of the last two decades.. Jackie Cilliers, director of the Insti zatlon of retired American diplo There, a Pretoria-based company With the arrival of Executive Out comes in Sierra Leone, diplomats tute for Defense Polley, a Johannes mats, academics and former offi· known as Executive Outcomes has burg research organization. "While ~ials of several African countries. been credited with quickly turning and other experts in African affairs say the chances for a peaceful reso it may have actually contributed to a Down ~e road there is the risk of a around the civil war in favor of the settlement in Angola, we may be Cambodia-type situation where the nominally socialist Government, and lution there may be receding. The country's leader, -capt. Valentine witnessing the creation of something Khmer Rouge are using gems and forcing a settlement on Jonas Sa outside the control of government forests to fuel the war so that when vimbi, leader of the badly battered Strasser, has repeatedly offered to negotiate, but the rebels have said that could easily become a force for the war ends the resources are ei rebel movement known as Unita, the destabilization in Africa. It is guns ther gone or are in illegal hands." National Union for the Total Inde any talks must come after the with pendence of Angola. drawal of foreign military person In the proxy conflicts in sub-Saha nel. ran Africa during the cold war, Unlike the rebel movement in An many of the 500 or so South African gola, where an effective internation recruits with Executive Outcomes al embargo and the loss of his out fought alongside Mr. Savimbi, a side patrons prevented Mr. Savimbi longtime client of South Africa and . from rearming, the insurgents in Si the United States. Their enemies at erra Leone have free rein over much the time, in addition to the Angolan of a mineral-rich countryside. With Army, were the 50,000 Cubans sent growing receipts from the sale of by Havana to bolster the forces of a diamonds, timber, gold and other Communist ally. resources, there is little to stop them In addition to training Angolan from beefing up their forces with Government soldiers, military ob outside help, thus turning a relative Bervers here say that in the last two ly low-intensity conflict into a much years the recruits have moved Into more devastating war. remote bases that were abandoned Officials of Executive Outcomes after the Cubans pulled out in 1991, have always declined to reveal the upgrading communications and fly terms of their agreements with Afri ing highly effective combat sorties can countries, or even how many in Soviet-made Hind helicopters and . men they employ. Military experts MIG-23 fighters. and diplomats here say that the com "We consider that they made a pany typically pays $2,000 a month very considerable difference to the or more, and provides recruits with success that M.P.LA. has been able generous insurance coverage in case to achieve," said William Sass, a of injury or death. The company said retired brigadier of the South Afri that at least 10 recruits had been .can Defense Force, referring to the killed in Angola, including at least 2 governing Popular Movement for executed by Mr. Savimbl's men. the Liberation of Angola. "The line Officials of the company said that of what is a mercenary and what is only Eeben Barlow, its general man not is a matter of interpretation, but ager•. who is a vet~ran of the Angolan they made an invaluable contribu conflict and a former officer in the tion to the operations of M.P.L.A. on South African intelligence ~ervice, the ground. If Unlta had not signed was authorized to speak publicly the cease-fire, one could easily con about Executive Outcomes. But Mr. ceive of them having been wiped Barlow, who is 38, has neither re out." turned calls nor responded to a de tailed fax seeking comment. Assist ants said be was out of the country this week and.could not be reached. Phillip van Niekerk says that SUNDAY 21 MAY 1995 as South Africa hosts the Rugby THE OBSERVER THE MAZDA overtakes, hoots, World Cup, the country stands and the ;tour occupanu get out, 10ft of )erky and buamcsshke. poised between hope and fear. Youth>, not older than 20, they alndc toward our car. lace With a Tens of thouaands of touriats Uoyd Vogclman, dll'ector ot 'Over the election period when dli1l that the man movmg "? my wiU be experiencing first hand the University of the Witwaters I the new government had just petrol-soaked ty1 e placed ruuuu nfc i• packing a 9mm pistol. the beaches, the game parks and rand's Centre for the Study of come in, people had such a the vtctim\ neck) for murder, Hc't acreammg for me to get out. the stwming scenery of the coun Violence and Reconciliation, happy feeling, everybody was and for rape, being pawded It is 3 August, 1992, the tint try's unique tourist cocktail. says a massive escalation of crime wearing blue badges for peace. naked bcftJrc rc<.:clving 400 la~hes But the powers that be ~ or CXtl:utJon. day of a national general stnke, happened in the early I990s Now everybody is scared.' and the road behind us in Evaton hold their breath that nothing janet Slyper, a manicurist in Themba, an angl)' man, called untowarda happens - that is, when the repressive lid of apar: in on Thursdav to the popular township south of johannesburg heid was lifted. There was a si johannesburg's northern sub nothing worse thii;D th~ usual johannesburg r~dio talk show or il blocked with rock and tyre bar multaneous breakdown in law urbs, sleeps with two guns beside ricades that we've jw,t spent muggings. At stake 18 not JUSt ~c her bed. Her husband keep~ h1s host John Berk,. 'We grew up image of the South African mtr enforcement and police morale. with crime in the township,' he •orne time looping around. 'You had an illegitimate gov gun in the safe. One night a year aclc, but the country's suitability said. 'We never made a big fu~s There's no way back. . ernment that could not provide ago, she woke up to find four get out calmly and hand h1m as a future venue for the Olympic about it. It ha~ been there since 1 any type of moral authority over burglars in the house, and the me car keys without protest. He Games in 2004. gun jammed. lbc n~xt day 'he the past government. We why there should not be cnme. shuuiJn· t pass the buck and say wants my waU~t. I give it. My People felt they could justify applied to emigrate to New leather jacket. He gets that too. IT IS fitting that the first big Zealand. the new government has to du crime on the basis of politics. Another kid, derisive of my vui international extravaganza that 'You see four or live of them in something about it. It's no big Frequently the criminal act car Dcrability, swears and hits me. I the new South ·Africa will host an area and you wonder what deal that people have been killed. under its black President, should ried out in the name of poliucs reel, mouth open, and _that saves was just basic thuggery.' they're doing there. There's no It pisses me uti" !that I eve!)' time my teeth, possibly my hfe. be in a sport that ha~ a rep1;1tation it happ,·ns to whites - nut even In Gauteng province, the Min jobs. They need food. \\:·'hnes are The other kid points the pistol of being the most lily-white, rhe ister of Law and Order is a tire just royal game,' she satd. in bt).! numbers ... it becomes a behind my car and shoots me most reactionary, the preferred btg issue.' Berks replied: 'The less woman, Jessie Duane, who is The nearby township of Alex through the head, point blank. pastime of the men who built and problem 1' n's startmg to piss otf never far from the trouble spots. andra is an overcrowded, pov The specialists later recon enforced apartheid. erty-stricken pocket of blacks not a hllof white people.' suuct the trajectory of the buUet The South African Rugby From being a women's activist Themba: '\X'hal about the and personal assistant to Nelson far from the mansions of and marvel at how it passed Football Union president is Sandton. whtJle blao:k people who were Mandel a, she has held her own in through my head missing the ca Louis l..uyt, who was deeply in pi:..~cd otr long ag~)?' the notoriously macho police cul Many whites believe, with rotid artery, the spmal cord, the volved in clandestine work for the some justification, that it is a Berks: '\\:bv d1dn 't you do brain and aU the delicate parts apartheid government when it ture. something abo;_lt 1e Her adviser, Ian Robertson, is haven for black gangsters, or one finds in a head. It took out was at its most thuggiih, and the rsotsis. But the ordinary black res Themba: 'I've tned - that IS my jaw joints, but I find you can 26 players selected to kick a ball a former ANC guerrilla fighter wbv I've hved ·H years. '1be gov who spent a lengthy spell in idents of 'Alex' are most at their without them. . around for the Spnngboks dunng ern-ment lockd up Mandcla lor 40 police detention in 1989. When mercy - and they don't have As I lie face down ID the dust the next six weeks are all while, burglar alarms, private security :!.7 years, wh;H du they expect with blood pouring out of two now that winger Chester Wil he was caught, he was carrymg a companies or insurance. hun· hJ dl) nov.~ ground-to-air missile that wasto aides of my face, my would-be liams has withdrawn with a ham- Busiswe Mavuso lives in a Berks: 'Hero: we~'' wnh the old accutioner cocks his pistol at the string injury. be used to blow up the pohce again. People live 111 the past.'. helicopter exhibition at the Rand squatter camp in 'Alex'. Her back of my head, preparing to Like the 'non-racial' rugby shack was broken into in Janual)' Themha: 'The p:t>t wtll be fur Show. He spent last Wednesda_y deliver the coup .U graie. My col- team, the non-racial South Africa and they stole all her clothes and goth.:u, but the lllbiiJk~~ of the night trudging through the nu is stiU an act of faith, a country a TV. She lost evel)•t.hing: 'I'm pa'l will never be t<>rg<>tten.' grant worker hostels ID the town league, Paul Taylor of the Wash being dreamed into existence. unemployed, so I couldn't Berks: 'So what arc you ship of Sebokeng, overseemg a ilrgton Post, intenupts him. He For the whites, never maten replace any of it.' Life is cheap m saving?' 11wings around, shooting Paul ally threatened by the arms and police search for weapons. 'Alex' the rates of murder and Themba: 'Let's joiniJJnds and through the chest, before ·run economic embargoes, hosnng Duarte and Robertson have to tight this.lfll comes I<> the pumt. ning off. contend with an under-re rape high. The local rc_sidcnts the World Cup is a form of deliv still blame the pollee. l·or de let's be armed. Let's kill these When I was asked later in a erance: the most painful sanction sourced, under-trained and over cades the police never pnnected dog~.' tdevision programme whether during the years of isolation was worked police force, the develop ordinary black people. They co this meant journalists or whites the international boycott _of ment of sophisticated cnmmal operated with the gangsters, and FAR MORE than the fonw1es of weren't welcome in the town rugby, the national sport of white syndicates, police corruption and saw their main function as en South Afrio:a" > ru~by team w11l be ships anymore, I shrugged. We South Africa. a central government that has to forcing apartheid. at stake 111 the \Vurld Cup. The weren't shot because we were For the blacks, the World Cup balance security with its need to Vogdman points out that i1nap.e of the (.;OUntry i~ at ::,lake. reporters or whites, but because build houses, schools and hospi is less of a symbol of transformed crime detinitcly docs pay 111 The Jiternative i' th~t Suuth we were traveUing with valuable status. There has been little ma tals to overcome the legacy of South Africa. 'If you murder or if Africa', nurade will pe cxp<>sed equipment and an expensive car terial improvement in the lives of apartheid. you rape, the chances of you and the C<>Untrv will be dbl1lbsed an area that the forces of law in black South Africans since those The problem was created by being held accountable arc not as a bJuana republic on a O:
can aim for. By MICHAEL l i r... A Year After Apartheid, Change "But even the middle-aged and older must be feeling very happy :L Is Slow but Real in Squth Africa since it shows that they didn't strtve Johannesburg. s:'luth 1\frtca for nothing. They can see a prcxluct year after its first :lemocraUc of their labor. a bit of the change · election, South Africa Is a they have been fighting for.· A country that ill at cmce ~ Ms. Nkondo, who is 44. said that tlally the same and profoundly when she went to college. It was changed. made clear to women that certain The economtc dispartties lltlll areas were off 11mlts. "It was known ~ly follow the racial lines that that If you went to law or chemistry. were entrenched by llplll1:hdd. Black you wouldn't pass. That was the facejs- other than thoae of semmta male sector; y.ou had to find your - remain few and far between in space in education or soc1a1 work. the lush suburbs that spread north '7hat's probably why I ended up of this city, whlle thousands of them a teacher Instead of the lawyer I can be seen in the tiny tin shacks of wanted to be. It's important for worn· the squatter settlements that are en to realize they can move Into growtng out in an directions. these fraditionaily male-dominated Unemployment In the black~ areas. We must put a culture ofcon- , ulatlon Is stuck at clol!le to 40 percent fidence in an our citizens .• as a year of Nelson Mandela' s presi It is not hard to find critics of the dency has added few jobs. Services new government: whites who worry in the black townships remain errat about "lowered standards"; mixed· ic as best. Trash still piles up. Sew race coloreds and Indians who say age st1ll flows through the streets. they were the wrong color before and Pol1t1cal violence has d1mtnished, but are the wrong color now; blacks who cr1m1nal vtolence h88 risen to take claim that they got a ballot paper its place. A policeman with a drawn gun stands near a man mortally wounded and little else; and pundits of all And yet. though the forest' might in tipti~JB during the lUlJli!ersuy of democratic elections. hues who decry corruption. Inaction, seem tmaltered, different trees are misplaced priorities and the like. beginning to sprout. It's not just the hibit that has attracted exhibitors because they awned nothing. We But on one recent night In the handful of black faces now fotmd on from around the world. want them to own something. to cre informal bar called a shebeen at c:orpmate boards or the new accents Tmntng a fanner instnunent of ate and awn.· tached to the Soweto home of Masoja speaking English on the flagship sta oppression Into an overgrown toy, an Mary Metcalfe. m1n1ster of educa Motha, the exuberant spirit of elec tion of the state-run radio. almost comic-book style work of art. tion in Gauteng, the country's most tion day was still alive. It's black people In poettitma of speaks volumes about the transfor populous province, which includes Most of the people there were, like genuine authority. It's women telling mation of South Afrtca. Johannesburg and Pretoria, has Mr. Motha, in their 40s and 50s. men what to do. It is, as Mr. MandeJa But what impressed Mr. Sela.ko found herself wrestling with the lab Asked how their lives had changed. pointed out, a purpoeely d1v1ded peo most was the cooperation he and his yrinth ofbureaucractes she lnhertted their minds went back far beyond ple pmllng together, in a remarkably colleagues got from the pollee who as new provincial boundaries were last year's election to 10. even 20. short period of time, to fonn ana Invited them to look over a real Hip laid down on top of an old order al years ago, when black8 were forced tion. po, to go inside the vehicle, some ready made weirdly complex by the to carry passes. faced Jail time for In a recent tnteivtew with foreign thing they would previously have dictates of apartheid. being unemployed and were forced correspondents, he said that Aprtl seen only tf arrested. '7he technical dtfficulties are to submit to a hum1liatlng medica! 27, the anntYersaiy of the electkn. a '7hey even served us tea," he huge and mostly boring." she said. exam. That people with such memo national holiday, should be used to said. As for the police on the streets, '7hat's unfortunate because they ries can now look on a land governed "reflect en the elusive concepts of al '"Ibey aren't protecting us yet. but at are real.... by Mr. Mandela st1ll seems little legiance and freedom. least they aren't attacking us any "One facet I had not anticipated short of a miracle. "A commen allegiance Is what uioR,• he said. . . . was the difficulty of address1ng '7here haven't been changes yet . helps define a nation.... A natien Transfonntng the various bu education in a context where there but they are coming." said Mr. state wtthout th1ll attnbute exlstB cn reaucracies - entrenched since are a lot of poltticai adversaries," she Motha. '7hey have to start In the ly in name. It survives by coercion 1948, their pr1maJy task to serve the said, lamenting the number of rural areas where the people have and subterfuge. It is a time bomb white minority - has been a mas groups and people who had vested nothing. Here at least we have a roof waiting to implode upon ttself. Such sive effort. Interests in the old system. aver our head. fve got hope. Soweto was South Afrtca under apartheid.· Sankie Nkondo. the country's But both women say their very deflnl.tely will change." The change is evident In Moses m1n1ster of housing since the death presence In the top levels of govern He pointed to Bafana Chipeta as Selako's latest work of art. a life-size of Joe Slovo In January, has had to ment is an example of the profundity proof that the country was on the model of a Hippo, the name given to concern qerselfwtth everything from of the country's transfonnatien. Un right course. Mr. Chipeta, dressed In one of the pollee vehlclea tMt used to eeetng to it that eve!)' person is prop der the National Party rule, the gov a sports jacket and tie, had stopped patrol the townahipe; erly identified so that no ene can re ernment was v1rtually an all-male by for beer after his job as a comput· "You don't hear the gtmllbota that ceive duplicate housing subsidies, to club. The Afrtcan National Congx:ess er operator in a bank. etten any more,· Mr. SelaliD aatd. a underwriting banks' risks as they has consciously changed that. "He used to not work at all. but he stood In the Katlehong Art Cen make housing loans In previously "It is important to see women In since the election, look at him," Mr. ter. "'lrt most of the violence wasn't off-11mits areas, to setting up a war these posttlona becauee I know that Mothasaid. ~here." ranty program for new home oon the sense of women having been "I was utesponslble, • Mr. Chipeta ~ from the echoolyard Deld: dcu atruct1on. margtnallzed is felt quite profoundly agreed. "But now I feel I have some ~ the joyful neUe of oh1ldren '7he first year of office meant the by all women. even among people thing to work for. something I am a playing. a aomtd rare!y·hesrd before prtmaJy focus was en tranafcxma who do not ccnslder themaelves ac part of. Before I was not a dtizen of theE when th1ll townahlp eut. tion and restructuring.· abe saKI. tlvlsts,. Ma. Metcalfe l!lllid. this motherland of mine, but now 1 of'/!8bura waa llekl 111 the ~·11 a whole DeWJdad ol culture "EdlJM!tlon In parttcular ill a Oeld am a ctttzm of South Africa.· · · grip oonftlct between~ of which.is comtng ln. dominated by W(!men in non-mana "You know. I don't celebrate the )Jncan Natlonal Coogreu and "The previous government genal roles, 110 it ill cnly loglcal to see Christmas." Mr. Motha said. "I al the~ Freedom Party. stopped buBdmg houses In the wban them IDilft 1ntG ~I don't ways thought of it as a European Ajcanvaa-covered model of one of areas In the '6011 becauee evecyane see it as afDnnattve action, jl.llt rec thing. a white thing. They talk abwt Mr. $e]ako's HJppo artwaa 11ta en was supposed to have a residence to OIID!ztng ab1l1tles that haven't previ a white Chr1stmas. we don't evoen Jet the ~ of downtown Johannes the homelands. That did not work ously been ~ltl.td .• snow around here. blJil4 still \Dlder COD8tructilln. 811 - people kept coming to the um.n Ms. Nkondo agreed that having '7he 27th of April Is my Christ part ,bf the Blennale. a huge art ex- are8a (or jobs - so the backlog ts women In these poett1 Namber43 I DEMOCRACY, SECURITY AND DEVELOPMENT IN LESOTHO I SHOULD LESOTHO BE INTEGRA TED INTO SOUTH AFRICA? In follow-up to questions raised by Stephen Gill and David Hall in our December issue: Which Future for Lesotho: Independence or Integration? we have requested two local Basotho to share their opinions. This is what they have to say: At its 1991 National Triennial Congress, the National due to a-lack of infrastructure (roads, bridges, public Union of Mineworkers put forth a resolution transport, etc ..• ). The previous government was supporting the integration of lesotho into the burdened with the responsibility of addressing the Republic of South Africa. The resolution supporting economic problems faced by the country and its integration was justified with five primary arguments: people. These issues have never been dealt with efficiently. Consequently economic planning and 1. lesotho's economy is too dependent on rural development have failed. lack of a competent South Africa and foreign aid. government planning has also hamstrung 2. Development in lesotho has been developmental efforts. Finally, lesotho is dependent unsuccessful thus far. on foreign aid. This compromises lesotho's 3. The Republic of South Africa has already sovereignty, especially when project plans must meet captured lesotho's sovereignty via the lesotho donors' requirements. As long as Lesotho remains Highlands Development Project. independent, it will continue to work within a 4. lesotho's employment crisis will worsen if patronizing system which will never truly develop. lesotho remains independent. 5. The Government of Lesotho is not capable of Lesotho's Unemployment planning the future of its country, nor does it Lesotho's unemployment rate is very high, over 50%. possess the leadership to govern effectively. Some jobs are informal, or they pay so little, that those working can hardly be considered employed. Lesotho's Economy Basotho working in the textile factories are perhaps The economy of lesotho is almost entirely dependent the most exploited. Civil servants earn a paultry sum on the Republic of South Africa. This dependence is as well. For example, a person at grade 1 earns only caused by a disproportionate flow of income from R 4.000 per year. As previously stated in the section migrant labour and their respective remittances. on economy, a majority of workers are employed in Without lesotho's high percentage of workers South African mines rather than in lesotho's civil or employed in South Africa, lesotho will stand to lose private sector. A mechanism for job creation has not a significant amount of capital into the country. The been formulated by the government. The only way mining industry in South Africa is the largest to continue to employ the Basotho is to become fully employer of Basotho migrants. Now that South integrated with South Africa, thereby protecting our Africa is ruled by a majority government, she will be employmel'lt base. less willing to employ Basotho workers at the expense of her own unemployed population. This Another issue to consider is that while Lesotho places Lesotho in a precarious position because 1994 remains independent, her workers will continue to labour statistics demonstrate that its labour force has earn considerable less than South Africa's employed, increased by 89.076. Lesotho will realize an even if they work for the same company. For employment deficit as her economy can generate no example, an employee at OK Bazaars has a mi"nimum more than 6.000 jobs a year. From January to wage of R 1.500 per month in South Africa. In October, 1994, deferred Pel¥ from the migrant mining lesotho, that same worker at OK Bazaars makes only work force totalled R 28.195.309. This income R 400 per montb. Integration with South Africa cannot be sacrificed. The lesotho government stands would eliminate the Basotho's unfair income to lose money as well from decreased migrant labour. disparity. For example, in 1994 South Africa paid R 804 million to lesotho in mine labour and Customs Lesotho Highlands Water Project Union fees. In order to not lose these economic Many clauses of the LHWP Agreement do not serve resources we must become one of South Africa's the interests of those Basotho living in the vicinity of own. the construction. The agreement also creates suspicion because it was never made available and lesotho's Development known to the nation as a whole. Article 10, 1 1, and Currently, the progress of development is not 14 of the Agreement are particularly threatening. encouraging. Most villages are still not accessible These articles state that the meter to regulate the flow of water to South Africa will be located in South dependent status on South Africa by integrating itself Africa. Therefore, Lesotho will not be able to have with South Africa. Lesotho must cease to be the access, responsibility, nor control over the amount of equivalent of a colony to South Africa; contributing water exported to South Africa. lesotho must be to her growth, yet receiving little of the profits (due to integrated with South Africa because then Lesotho wage differences). Integration will end the will have a say in the South African government, dependence on the remittances of migrant labour thereby providing Lesotho a voice in the matter. and attract a sufficient flow of investments to produce goods and services for its own consumption and Lack of Governmental Leadership export what is consistent with its resources and In 1993, lesotho held its first legitimate general capabilities. elections. These elections were won overwhelmingly by the Basotho Congress Party because of their It would benefit Lesotho to be a part of the new promises made before the elections, not because they arrangement and receive the same treatment as South were capable of fulfilling their promises. In addition Africa's own labour reserves in Transkei, Ciskei al')d to these promises, there was a need by the people of Lebowa. For this to occur effectively, lesotho needs lesotho to change the previous administration of the to be integrated into the new South Africa. country. These are weak reasons to vote a government into power, and therefore the The general view that Lesotho should become government has responded in kind with weak integrated into South Africa was stated by the policies and planning. The government of Lesotho National Union of Mineworkers at its seventh has npt demonstrated adequate planning or Triennial Congress in April, 1991. The Congress implementation of policies regarding agricultural, resolved to support the unification of Lesotho and the unemployment, health, poverty, or the economy. new South Africa after the question had been The government needs to deal with additional issues democratically put to the Basotho people. We such as the freezing of the Customs Union and the believe this is the only way in which the problem of low domestic investment necessary to abnormalities of colonialism can be eradicated, generate employment. Only integration with the economic activity stimulated, and the cultural identity 1 Republic of South Africa will give the people of of lesotho preserved. Lesotho's future lies with lesotho a responsible and capable government with South Africa. 'ii' which to address its problems. The Answer The answer is straightforward: lesotho must end its WFJ: Would Lesotho benefit by being a part of South WF} interviewed a Mosotho woman on the question Africa? of Lesotho's integration into South Africa. Here are ANS: As one of the big initiatives addressing disparity her views: in South Africa is the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), the question is, WFJ: How do you feel about the issue of Lesotho would RDP work for us? In my opinion, South Africa being part of the new South Africa? is having difficulty addressing its own problems ANS: First of all, I wouldn't be happy with lesotho through RDP. It would seem foolish to think that losing her sovereignty and independence. Over the South Africa would give Lesotho's issues a priority or years our politics have been different from that of even have adequate solutions to deal with lesotho's South Africa. For instance, Lesotho has experienced problems. less violence in its history. We are a relatively peaceful nation and I envision that Basotho will find I believe that Lesotho has its own resources and is it hard to fit into a more aggressive South African able to work on its own programme initiatives, context. thereby not sacrificing its priorities. WFJ: In some circles Basotho have questioned cry over spilt milk, but rather let us do the best with whether it is W'iable for Lesotho to remain what we have. In essence, we need to forget about it economically independent. What are your thoughts? as we have been separated from it for such a long ANS: I do concur that lesotho is currently time. economically disadvantaged in relation to its neighbour, South Africa. However, I want to WF/: Would Lesotho be more stable joining the emphasize that it doesn't have to be that way. stronger,South Africa? · lesotho does have resources and it is my belief that ANS: Personally I would not say South Africa is if Basotho would establish some infrastructure in already strong politically, they are just at a starting order to benefit from the resources we possess, we point. Who knows what problems are waiting for could compete in the economic market. them in the future? In short, I believe we can achieve stability independently. Our problems are not worse For example, it is true that lesotho can't compete than other countries. We only need to be "serious" with South Africa in regards to certain crop about wanting to address our own issues. production. lesotho's potential "arable" land is a drawback from the beginning. However lesotho does WFJ: Previously you mentioned the fact that the have other strengths. lesotho needs to look at what Basotho are such a peaceful people. How do you it can do best. For instance, Le:5otho has rangeland think joininR the larger South Africa would affect and sheep. If it would address the issue of Lesotho as far as laws and violations of human-rights overgrazing, there is great potential tor lesotho to are concerned? benefit from the production of mohair. Another ANS: The laws of South Africa are continually being example is lesotho's water supply. If lesotho would worked on by the South Africans to suit their present look at establishing an infrastructure for irrigation, conditions. likewise lesotho should update and there would be potential for the country to produce modify her laws in line with current changes enough fruits (peaches, pears, plums) for its local prevailing in its country. lesotho should take pride in market. Asparagus is also a crop that could prove a developing and upholding its own laws in order to benefit to lesotho's economic market. These are just attain a sense of ownership and therefore a deep a few examples. sense of love for the country, ie. build and strengthen. Another important resource which should not be forgotten is lesotho's population itself. Within its WF/: Regarding Lesotho's health care system, would borders is a wealth of both academic and practical joining South Africa be of benefit to the Basotho? knowledge. Here, we (Basotho) have a great ANS: I believe this is an area that we could benefit challenge to be committed to using our creative skills as lesotho's health care system is poor. We lack well in turning theory into practical results within lesotho. trained and qualified personnel, up-to-date facilities at hospitals, let alone the clinics in the remote areas of WF/: Basotho miners have taken part in building the country. However, if we remain independent we the elaborate mine cities of South Africa. How do could learn from South Africa in this regard. you see that remaining independent would best benefit Basotho's efforts in this area? WFJ: What do you think should be the next step _in ANS: It is true that the Basotho have contributed in the discussion. the building of the mine cities of South Africa. It is ANS: Basotho need to decide whether they want to also true that migrant workers still see lesotho as take ownership. Truthfully, .we have not taken their homes. advantage of the large amounts of development monies that came in during the apartheid years. We The question is, if lesotho were to integrate would have relied too much on a never ending flood of aid this make South Africa appreciate the contribution of monies. As a result, Basotho are now suffering from mine workers more? I doubt it. South African mine not wanting to invest their own energy and monies organisations should be encouraged to provide into lesotho. It doesn't have to be this way- it is up adequate benefit packages to compensate Basotho to lesotho's citizens .to decide whether this country workers. In turn, Basotho workers should be is worthy of our struggle for its preservation. encouraged to seek ways of investing their monies in lesotho. Another question, why should South Africa want to incof!)orate lesotho? And what does lesotho hope to WFJ: What do you think of the Lesotho's territory entice South Africa with? conquered by the Orange Free State in the 7830s? ANS: It might be true that this land once belonged to Personally, I think more thought needs to be given on the Basotho. Actually the current population of the the option of lesotho remaining independent. ~ area remains primarily Basotho. However, let us not INTERNATIONAL Drought over southern Africa HAitAIIt.E AND JOHANNESIURG HE Limpopo river, snaking between TZimbabwe and South Africa, is parched; bore holes sunk into the plains are dry; shrivelled maize cobs droop on the stem. just as southern Africa's farmers had. tot tered back to their feet after a fierce drought in 1991-92, the rains have failed again. The maize crop in South Africa alone, now be ing harvested is a full 60% short of last year's. At least,lOm people in the region this harvest-time face hunger and poverty. This season's crop failure is not expected ready set up an early-warning unit, based in to be as dreadful as the one three years ago, Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, to moni into in lean times, but that idea is now seen when 20m southern Africans went short of tor indicators of farmers' distress, such as as expensive and impractical. food and the region had to bring in 12m the prices of cattle and grain. Mindful ofthe Instead, the notion is a regional pot of tonnes ofgrain. But southern Africa will still difficulties countries like Zimbabwe had money, maybe $30m, that members could need 3m-5m extra tonnes. The southern with their balance ofpayments after the pre dip into in an emergency and repay later. summer rains came late, and were patchy. vious drought, SADC this time asked early The money would go not only on the pur By harv~ time, this month, the maize cr?P for help from the World Bank. chase of grain but also on the feeding and had withered across a swathe of countnes But the world's food-aiders $till tend to vaccination of cattle. These are the chief as from the northern reaches of South Africa, react to crises when it is too late, rather than sets of many small farmers and their loss in Lesotho and Swaziland through southern to warnings while there is time to avert the times of drought means great difficulties for Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswan~ and crisis. Southern Africans have been knock farmers trying to get back on their feet after Namibia, and up into southern Zambia. Le ing on donors' doors since january. But the drought is over. For now, though, sou_ th sotho is harvesting less than a tenth of the there are as yet few swollen bellies and hol em Africa will still need some help buYing grain it grew last year. Botswana has de low eyes to beam into the rich world's liv the grain. clared a drought emergency, and says that ing-rooms. And last time round it was four Getting it where it is needed will be a fur SQ-90% of the crops grown by small farmers to six months after the donors pledged help ther problem in a region which, in normal on its communal lands have failed. before any shipments actually reached the times, sees relatively little bulk movement region. of grain because so many people feed them Maize is not the only blighted crop. Cas So southern Africans have begun to take selves. So since 1992 SADchas mapped out a sava has been destroyed by insects and matters into their own hands. "We realise distribution system to bring emergency sup drought in parts of M_ozambique's. Gaza there are too many emergencies in the world plies from the ports-as far north as Dar es province. In South Africa, farmers m the for outsiders to deal with us," says Reggie Salaam, in Tanzania, round through those northern Transvaal, a dry and dusty region Mugwara, food security co-ordinator for of Mozambique, South Africa and Namibia stretching up to the Limpopo, have seen SADC, in Harare. "Most of the cost will have up to Luanda in Angola-to remote inland cash crops of tobacco, cotton and sunflow to be borne by member states." Their first villages: needs in area Awill be met through ers suffer too. Many of these farmers are still aim is to buy grain from nearby countries port B or maybe c, using means of transport in debt after the miserable 1992 harvest. that have it to spare, as Zimbabwe bought o, E, F and G. The lorries and rail-wagons of Some have had to lay off their black farm from South Africa in 1992. This gets food to course are not sitting waiting, but the mech workers, who rely on cash earned in the the needy fast, and avoids the sudden, be anism is. white farmers' fields; some have already lated arrival ofvast supplies which can push All of which, hope southern Africans, gone bankrupt. But maize is what matters prices down and slash the incomes of local should help them become less depend~nt most. It is the commonest crop grown by farmers. But this time South Africa too has on food aid. During the 1980s, the region smallholders, often in little patches of land had a thin harvest. Regional governments had to import about a tenth of its needs, squeezed between their shacks. If it fails, the must seek grain farther afield. roughly half of which came as aid. Now, in poor are in deep trouble. It exists. But how is it to be paid for? good years, it can probably hope ~r self-suf Southern Africa will soon make a collec SADC wants member governments to start ficiency, thanks both to the tentative spread tive appeal for help, based on an assessment building an expectation of drought into of peace in Angola and Mozambique and to of need just made by the United Nations' their yearly budgets, 'rather than treating it the freeing of farm prices. That will be good World Food Programme and the Food and as a shock. As a further precaution, SADC all round, except, maybe, for European and American farm budgets. Drought is a dou Agriculture Organisation. But the r~ion wants to prepare some sort of rese~ for did not wake up to the drought overnight. emergencies. That used to mean a pile of ble-edged threat to African farmers: hunger Ministers from the Southern African Devel grain stored somewhere that could be dug today, then food aid-ie, rich countries' opment Community (SADC), whose 11 wheat surpluses-then low prices for local members successfully got together to orga 49 farmers' crops tomorrow. nise the import and distribution of food in 1992, met back injanuaryto start measuring how bad things were this time. SADC had al-