Y K on the World Council of Churches' supporters of southern Afi Program to Combat Racism. liberation movements we But why no mention in that same implicitly or explicitly accep editorial of their vicious red-baiting idea that the anti-apartheid r of the path-breaking October 1981 ment here was a "CP front." Conference in Solidarity with the would be a mirror image of R Liberation Struggles of the Peoples ia's view that the African N t Dear Friends: Africa held at New Congress of South Africa isma feels apprehensive in of Southern One always York's Riverside Church? Or do you lated and directed by the E writing a publication one admires accept the absurd notion that this African Communist Party am only when severe criticism arises. mass upsurge of anti-apartheid, Sldvo. I trust that you will spea But the alternative of looking the anti-imperialist sentiment was all a on this matter in the near f other way is even more ghastly to devious and manipulative effort and vigorously protest "60 contemplate. I refer to the editorial by the Communist utes' red-baiting. issue ["The Gos manufactured in your March 1983 silence on this to CBS"] that torrect Party, USA? Your pel According question was deafening. ly raked CBS and "60 Minutes" over Solid the coals for their unseemly attack It would be ironic indeed if US Dr. Gerald.

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*.SOUTHERN CONTENTS PROFILE Af 3 TransAfrica: Africa's Ally RICA in Washington Volume XVI Number SOUTH AFRICA 3 6 South African Churches Under April 1983 Attack 8 Labour Party Decision Sparks Protests CEUTA MLILLA -.--- I - ZIMBABWE 9 Nkomo flees Zimbabwe NAMIBIA 13 SWAPOLeader Raps Reagan CULTURE 14 The Role of Culture in the Struggle of lndependence: Remembering Amilcar Cabral ANGOLA 17 SWAPO Refugees: With the People of Cuanza Sul BOOK REVIEW .j- 22 South African Sports - ~ SOLIDARITY NEWS A ..IWA I" 26 Mass Divest-A Campaign That DEPARTMENTSWorked

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, T" Cover Photo: Lynne Barbee

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APRIL 1983/SOUTHERN AFRICA 1 uprisings in 1976. "The South Afri Botha, Union Buildings, Pretor can government is trying to remove South Africa. Letters of solidar the leadership of the people in order should go to SAAWU, 94 Tasnr to suppress the revolutionary tempo Center, 122 Victoria Street, Di of the country," said Makhanda. ban, 40001, South Africa. "For instance, they- cannot legally arrest someone for leading a union, so they arrest them for 'reviving the Frontline Leader PAC.' Meets Reagan Makhanda also pointed out that Zambian President Kenn( the trial began March 22, just one Kaunda met for two hours in Wa day after the 23rd anniversary of ington with President Ronald R PAC Trial Opens the Sharpeville massacre in 1960, gan on March 30. Kaunda, a strc when 67 unarmed demonstrators, critic of Reagan's "constructive On March 22, the trial of nine led by the PAC, were gunned down gagement" policy towards Sot Black South African activists ac for protesting South Africa's pass Africa, and of Washington's hi cused of "furthering the aims" of the laws. dling of the Namibia negotiatia exiled Pan Africanist Congress of was at pains to find points of agr Azania, began in Johannesburg. ment with the president, saying i The trial marks the first major Union Loader two, "share an abhorrance of i court case involving the PAC since apartheid system," and that Nam 1979, when the "Bethal eighteen" Tortured ia "is a serious problem." Black activists were convicted of But Kaunda's visit, the first b: forming a PAC front organization In early March the South African leader of an African "frontlii inside South Africa. police detained a number of Black state since Reagan's inaugurati Those on trial this March include labor leaders in another crackdown seemed more motivated by econc a banned journalist and founding on South Africa's independent ics than politics. Zambia is seek: member of the Union of Black Jour Black trade union movement. Ac US support for a rescheduling of nalists, Joseph Thlole, the secretary cording to the New York-based $3 billion foreign debt, and acco of the Black Municipal Workers American Committee on Africa, ing to some reports, for a new % Union, Philip Dlamini, and the en those detained include the president million loan from the Internatioi tire leadership of the Azanian of the South African Allied Workers Monetary Fund. Youth Unity Organization (AZAN Union, Thozamile Gqweta, SAAWU Although Washington has bx YU). The AZANYU defendants Vice President Sisa Njikelna, and critical of Kaunda's purchases Chairman Harrison Nongqekele, Jef Nabena, also a member of arms from the Soviet Union, he General Secretary Sipho Ngcobo, SAAWU. SAAWU members Bung also viewed as moderate, and p Branch Chairman Mfana Mtshali, wizi Sufing, Humphrey Mafegwana, Western, and a state departmi and President Nhlanganigo Siban as well as Sidney Mafanude, a source suggested the US would b da-were arrested in May 1982 and member of the General and Allied additional IMF loans to the ha detained on unspecified charges. Workers Union, were also detained pressed central African state. Also on trial are Shadrack Ram recently. pete, husband of AZANYU Treasurer Most of the labor leaders have Bafedile Rampete, and two other been detained before, and for Black community leaders, Veli Gqweta this is the eighth time since Mguni and Steven Mzolo. 1980 that he has been picked up. In -All nine are charged with further late March Gqweta submitted de ing the aims of the PAC by procure tailed testimony of the torture he ment of arms, recruitment of people, has been subjected to while in cus and mobilizing support within trade tody. In one incident he was union and community organiza stripped naked, handcuffed and sus tions. pended from window bars. A wet Asked about the trial and its sig bag was then put over his head and nificance for the struggle in South electric shock applied to his toes. Africa, PAC Assistant to the Repre After his testimony before a South sentative to the United Nations, African court, Gqweta was returned Kindo Makhanda, placed the trial to police custody. in the context of the PAC's long The American Committee on history of struggle inside the coun Africa has put out a call requesting try, from the Sharpeville demon that letters of protest be sent to the strations in 1960 to the Soweto South African Prime Minister P.W.

2 SOUTHERN AFRICA/APRIL 1983 PROFILE TransAfrica: Africa's Ally in Washington

130 national Black leaders initially convened by Charles Diggs, then the chairman of the House Africa subcommitee, and by Andrew Young, at the time a Congressman from Atlanta. The leaders at that conference were concerned about the direction of US policy towards white minority-ruled Rhodesia, and they felt that Black Americans needed a permanent vehicle through which they could express their views on American foreign policy towards Africa and the Carib bean. Out of that conference came a resolution establishing Trans Africa. The lobby's initial focus was US policy towards Rhodesia, and the organization worked hard to keep then-President Jimmy Carter from lifting sanctions against the rebel white government. (For a descrip TransAfrica Director Randall Robinson. tion of TransAfrica's first three years see "Advocates for Africa on by GregBeals '"Te whole object of TransAfrica Capitol Hill," Southern Africa, Jan is to build a constituency large uary 1980.) Persuading the American Con enough and effective enough and In the past two years, the organi gress to side with Black Africa in efficient enough to be able to reward zation has been deeply involved in, political and economic matters is and penalize members of Congress some key Congressional struggles- just about the last job most people who are unresponsive," explains the fight to retain would choose. Yet the Clark Amend for the last seven TransAfrica Executive Director ment's ban on covert years the dedicated support for staff at Trans Randall Robinson. The result of this anti-government rebels in Africa, Angola the Black American lobby type of pragmatic analysis is that and lobbying in support of legisla for Africa and the Caribbean, has Robinson spends at least half his tion prohibiting US corporate invest been doing just that. But lobbying time mobilizing people around the ment without in South Africa among them. a big budget, or extra cash country, and building up Trans But TransAfrica's focus isn't limited to buy votes, is much more than but Africa's network of local chapters. to southern Africa, the organization tonholing members of Congress and Indeed, although it can't compare in has also sponsored forums and lob working the three-martini lunch financial resources with the high circu t. bied for greater assistance to budget corporate lobbies, Trans refugees in North Africa, worked to Africa today is an impressive organ Greg Beals majored in African support POLISARIO freedom fight studies and ization, with twelve chapters across ers in the Western Sahara, and politicalscience at Wes the US, 4leyan over 10,000 individual lobbied for US recognition of Presi University. He studied politi members, and cal economy in Ghand an annual budget in dent Fidel Castro's government in in 1980 before excess of $400,000. returning to the US as a foreign Cuba. affairs intern for the Congressional Black Caucus. He Black American Vehicle South Africa/Namibia Key Issue now lives in New TransAfrica York. was formed in 1977 "But the key issue," Robinson is following a two-day gathering of quick to point out, "has been the

APRIL 1983/SOUTHERN AFRICA 3 PROFILE

South Africa/Namibia issue. And generate letters and phone calls to lators, national civic and religi we have spent a good deal of time the Commerce Department, the leaders, local political leaders, testifying on that issue, generating Congress, and the White House .grassroots activists. letter writing campaigns, and meet opposing the export application. Final For instance, in speaking at ing with members of the adminis ly, TrnsAfrica- together with other the cultural boycott Robinson po tration and with Congress on these anti-apartheid and anti-nuclear out that, "no doubt a lot of peopl questions." The focus of all this groups, worked with sympathetic to perform in South Africa witt activity is the Reagan administra members of Congress, enlisting any information about the imp] tion's "constructive engagement" them to help persuade their more tions of going." And getting that policy that advocates closer rela reluctant fellow legislators. And as formation out is a key aspec tions with Pretoria. TansAfrica of early 1983, the shipment of iso TransAfrica's work. To do this has worked to fight and expose US static presses has been blocked-an Forum publishes a monthly n( collaboration, with apartheid in a indication that even with a hostile letter that has featured, in theI number of areas. administration this type of lobbying few months, interviews with The big issues last year, accord campaign can be effective. likes of SWAPO leader Sam Nul ing to Robinson, included exposing Just how effective depends on and former US Ambassador to the shipment last August of 2500 their ability to wield real political United Nations Donald McHei electric -"shock batons" to South clout. "You have to let people know The Forum also publishes a qi Africa. The device, which delivers a that there's a political consequence terly journal and researches a ni powerful 3500-volt shock, has been in it," Robinson explained. "If one ber of other key issues affect singled out as an ideal crowd control depends on sheer weight of moral Africa and the Caribbean. or torture instrument. TransAfrica force, in most cases you are not In addition to the Forum's F was also the first anti-apartheid going to do very well. You have to be lications, TransAfrica publishE group to learn that South Africa able to demonstrate that this is an quarterly update, TransAft was about to apply for a large loan issue that a member of Congress News Report, and periodic act from the International Monetary can't afford to ignore. alerts to members around the cc Fund, and the organization worked And one of the prime weapons try. And it is these two publicati hard, although unsuccessfully, to that TransAfrica tries to mobilize that form the backbone of Trf stop US government support for the for the Congressional wars is Black Africa's communications with n loan. Americans. "Our prime constit bers around the country. Whe Working on behalf of African lib uents are Black Americans," says piece of legislation in Congy eration with a man in the White Robinson. "Black Americans com requires special attention, Tn House who views apartheid's rulers prise at least ten percent of some Africa mails out action alerts to as "our old friends," can be discour 150 congressional districts," Robin. constituencies. In addition, 14 aging, but Robinson seems un son points out, "and in many dis chapters are contacted to organ: daunted. While pointing out that a tricts throughout the southeast in national response. lot of time is spent trying to control the high thirties and forties." As The TransAfrica chapters E the damage caused by the Reagan Robinson sees it, there is a tremen hold special events of-both an e administration, he also noted some dous potential there for having a cational and a fundraising nati impressive victories in which major impact on US policy. For instance the Boston char TransAfrica has played a signifi Education Key hosted a dinner for Black former cant role. ambassadors - the first time BI Last year the Commerce Depart The key to organizing this poten US ambassadors had ever b4 ment received an application from a tial, Robinson believes, is raising called together. The event company wanting to export an iso popular awareness of the issues. tracted, 1,300 people. The Bce static press to South Africa. These Again and again Robinson em chapter also played an import presses can be put to a number of phasized the importance of educat role in organizing support fo uses, among them the development ing the general public. "You can't ef state divestment bill that bece of nuclear weapons. When word of fectively lobby, nor can you effec law early this year. the pending application leaked out, tively mobilize your people to lobby, anti-apartheid groups around the until and unless you have an effec National Role country swung into gear. TransAfri tive educational campaign," he said. Robinson is careful, howeveri ca for its part organized a delega In 1981 a new organization, to limit TransAfrica's audience j tion of national leaders, both Black TransAfrica Forum, was created to to Black Americans. "In a broa and white, to meet with Commerce do the work of educating the gen Way we have a broader const: Department officials to discuss the eral ,public about African and Carib ency, in that we believe very stro application.,The alarm was sounded bean affairs. This education process ly in the value of coalitions," through the organization's national takes place on a number of levels. said. "Of course we work with alert system and all twelve chapters TransAfrica and TransAfrica American Committee on Afr across the country were mobilized to Forum provide information to legii- [ACOA], the Washington Office

4 SOUTHERN AFRICA/APRIL 1983 PROFILE

Africa, the United Auto Workers, the various church groups, for ,stance." The national anti-apartheid or ganizations, says Robinson, coor dinate in a number of ways. As examples he points to the Southern Africa Working Group in Washing ton, made up of twenty national organizations with offices in the capital area, and to the Campaign Against Investments in South Afri ca, a national coalition pressing state and local governments to divest public monies from corpora tions involved in South Africa. "I don't see any difference of view among national organizationsi" says Robinson, "only a difference of function." For instance, he notes that "ACOA is a very, very impor tant research institution." And the Muzorewa would have been en Africa, raise the issue of news ~ashington Office on Africa, for its couraged by the lifting of sanc papers carrying false and mislead art, is an organization that works tions." Robinson also believes ing ads paid for by South Africa that closely with the national church Carter deserves credit for taking give wrongful impressions to the apparatus. some initiative on Namibia. "The public about what is going on "TransAfrica's role, or a piec of main problem with the Carter ad there." it," the veteran Black leader ex ministration is that it didn't have the Robinson also urges local ac plains, "is to mobilize the Black au. character of conviction to go the last, tivists to raise the issue of US cor dience. To bring it together with the mile, and to that extent all of the porations involved in South Africa constituency mobilized by the previous Democratic administra and Washington oppose the sale of South African Office on Africa and tions have not looked terribly dif gold coins, provoked to think and Krugerrands, in the to learn by ferent in character from the Repub United States. ACOA." In addition And he stressed the to explicitly lican administrations-only in de need for greater grassroots pres anti-apartheid groups, there are gree, not in kind," he said. sure. church and labor organizations that For the immediate future, "'This thing can't be built have focused on the under from top issue of south Ronald Reagan, Robinson sees ern ac down alone," he explained "We Africa. "All of these church or tions such as the successful battle to can't persuade the Congress that ganizations, labor organizations, retain the Clark amendment as key. this is an important issue to deal and Africa organizations have "When it sometimes comes down to the tough with unless at the same time there overlapping, but for the issues of how the US should is vigorous most part different respond local activity on Kruger constituencies," to South Africa when it becomes rand questions, where your public he said. very publicly and very Turning clearly pension monies are, and where your to the future, Robinson known that the §outh Africans begins by assessing the recent state monies are. All of these things past. aren't going to allow UN supervised have to be raised because the South "Without a Democratic president we elections in -Namibia, we've got a African connection with the United have very little capacity to ini long way tiate to go in getting this States goes far beyond the positions anything. But we still have a Congress-anymore capacity to block than any previ of the Reagan administration and certain actions ous Congress--to the investments that are taken," he said. Robinson take tough action,, of multinational and to urge the administration to companies." credits the Carter administration take tough action." "When the issue is raised like for pursuing sanctions against 'But, he says, "we've got to push that and becomes one of broad con Rhodesia in the face of strong pres for some clear measures against cern, then I think we will get a bet sure from conservatives. "One South Africa. And that is going to ter response on the national level. &light even go on further to specu be a big issue." Those people who manage national 'late that had those sanctions been "I'd encourage activists generally policy will know then that this con lifted the conference in London across the country to begin to raise cern about South Africa is more per might never been held and the war the issue of South Africa for public vasive than they ever thought it might have gone on a good bit long notice," said Robinson. "Raise the is-' was." I. er, because clearly Ian Smith and sue of entertainers going to South

APRIL 1983/SOUTHERN AFRICA 5 SOUTH AFRICA South African Churches Under.Attack

In an effort to stifle domestic that a dynamic thrust for c church opposition to apartheid, the emerged from the church's I South African government has, for constituency. All across S the past year, launched a major Africa there was a renewal of] effort to discredit Anglican Bishop political consciousness, a revit Desmond Tutu and the ecumenical tion of demands for justice social welfare and evangelical or equality. This mood, which ganization he heads. As part of that duced strikes, student boycott campaign, the head of the South the 1976 uprisings, was mirror African Security Police, Lieutenant the life of the churches, and c General Johan Coetzee, recently SACC. told a.government commission that By 1970, Blacks made up 35 the South African Council of cent of the membership an Churches should be barred from re ceiving percent of the observer church any funds from foreign the council, although whites sources. As some 96 percent of the. council's held all positions of authorit3 annual budget, which 1973, the director of SACC's Ju topped $4 million last year, is offi cially estimated and Reconciliation Division ( to come from for to the e eign churches, suggest in reference Coetzee's recommen gence of black consciousness dation would effectively destroy the "this needs to be encouraged church agency. supported by the Echoing churches." Ti allegations frequently had indeed changed. made by government members, Coetzee also alleged that the South heid" Tutu stated at a September with the State African Council of Churches, under Clashes press conference in New York City. wo did the level of confront General Secretary Tutu, has been According to the Bishop: "The activ guilty of "advancing with the government. With ch the cause" of ities in which the South African involvement the banned African National with African op Con Council of Churches is necessarily tion groups on the rise, gress, a major then-P liberation organiza involved are provided for in other Minister John Vorster warned tion in South Africa. countries by the state. When we clerics who were planning to "d, Coetzee's changes came during furnish legal counsel to'persons who kind of thing here in South A stimony before the Eloff Commis are accused of political offenses, we that Martin Luther King di sion, an all white, five-member are assisting in the administration America," to "cut it out, cut ii governent-appointed body headed of justice. When we give food and immediately, for the cloak you ( by a South African judge, C. A. shelter to people who are forcibly will not protect you if you try 1 Eloff. Ostensibly set up in 1982 to resettled, we supply vital social this in South Africa." True t( investigate SACC's finances, the services .... What the government words, Vorster had increasing r appointment of the Commission fol is really saying is that it is criminal bers of progressive church leE lowed years of increasing govern to be a Christian in South Africa." jailed, banned and harassed as ment harassment of the council and Mirror of Society their congregations ii The council supported its members. Church officials both traces its roots back struggle against pass arrests here and in South Africa have to 1904 and the South African Gen movals, and all the many face ridiculed government charges and eral Missionary Conference, an ini apartheid. Finally, in Febri claim the SACC is being harassed tiative undertaken jointly by the 1978, Anglican Bishop Dean because of its demonstrated opposi major white churches. Yet even the Mpilo Tutu became the first Afi tion to the racist apartheid policies supposedly liberal white-controlled general secretary of the SACC. pursued by South African Prime churches were less than eager cam Today the SACC represent Minister P.W. Botha. paigners for Black social justice, million South African Christia "We know that the real reason for and mostly identified with the con 80 percent of whom are poor the South African government's tinuing state policy of white Black. Virtually all of its opera hearings is to discredit us and our supremacy. expenses come from churche longstanding opposition to apart- It was not until the late 1960s Western Europe and North Ai

69UTHERN AFRICA/APRIL 1983 SOUTH AFRCA

ica. Through the National Council which most certainly did not come committed to the struggle for justice Churches in the United States, from a preSent staff member, al and liberaton. 1r example, SACC received up to though it clearly came from sources Nor is the political assault on the $100,000 a year for programs that progressive church limited to South assist political detainees of prison Africa. From Johannesburg to San ers and their families. Salvador to Tchula, Mississippi, Until recently, the widespread "What the government is church support for human rights support that the council and Bishop has provoked opposition and retali Tutu enjoy abroad made, the South really saying is that it is ation from the state and from con African governnent and police servative elements within the move cautiously against the church. criminal to be a Christian church itself. Now apparently buoyed by the In early February, Jacobus Wes ascendency of like-minded leaders in South Africa." sels, an auditor hired by the Eloff in the US, the South African gov Commission to examine SACC's fi ernment seems to .have decided it nances released his findings. has the green light to crush its Although the report criticized the church opposition. SACC's accounting and disburse According to General Coetzee, for ment controls, the audit found no SACC to become'a "true South Afri evidence of embezzlement, misman can Council of Churches, free from who have access to the SACC infor agement or illegality in the hand foreign control and financial mation and know something about ling of SACC funds. Wessels also slavery," it should be declared an its donor members." The Rev. Peter noted that SACC's bookkeeping pro ,affected organizationi ineligible to Storey, the SACCs president, com cedures had improved noticeably in receive any funds from foreign mented, "We as a council are get 1980. Nevertheless, the Eloff Com sources. ting used to the kind of methods one mission investigation is continuing. would never normally associate And so does the work of the South Broad Attack with the world of the church but African Council of Churches. In on Justice Advocacy which belong to the gutter areaof Bishop Tutu's words: "While the But the establishment of the Eloff the political arena . . .The stakes government may persecute us, it Commission is only one tactic in the must be very high to discredit us." will not succeed in its attempts to government's war against the In the US, right-wing ideologues sabotage our mission. The council is SACC. This past November, in an such as Ernest W. Lefever and the not a fly-by-night organization. It is attempt to undermine the council's Institute for Religion and Democra part of'the whole Church of God. In international credibility, an anony cy, by attacking the sources of taking on the council, the South mous letter was sent to overseas SACC's funding, notably the World African government is taking on and member churches of the SACC Council of Churches, have allied the whole Church throughout the bitterly attacking Tutu. According with the South African government world. As tyrants have before, they to the Bishop, it was a "smear letter against the work of church activists will come a cropper." F.M.[]

OUTHERN SOU- AFRICA

Labour Party Decision Sparks Protests

The South African Coloured La cal campaign. bour Party's early January decision Another major supporter o to collaborate with the govern United Democratic Front i: ment's new constitutional reform Allan Boesak, a minister i plans has sparked major opposition '!colored" branch of the D among the party's mixed race, or "colored" Reformed Church who was apl constituency. A series of ed president of the World Allia] Labour Party meetings during Reformed Churches last At February, at which the leadership (see Southern Africa, Nove: had hoped to explain the party's 1982). In explaining his oppo, stance, ended in near rioting as to acceptance of the constitut crowds of angry people denounced plan, Boesak notes that, "the p. party leader Allan Hendrickse for based on acceptance of the fact becoming "a junior partner in white the homeland policy would be supremacy." Participants in these versible, and that all the I meetings strongly rejected the Labour Party Leader Allan Hendrickse. tenets of apartheid . . . Charges of sellout. Labour Party's acceptance of the remain intact." Boesak's inv government's constitutional ment in the formation of the i program, which calls for limited leadership's decision. According "colored" to his prominent place in the "col and Indian participation the South African Financial Mail, community,. and his internat in a legislative system that totally "fiery disruption" marked most of stature as president of the i excludes the majority African popu the Labour Party's meetings in body of the Dutch Reformed C1 lation and ensures white control February. has led a number of observe over the government. refer to him as a political alt The Labour Party leaders, how New Forces Align tive to Hendrickse. Although ct ever, have continued to argue that The high level of opposition to the of his name have drowned out the "time for protest politics is over" plan within the Labour Party, as eral recent Labour Party meet and that participation in the new well as among even moderate Black Boesak has repeatedly maint4 racially segregated parliament will ,and Indian leaders has sparked the that he is not a political leader. give them a platform to fight for creation of an opposition formation Perhaps most interesting ar more rights for all South Africans. called the United Democratic Front. parallels being drawn betweei That these sentiments are not Formed in January, this new coali United Democratic Front an( shared by many of the Labour tion seeks to galvanize "colored," old Congress Alliance, a 1 Party's presumed constituents be Indian, and Black forces to fight the grouping that included the T came obvious when Hendrickse proposed reforms. Support for the vaal Indian Congress, the D and National Chairman David Cur UDF has been taken up by a variety Indian Congress and the i ray tried to argue their case at a of community organizations, includ banned African National Cong rally in the town of Stellenbosch, ing the country's largest non-racial The Transvaal Anti-South Af just outside of Cape Town. No, trade union, the Federation of South Indian Council, a group form sooner had the meeting begun than African Trade Unions, FOSATU, oppose the government-sponE fists, chairs, bricks and stones which has pledged to work with South African Indian Council, began to fly. In the end, five people groups opposing the constitutional publicly called for the revival c lay badly injured as police led the plan and the Labour Party's deci Transvaal Indian Congress, two leaders to safety. Earlier that sion to take part in it. FOSATU's advocates its participation in week, at the end of a stormy meet decision marks the first time that UDF, suggesting a new attempi ing near Pretoria, less than a third that labor federal federation has mass movement along the lihn of the audience voted to endorse the participated in an explicitly politi- the postwar alliance. M.

8 SOUTHERN AFRICA/APRIL 1983 ZIMBABWE

tdkomo Flees Zimbabwe

In a dramatic twist to his long and controversial political career, on March 8 Zimbabwe opposition PF-ZAPU leader, Joshua Nkomo fled into exile in Botswana after government troops raided his Bulawayo home, killing his chauf feur. The army sweep, part of a military campaign by Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF government against "dissident" former members of Nkomo's ZIPRA guerrilla forces, reportedly left two other people 4iead in the nation's second largest city. According to government sources in Harare, Nkomo's driver was slain after he pointed a pistol at an approaching army patrol, but Nkomo aides produced a blood stained mattress which they said proved the chauffeur had been shot in bed. After four secluded days in Botswana, Nkomo traveled on to London, where he charged Mugabe with plotting to kill him. Nkomo's ZAPU leader Joshua Nkomo. His return to return to exile follows months of political career. deepening antagonism between and shot dozens of civilians in re horror stories reminiscent of the Mugabe's ruling ZANU party and cent months. And while the dissi worst excesses of the Ian Smith their erstwhile coalition govern dents have certainly been waging a regime-of government security ment partners in ZAPU. Relations harsh campaign, ZAPU has re forces cutting a brutal swathe between the two nationalist parties, sponded with accusations of brutali through rural villages, burning never good, flared into open con ty against the government security huts and crops, cutting off and frontation in February 1982, after forces sent to Matabeleland to crush seizing food supplies, summarily arms caches were discovered on the dissidents. executing villagers suspected of ZAPU-owned farms. The revela Mugabe has denied any designs sympathizing with the dissidents, tions led to the arrest of seven top on the opposition leader's life, say interning scores of ZAPU members ZAPU and ZIPRA officials on treas ing Nkomo is "welcome home" at in hastily contructed detention on charges (see related article), and any time. But Nkomo has dismissed camps, and sending hundreds of Nkomo's expulsion from the govern Mugabe's offer with the comment, refugees fleeing Matabeleland into ment. "that's very nice, but his boys al Zambia and Botswana. Estimates of These animosities have been com most got me switched off." He has the number of civilians killed by the pounded by ZANU charges that demanded a meeting with Zimbab army have run as high as 3,000, and ZAPU is directing the "dissidents" wean officials in London, as well as a number of relief and church or in their anti-government guerrilla personal guarantees of his safety. ganizations, including some who *ampaign centered in the western strongly supported the liberation province of Matabeleland (see Atrocities Reported struggle, have submitted detailed Southern Africa, March 1983). The In recent months, ZAPU state reports of army atrocities to' the dissidents have attacked and de ments and Western press reports government. stroyed government development about the government's anti-dissi The reports were sharply denied projects, robbed banks and stores, dent campaign have been filled with by Minister of State for Defense Dr.

APRIL 1983SOUTHERN AFRICA 9 ZIMBABWE

Sydney Sekeramayi, who accused counts of abuses from previously re "contemptible mischief," and hf ZAPU and the foreign press of mali liable sources suggests that the manded that Nkomo halt the d cious distortions. "Nkomo has made army has gone beyond the "rough dents' activities, "before it is wild allegations about so and ready" tactics Harare concedes late." called atrocities being perpetrated are being employed in Matabeleland by the Zimbabwe National Army to a deliberate policy of intimidat Reconciliation or Civil War? against the civilian population," ing the local populace. These It is open to question, how( Sekeraniayi said. "The security charges have centered on the Fifth how much influence Nkomo ret forces are operating and will always Brigade, -a newly created and spe over the dissidents, especially operate within the confines of the cially trained Zimbabwe National having left the country. Many law . ... If some innocent people Army (ZNA) unit composed almost mer ZIPRA guerrillas are know get caught up it is regrettable, but exclusively of ZANU ex-guerrillas be unhappy with the moderate it's not a Zimbabwean peculiarity considered to be intensely. loyal to cies adopted by the national that in a conflict situation some ZANU and Mugabe personally. ernment, and with Nkomo'$ inef innocent civilians regrettably fall Nkomo described the-unit as a "po iveness in opposition. Many victim." litical and tribal army come to wipe reported to look to tl~eir for But government denials notwith out the Ndebeles." Sekeramayi commanders, Lookout Masuku standing, the volume of detailed ac- termed Nkomo's characterization Dumiso Dabengwa for leader The slow pace of land reform, failure of the government to n against foreign capital, and v many perceive as a gradual puq the left wings of both parties by t respective leaderships is far r likely to be at the heart of the d dent movement than any underl: ethnic tension. Even if a formula can be rea( for Nkomo's return to Zimbat and for some kind of reconcilis between the leaderships of both ties, the dissidents problem is likely to fade away. Some rep have put the number of ex-ZI! deserters from the ZNA at ( 4,000, with perhaps 1,000 of t] presently involved in the wes fighting. Other reports claim dissidents have revived the ZIPRA command structure from days of the liberation struggle are targeting white commer farmers in their anti-governn campaign. These reports recei an added measure of credibi with the shooting deaths of members of a white farming far in mid-March. "The young men who have away are trained people," one hi ly .placed ZAPU official cautiot "They have spent years flghti They will cross the country to di the arms which they have bw and they will fight with them. fought Smith because he v wrong," he continued. "Now we fight Mugabe because he is wroni Prime Minister Robert Mugabe. 'We will finish the war Nkomo has started."

10 SOUTHERN AFRIOA/APRIL 1983 ZIMBABWE

Treason Letter

A point usually missed in Western press coverage of Zimbabwe is that the so-called "dissidents" tend to look toward the ex-leaders of ZAPU's military wing for politi cal inspiration. The left-wing politics of these leaders are shared by many "dissident" elements, who have car ried their criticism of ZANU's policies with them as they try to mobilize the masses for what some of them have reportedly described as a "second liberation war." A key demand of the dissidents has been for the release of these leaders, who have been on trial since February 7. On March 22 the Zimbabwe High Court in Harare dismissed treason charges against six of seven high ex ZIPRA and ZAPU leaders accused of plotting to over throw the Mugabe government. Judge Hilary Squires, "rho sent numerous Zimbabwean nationalist militants to the gallows during the liberation war, ruled that Dumiso Dabengwa, former ZIPRA intelligence chief, still had treason charges to answer. The other six still face weapons possession charges, for which the state can demand the death penalty. Dabengwa, 43, joined the struggle in 1960 as a youth leader in the National Democratic Party, a precursor to ZAPU which had not yet split into rival factions headed by Nkomo and Mugabe. After training in the USSR and holding a number of ZIPRA posts in the war, he became the organization's chief of intelligence and secretary of ZAPU's War Council. From April 1980 to August 1981 he was a member of the Joint High Command. After the death of J.Z. Moyo, Dabengwa has been seen as the most prominent left-wing figure in ZAPU. The following are excerpts from a letter Dabengwa sent to Soviet leader Yuri Andropov while the latter was KGB head, and on which the state has based its treason charges. In his ruling, Judge Squires said much of the treason case would rest on when the letter, dated April 28, 1980, was actually written. Dabengwa says the let- Oh ter was written in mid-March, before independence and is therefore not treasonous: Former ZIPRA commanders Lookout Masuku (left) and DearCde Chairman. Dumilso Dabengwa. Ih connection with Cde Nkomo's His candid inclination towards Anglo-American im personairequest to you, I am authorisedby him to define perialistshs already widely opened doors to the country more precisely some points and to make some additional for all governments that in the past contributed in sup explanationsso that our stand could be more clear to, yu. pressingthe masses of Zimbabwe. 0 Cde Nkomo is unable to leave the country at present The masses of Zimbabwe are deeply convinced that due to the tense situation in the country which could Mugabe has turned out to be actually morereactionary develop to be explosive as a result of the proviocative and and pro-Western than Muzorewa and that his policies aggressive conduct of ZANU elements aimed at assist- will undermine the national interests of Zimbabwe and ing to bring into reality the pro-Western policies of herpeople. Mugabe. It has also become clear that the British and USA

APRIL 1983/SOUTHERN AFRICA I I Z]MBABWE

governments intend to make a stance in their neo [KGB] representative,Cde Maxim, to remain in Z colonialist aspirationsand make Zimbabwe into a key under his present cover and to be allowed free ac, country in the region for their southern African axis of all five frontline states-Zambia, Tanzania, M influence. bique, Botswana and Angola (perhapsLesotho a, This is why we are of the opinion that the greatest so that he can lean in his work on the whole KGB threat to Zimbabwe, her national independence and ties in this partof the world. sovereignty, originates from the UK, USA and South We are confident that we can arrangehis entry v Africa. Zimbabwe. Having in mind the above-mentioned, we now request I should further like to assureyou that Cde you, Cde Pres Chairman, to render us further assistance in Nkomo has already sought PresidentKaunda's our next struggle against imperialist co, intrigues, and the on his [Maxim's] continued stay in Zambia, per, subversive activities of their secret services against your approval. Zimbabwe. Contact and consultation between us (NSO) As ar an as the politicalpower in Zimbabwe is concerned, Maxim, we suggest, should in future be arranged we consider this an internal affair for the people of the frontline states mentioned above. We intend to s Zimbabwe to decide. our NSO representativein Zambia for liaison fum In order to start active work and to achieve better With warmest regards, results, as spelt out above, we request you to allow your Signed Dumiso Dabe Secretary for National Security OrganE

AFRICA/APRIL 1983 SWAPO Leader Raps Reagan Six years after the Western powers promised the world a speedy resolution to the painful independence, question of Namibia's and over six decades after the first South African troops entered the territory,peace and freedom for the Namibian people seems as far away as ever. Particularlysince 1981, when the Reagan administrationcame into office, the professional liars in Washington and Pretoriahave erected an opaque wall of fabrications,misinformation and false / hopes aroundthe steadily escalatingconflict in Namibia. First there was the illusion of "constructiveengagement," the fantasy that closer military and political ties to the US would persuade the Afrikaners to vacate Namibia and liberalize apartheid at home. Then there was the illusion of progress in the drawn out Namibia negotiations - created by the promulgation of some irrelevant "constitutional principles" and a lot of on-the-record star-gazingfor gullible reporters.Now the world is hearingthe politicalfable that the Cubans in Angola are the only obstacle to a settlement in Namibia. This very story, in fact, was put Department forth by State officials in mid-March after yet another round of talks first in Paris with the Angolans and then in Washington with the South Africans. But behind this artful dodgingof South African intransigenceand American complicity lies theharshreality of South African aggression and occupation in Namibia and southern Angola. Noticeably absent from most recent discussions of Namibia, however, has been any report of what the Namibian liberationmovement, SWAPO, has SWAPO been doing or saying. leader Sam Nujoma, speaking before an audience that included Washington's top Africa adviser, Chester Crocker, laid the illusions surrounding "constructive engagement" and the deadlocked Namibia talks to rest in a *nid-January talk in Harare,Zimbabwe. We reprint below excerpts from the SWAPO leader'saddress:

As representatives of the oppressed but struggling military and diplomatic exchanges with the racists of Namibian people, we in SWAPO are extremely per Pretoria. turbed by the current US policy towards Africa, especially southern Africa. In the case of Namibia, the Reagan administration The prospects for our oppressed people to be able to has in actual fact helped, through the policy of "con immediately exercise their inalienable right to self structive engagement," to turn the clock backregarding determination and to achieve national independence the independence of our country. For instance, since remain bleak. The US is largely.to be blamed for this April 1981, the Reagan administration has been busy state of affairs. trying to rewrite UN Security Council resolution 435 in The people of Namibia, particularly the Black major an effort to male it more favorable to South Africa. ity, are paying an enormous and ever-increasing price, The Reagan administration came up with its notor in terms of human suffering and loss of-life, for each day ious "linkage" issue which has led to the current by which South Africa's illegal occupation is prolonged. impasse in the Namibian negotiating process over the The catalogue of cases of atrocities that are being per last six months. Washington's insistence on linking the petrated against our people by the racist army of South independence of Namibia to the withdrawal of the Cu Africa in Namibia has become extremely long and hor bans from Angola has provided racist South Africa with rifying. These atrocities find their tragic expression in a yet another convenient excuse to delay the implementa countless number of acts of cold-blooded murder, tion of the UN plan for Namibia's independence. Pre destruction and seizure of property, torture, beatings toria is not now worried about the need to immediately and rapes. proceed with the settlement of the Namibian question. It is against this background that we should take a Racist South Africa has been unable to win popular look at the Reagan administration's policy of so-called support for its puppet arrangements in Namibia. It, constructive engagement towards South Africa. The therefore, needs more time to continue to try to create a policy as we all know it, postulates that unlike in the credible alternative to SWAPO, even if that means pro case of Poland, Soviet Union, Iran and Argentina, one longing the armed conflict in our country. can help to bring change in the apartheid system by Thus, contrary to what the moving closer and by becoming friendlier to South Reagan administration has been telling the world during Africa. In other words, the Reagan administration wants the last two years the world that it seeks to move the negotiations to the imple to believe that appeasement, and not pres mentation sure, stage, it is quite clear that under the leader will help to bring an end to apartheid oppression ship of Dr. Chester in South Crocker, the American negotiators Africa and to the occupation of Namibia by the ha$'e only succeeded racist state. to throw more spanners in the ne gotiating process. They have not only created new ex Thus, in a calculated attempt to bail racist South cuses for Africa South Africa to continue to delay, but they out of its international isolation, the Reagan have also administration has begun to lay an East-West dimension on the actually increased its political, Namibian issue.

APRIL 1983/SOUTHERN AFRICA 13 CULTURE The Role of Culture in the Struggle for Independenc -- Amilcar Cabral

Amilcar Cabral,founder and leaderof the African Party for the Independence of Guinea Bissau and the Cape Verde Islands (PAIGC), was assassinatedten years ago. He remains one of the leading revolutionary figures of the 20th century. His thoughtprovoking analysis of the role of culture in the liberation struggle continues to inspire people struggling against foreign domination. We are reprinting the following excerpts from Cabral both as a way to honor his memory, and as a valuable contribution to the ongoing cultural forum our center fold provides.

Culture has proved to be the very foundation of the liberation movement. Only societies which preserve their culture are able to mobilize and organize them selves and fight against foreign domination. Whatever idelogical or idealistic forms it takes, culture is essen tial to the historical process. It has the power to prepare and make fertile those factors that ensure historical continuity and determine a society's chances of pro gressing (or regressing). Since imperialist rule is the negation of the historical evenly in all sectors, horizontal or vertical, of socie process of the dominated society, it will readily be The attitude and behaviour of each class oi understood that it is also the negation of the cultural individual towards the struggle and its develo] process. And since a society that really succeeds in are, it is true, dictated by economic interests, bu throwing off the foreign yoke reverts to the upward are also profoundly influenced by culture. It ma3 paths of its culture, the struggle for liberationis above all be said that differences in cultural level explain an act of culture. ences in behaviour towards the liberation movem The fight for liberation is an essentially political fact. individuals of the same social class. Consequently, as it develops, it can only use political It is at this level, then, that culture attains i methods. Culture then is not, and cannot be, a weapon significance for'each individual-comprehension or a means of mobilizing the group against foreign integration within his social milieu, identificatio domination. It is much more than that. Indeed, it is on the fundamental problems and aspirations of his s firm knowledge of the local reality, particularly the cul and acceptance or rejection of the possibility of c. tural reality, that the choice, organization and develop for the better. ment of the best methods of fighting are based. Whatever its form, the struggle requires the mol This is why the liberation movement must recognize tion and organization of a large majority of the p4 the vital importance not only of the cultural charac tion, the political and moral unity of the different teristics of the dominated society as a whole but also of classes, the gradual elimination of vestiges of tri those of each social class. For though it has a mass feudal mentality, the rejection of social and rel aspect, culture is not uniform and does not develop taboos that are incompatible with the rationm national character of the liberating movement. Ai struggle brings about many other profound mo4 Reprinted from: The Afriean Liberation Reader: Doc tions in the life of the people. uments of The NationalLiberation Movements, Volume This is all the more true because the dynamics 3. Aquino de Braganca and Immanuel Wallerstein struggle also require the exercise of democracy, (eds). London: Zed Press, 1982. Volumes 1,Hand III cism and self-criticism, growing participation of the African Liberation Reader are available for people in running their lives, the achieveme $10.50 each from Lawrence Hill, 520 Riverside literacy, the creation of schools and health ser Avenue, Westport, Connecticut, 06880. leadership training for rural and city workers

14 SOUTHERN AFRICA/APRIL 1983 CULTURE

many other achievements that are involved in the applies a demagogic policy of 'economic and social im society's 'forced march' along the road of cultural prog provement', of 'cultural development', cloaking its tess. This shows that the liberation struggle is more domination with new forms. Neo-colonialism is, above than a cultural fact, it is also a cultural factor. all, the continuation of imperialist economic rule in Among the representatives of the colonial power as disguise, but nevertheless it is also the tacit recognition well-as in their home countries, the first reaction to the by the colonial power that the people it rules and ex liberation struggle is a general feeling of surprise and ploits have an identity of their own demanding their incredulity. Once this feeling, the fruit of prejudice or of own political control, for the satisfaction of a cultural the planned distortions typical of colonialist news is sur necessity. mounted, reactions vary with the interests, the political Moreover, by accepting that the colonized people have opinions and the degree to which colonialist and racist an identity and a culture, and therefore an inalienable attitudes have crystallized among the different social right to self-determination and independence, metro classes and individuals. politan opinion (or at least an important part of it) itself The progress of the struggle and the sacrifices im makes significant cultural progress and sheds a nega posed by the need to take colonialist repressive tive element in its own culture-the prejudice that the measures (police or military) cause a split in metro colonizing nation is superior to the colonized ope. this politan opinion. Differing, if not divergent, positions are advance can have all-important consequences for the adopted and new political and social contradictions political evolution of the imperialist or colonialist emerge. power, as certain facts of current or recent history prove. From the moment the struggle is recognized as an If culture is to play its proper role, the liberation irreversible fact, however great the resources employed movement must lay down the precise objectives to be to quash it, a qualitative change takes place in metro achieved on the road to the reconquest of the rights of politan opinion. The possibility, if not the inevitability, the people it represents-the right to make its own his of the colony's independence is on the whole gradually tory and the right to dispose freely of its own productive accepted. resources. This will pave the way to the final objective of Such a change is a conscious or unconscious admission developing a richer, popular, national, scientific and that the colonized people now engaged in the struggle universal It is notculture. have an identity and a culture of their own. And this the task of the liberation movement to deter holds true even though thrqpghout the conflict an active mine whether a culture is specific to the people or not. minority, clinging to its interests and prejudices, per The important'thing is for the movement to undertakea sists in refusing the colonized their right to indepen critical analysis of that culture in the light of the re dence and in denying the equivalence of cultures that quirements of the struggle and of progress; to give it its right implies. place within the universal civilization without con At a decisive stage in the conflict, this equivalence is sideration as to its superiority or inferiorty, with a view implicitly recognized or accepted even by the colonial to its harmonious integration into the world of today as power. To divert the fighters from their objectives, it part of the common heritage of mankind.

In the liberated zones of Guinea-Bissau in 1970, a group of young men pose after performing a dance. T)houghout the liberation struggle, the PAIGC encouraged expressions of traditional culture, and peasant villagers adapted the lyrics of songs and dances turning them into celebrations of the heroes and goals of the Independence struggle.

APRIL 1983/SOUTHERN AFRICA 15 NAMIBLA

It is a fact that there is no direct connection between human that President Reagan and his advisers co the withdrawal of the Cubans from Angola and the in- find it appropriate to use our people's grave sufferi dependence of Namibia. We, therefore, fail to under- as Washington's bargaining card to achieve Amer stand why the Reagan administration has decided to imperial ambitions in southern Africa. mix up a simple and straightforward issue of our coun- We in SWAPO do not agree to the American try's inalienable right to independence with the foreign that "the withdrawal of the Cubans from Angola policy of a sovereign and independent Angola. provide a framework of regional security within *i We in SWAPO consider it cynical, shameful and in- Namibia can achieve its independence." This position grossly erroneous. It attempts to falsify the fact is the existence of a racist state which poses a threat the peace and security of southern Africa, not theC bans in Angola. The argument of the Reagan admi stration that the withdrawal of the Cubans from A will lead to regional security is not only hypocritica extremely ridiculous. The Cuban troops in Angola h and it occupies Namibia. The apartheid republic southern African country. It is, however, common knowledge that the African army has violated the territorial integrit Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Botswa and it occupies Namibia. The apartheid republic I also organized the armed overthrow of the governm of Seychelles. Yet, there are no Cuban troops in Zi babwe, in Mozambique, in Lesotho, in Botswana, Namibia and in the Seychelles. Here, too, we find that "constructive engagement" revealed to be no more than a myopic policy intended justify Washington's collaboration with Pretorii heinous crimes and aggression against the Peopl Republic of Angola. The demand for the withdrawal the Cubans from Angola has been conducted in a cr and bullying manner, all to the comfort of South Afri and to the dismay of independent Africa. It is not st prising, therefore, that apart from the apartheid i gime, no single government in the world has thus i come out publicly in support of Washington's "lina! issue. S oFurthermore, the American negotiators have found Sexpedient to try to cover up the delays which their p owicy of "constructive engagement" has caused to Nan a bia's independence. They do this by maintaining propagandistic posture that there is progress in t negotiations and that nobody should do anything would interfere with the "delicate stage" which t negotiations have reached. This propaganda line is pt sued to hide the fact that what we are confronted with not progress, but an actual impasse. It is an attempt play diplomaic games with the sufferings of our peopl To the American friends who are here with us today would like to register SWAPO's appeal that you shou take up the responsibility when you go back to No America to mobilize American public opin against the shameful USA collaboration with Sot Africa, nd in -paticular against the unjust and human attempt by the Reagan administration tit our people's fieeddm and our country's md in the withdrawal of the Cubans Ooib try going to places such as Moscow to try to pretend th it is there where Namibia'sproblem could be resolv are simply being hypocritical. We must all reject thE hypocrisy with the contempt that it deserves.

16 SOUTHERN AFRICA/APRIL 1983 ANGOLA

SWAPO Refugees: With the People of Cuanza Sul

by Susan Hurlich southern hemisphere fall day in late voys of military trucks transporting March and we plan to spend five materials farther south. The drive south from the Angolan days with the people at Cuanza Sul. Finally we reach the entrance of capital of Luanda to the Namibian We pass through the green coun the Cuanza Sul settlement, home refugee settlement in Cuanza Sul is tryside of Luanda province before for over half the estimated 70,000 long, but I find it invigorating. As a entering the lush and hilly sur Namibian refugees now in Angola. member of Oxfam Canada, I visited roundings that mark the province of And even as we approach the cen Cuanza Sul last year to learn about Cuanza Sul. Small villages of mud tral administrative area, the conditions facing the 40,000 Nami and thatch houses dot the land, enormity of the settlement makes bians who fled the South African oc separated by neatly cultivated fields itself immediately felt-its vast cupation of their country for the of maize and vegetables, and small area divided into smaller popula relative safety of the vast refugee orange and banana groves. In the tion centers miles apart and sep camp. With me are three SWAPO afternoon we stop to buy fruit from arated by thick groves of trees. comrades: Tamina, an administra a rural roadside market-a small This arrangement is a bitter tive secretary from the Namibian group of women sittingtheir under bananas, the safety lesson SWAPO learned from liberation movement's headquar shade of a tree with Casginga, the southern Angolan ters, Licius, the driver, and a soldier oranges, lemons, and limes spread refugee camp South Africa attacked from the Peoples Liberation Army out on cloths. Tamina buys fruit for in 1978-killing 600 people, mostly of Namibia (PLAN), the armed her friends at the settlement, where women and children, and wounding wing of SWAPO. It is a crisp, such foods are in short supply. hundreds more. Just over three But the roadside markets them quarters of the Namibian refugees Susan Hurlich works for Oxfam selves are short stocked: one result in Angola are women and young Canada,a development organization of South Africa's continuing aggres children, a figure that cannot be that has provided a great deal of sion against the country. And we reconciled with South African assistance to liberation movements see other reminders of the war as claims that the camps are SWAPO in Africa and America. She visited well, including the many Angolan military posts. Angola in March and April, 1982. army checkpoints and large con-- Many of Cuanza Sulrs residents

APRIL 1983/SOUTHERN AFRICA 17 ' NGOLA

are survivors of the Cassinga mas sacre, but most are newer arrivals -with more arriving every day. Refugees Must Move The refugee settlement is situ ated on a coffee plantation aban doned by its colonial owner after Angola's independence in 1975. Now the Angolans want to bring the land back into production before the next growing, season begins. This means SWAPO must move the refu gees off the land to other sites nearby. The areas affected include the education center, where some 10,000 school children live, and the largest medical center in the camp. It is a daunting prospect. Over 20,000 people, half the settlement's total population, must be moved and resettled in only a month if the April 5 deadline is to be met. Many of the refugees' tents, already in poor condition due to the damp cli The Oxam Canada-supplied water truck at Cuanza Sul. Security requirements and severe mate, clearly will not survive the shortages of drilling equipment, pipes and pumps make access to clean water a major move. New accommodations will concern for Cuanza Sul's residents. somehow have' to be provided. Moreover, SWAPO has too few the entire country, the camp's few women and children. Several small trucks to move basic supplies, from existing wells are hopelessly inade er schools Luanda are located in other part, to the settlement-let alone quate to meet the people's needs. of the vast settlement, to move the including the camp. And perhaps the Small wonder then that SWAPO has agricultural center and the tubercu most serious problem is the inade requested a second water truck from losis center. , quate water supply The labor school's five at the new sites. Oxfam and other organizations. (I teachers provide instruction This means that drinking, bathing, to fifty later learned that the DAF broke students, two-thirds of whom are and cooking water will have to be down shortly after I left, and was women. brought in daily by truck. sent to Luanda for repairs, exacer That afternoon, Nakatana But water shortages are and already a bating an already serious situation.) Icco Kaxumbah, one of the settle harsh reality for the Namibian ment's young administrators, refugees at Cuanza ac Sul-a reality Education, Production company us to the agriculture brought home to me cen on my first After a breakfast of milk, oshi ter some fifteen miles from the main morning at the camp., shima (corn porridge, a staple at the camp. We pass through large areas I awoke to the sound of a large settlement), and tea. I met with planted in maize (corn) before truck straining up a short steep hill. Joseph Nakatana, a member of the reaching the tiny It administrative was the DAF water tanker truck National Union of Namibian Work building, where we are warmly donated to SWAPO two years ear ers (NUNW) and the director of the greeted by the center's director, lier by Oxfam Canada and other trade union school. Willy Iyambo. Canadian and international non Founded in September 1981, the The agriculture center governmental has about organizations. It is labor school trains both men and 200 acres under cultivation, mostly the only water truck they have, and women as trade union organizers, in corn, with smaller plots of toma is possibly the most useful piece of with classes on the international toes, cabbages, onions and lettuce. equipment in the camp. and Namibian trade union move Labor is provided by 300 women, There are streams and rivers in ment, organizing techniques, labor along with a few men. The center the area, but the camp lacks the law and legislation. The school is has its own day-care facilities, and a pumps, pipes and generators needed located in two small buildings at tiny clinic provides for basic health to get the water from the streams "Camp A," home for some 10,000 needs. SWAPO teachers also offer over the many hills surrounding the settlement. The rocky soil makes it Holding virtually impossible to dig wells a meeting? Distribute Southern Africa promotional without substantial drilling, and flyers. Send a postcard and let us know how many you with only one large drilling crane in need.

18 SOUTHERN AFRICA/APRIL 1983 ANGOLA

literacy training in English for they learning a new skill, but they of the children are primary school the center's workers, the majority also develop a political- outlook as students, while there are special of whom came to Cuanza Sul they talk about the future of programs for older children denied illiterate. Namibia." education in their occupied home Though the center suffers from land. Literacy programs are also chronic shortages of farm tools Children's Needs provided for the center's nurses, day and irrigation equipment, its most The next day I visited the camp's care and kitchen staff. serious problem is the drought that education center. It was in a state of But education at Cuanza Sul is is wracking the entire southern flux, as the facility and its 10,000 not just limited to the classroom. African region. The rains, which primary and secondary school chil Productive work is a regular part of normally come in January, have yet dren were being moved from the the daily curriculum, with the stu to begin in central Angola, result middle of a coffee field to a new site. dents taking turns working in the ing in serious crop losses. Youngsters hurried about carrying school's small garden. This aspect of Just before I arrived, Cuanza Sul their few belongings-a blanket the children's schooling reflects not lost over half of its maize harvest to and some spare clothing perhaps, only SWAPO's commitment to link the worms and ants which have ac but little else. education with useful skills and companied the drought. If the rav Although I am at the "perma production, but also the perennial ages of hunger are to be avoided this nent" camp, I am told that classes shortage of food that affects the year, SWAPO will have to rely on are frequently held under the-shade entire camp. increased food aid from friendly of a tree because of the lack of In the best of times, adults at governments and organizations sufficient classrooms and'of mate Cuanza Sul eat only two meals a around the world. SWAPO remains rials for building even temporary day, and only occasionally do the committed, however, to trying to classrooms. Nonetheless, about 200 children eat three. Oshishima and meet more of the settlement's food teachers provide instruction in beans are the most common fare, needs by improvink agricultural English, mathematics, science and with meat or fish available irregu skills and techniques. Director social studies. The shortage of larly. The supply of fresh fruits and yambo spoke ambitiously of plans teaching materials is compensated vegetables is erratic, and there is to increase maize production and to for by .using the ground as both never enough to go around. Cooking expand a recently established duck blackboard and notebook, and twigs oil and milk are also in short and poultry farm. gs chalk and pencils. Ninety percent supply. Our first day ended with a quick visit to the weaving and knitting center, where 39 students, mainly women, are learning to use weaving and knitting machines to repair and produce clothing for the settlement. The sewing project is also located here, where 96 students, only six of whom are men, learn sewing and tailoring skills. These projects reflect SWAPO's emphasis on developing the pro ductive skills of the refugees especially among women. Comrade Angula, deputy sewing director, noted that back in Namibia, only men are allowed to become tailors. Angula also said that women are being trained as tractor and truck drivers and auto mechanics as well. "The sewing students get a differ ent outlook as they work," Angula' observed." At first they just did hand sewing, but as they learn to use the machines they get a new morale. rUlJ IsJ some basic literacy, becu ma nny didn't even know how to read a tape measure before. corn porridge that forms the staple diet And they become very political in the process, because not only are

APRIL 1983/SOUTHERN AFRICA 19 ANGOLA

Natalia Mavulu Center The first to greet us is Libertine The Natalia Mavulu Besides Center the grade school, there Amathila, director of the center. only center with an adequate E are seven nurseries. These try to She is one of four trained doctors of water and a more or less provide care for some 3,000 children active in SWAPO and is deputy di under cient supply of food. Still, the three years of age and some rector for health and social affairs. obvious 5,000 children difficulties. Accomi between the ages of She talks energetically about the tions are very three crowded and in and six. One of the main nurs center and the 250 adults who care of the improvements SWAP( eries is located in Camp A, where for the children. Once the children made about to the existing strucl 600 children between three reach seven years of age, they move there is no possibility for expa months and seven years old get on to the education center. beyond another 40-50 childrf full-time care. Smaller nurseries. Natalia Mavulu, located at the every available exist in piece of land i the education center, the base of several steep mountains, is area is occupied. garage center, the agriculture situated on the grounds of an old center, the weaving and knitting coffee and banana plantation. It is Everywhere in the Cuanz center and the tuberculosis center. the one center the Angolans have The largest nursery settlement the stories ar and kindergar not insisted be moved. Everywhere same-a ten center is the Natalia Mavulu shortage of tram bright colors and cheerful pictures inadequate supplies Center, of water which houses 700 toddlers greet the eye, as the low buildings accommodation, a sparse diet and pre-school children, many of in which the children sleep-former whom are orphans. There is yet people's spirits remain h a tre slave quarters where plantation saw evidence mendous shortage of child-care of this at va workers used to live before Angola points of my stay. facilities at Cuanza Sul, many of When I v became independent-have been the vehicle repair center, ft whose buildings are not designed to painted with scenes of traditional withstand the rain and cold. There stance, a group of young mei village life, children playing, gi women is also a grave need for toys, app;oached us laug small raffes and elephants, and flowers. with their chairs and tables, and teaching arms raised in a clei The children's day is well organ fist 'Power' salute. And on the materials suitable for the very ized. It begins with exercises, fol young. tents and huts hidden amon lowed by a breakfast of porridge, trees The last day and a half of my vis where some 10,000 w4 butter, and milk. The children at and infants sleep are signs pa it is spent at the Natalia Mavu tend pre-school at regular periods lu facility, several hours in big red letters: "Power SV where they learn counting and the -we shall win!" After a drive from the main settlement over week alphabet. This is followed by lunch, the people of Cuanza Sul, I some of the most difficult road con a sleep and play period, dinner and ditions away convinced that, in fact, we have yet encountered. bed. would.

SWAPO supporters Inside Namibia.

20 SOUTHERN AFRICA/APRIL 1983 Publications War engulfs Received SI(u SS Toronto Committee for the Libera outhern tion of Southern Africa (TCLSAC), 427 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Africa Ontario, Canada:* * LABOUR IN NAMIBIA, 1981. 20pp. Contains an overview of the contract labor system, migrant How far will it go? labor, living conditions and worker resistance, as well as a chronology And to what extent willforeign and further reading lists. * RESOURCE EXTRACTION IN powers be drawnfurther into NAMIBIA, 1982. 20pp. Contains a brief explanation of diamond, metal confrontation? and uranium extraction, highlight Though just as explosive ing the roles of the leading corpora and economically vital as tions in Namibia's exploitation. * WOMEN OF NAMIBIA, 1981. ,'Wr / the Middle East, southern 2Y)pp. Contains a brief overview of oIther Africa does not get much the triple oppression of race, class, Ic attention and sex of women in Namibia's from the U.S. rural and urban areas and their news media. That's one important resistance efforts - reason why so many people CANADIAN JOURNAL OF " turn to AFRICA NEWS. we AFRICAN STUDIES, Volume 16, I! offer 10years ofexperienceas Number 1, 1982. Ottawa: Canadian Sthe only U. S. weekly on Africa Journal (Department of Geography, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ca * -48 issues per year full of nada KIS 5B6), 218pp. pb. '(Note: S• solid,- up-to-date reporting on "Most Painful to Our Hearts": the major stories around the South Africa Through the Eyes of ~ continent. So unless you want to The New School, Frederick John stone: Canadian Policy Towards ignore Africa, you won't want to Southern Africa, Cranford Pratt, miss AFRICA NEWS., and a review by Gwendolen M. Carter, Agony and Change in South Africa.) Subscribe now at the special price of $19 for 48 issues - a full year A QUESTION OF SOLIDARITY: of AFRICA NEWS for 24% less than the regular rate. INDEPENDENT TRADE UNIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Bob Fine and Send $19 to AFRICA NEWS, P.O. Box 3851, Durham, NC 27702. Lawrence Welch. London: Socialist Or write for a free sample - just send a business-size self-addressed Forum for Southern African Soli stamped envelope. darity (Box 1, 2a St. Paul's, London W!T 1982. 44pp, 90p + "We urgently need the information provided by AFRICA NEWS." -Julian Bond Closing date: 3/1 (Inclusion in this list does not pre clude later review.)

APRIL 1983/SOUTHERN AFRICA 21 South African Sports

THE SOUTH AFRICAN GAME: Sport and Racism by Robert Archer and Antoine Bouillon London: Zed-Press 1982. $12.50 ph. 352 pp. US Distributor: Lawrence Hill & Co., 520 Riverside Ave., Westport, CT 06880

APARTHEID: THE REAL HURDLE: Sport in South Africa and the International Boycott by Sam Ramsamy International Defence and Aid Fund, London 1982 107 pp. $4.00 pb. US Distributor: IDAF for Southern Africa, P.O. Box 17, Cambridge, MA 02138

by John Dommisse Stop the Apartheid Rugby Tour demonstration in New York, 1981. Anti-apartheid spo campaigns are a key component of the International opposition to apartheid. Both these books are exciting, im portant and timely. Sports can pres sively-researched books. Archer and psychological, social, economic and ent a vivid microcosm of the society Bouillon have never been to South political manipulations, keep the within which it is played, providing Africa but this has been no handi vast majority of Blacks from even a revealing 'window' into the work cap to the accuracy of their work. participating in sports, let alone ings of that society. In the absence Their writing is factual and totally excellin or receiving its physical of the more usual and legitimate authentic. In fact, in their success and psychological benefits. They forms of political expression in ful attempt to place South African also chronicle the growth of the South Africa, sports has also inad sports in its proper context within brave non-racial sports movement, vertently become, along with the apartheid society, they have pro which has found organizational ex trade union and ecumenical Chris duced a work that could serve as a pression in the South African tian movements, a channel of strug valuable introduction to broader Council on Sport (SACOS) within gle, and a model for future socio historical and political studies of the country and the exiled South political advancement. South Africa. The drama and excite African Non-Racial Olympic Com Anyone who doubts these asser ment of sports creates a fast-paced mittee (SAN-ROC), based in Lon tions should reserve final judg medium for communicating the don. These organizations are giving ment until reading these exten poignancy and brutality of the, race the lead toward-and a hint of-a and class struggle in South Africa. rosier future when race And class John Dommisse, a Cape Town Starting with the 18th and 19th will not be a criterion of member educated M.D., is currently the act century hunting and killing of the ship in any sports club or federation ing honorary chairmanof the Amer Bushmen 'for sport,' Archer and in South Africa. ican Coordinating Committee.for Bouillon show how the Afrikaners Yet there is a good deal of non Equality in Sport and Society have used sports, especially rugby, racial sports played in South Africa, (ACCESS), and a consultant to the as a stage for 'proving' their 'natur not by the official, government-ap health department of the African al supremacy,' much as Hitler tried proved sports federations,'bUt- by National Congress of South Africa. to do this for Aryans in the 1936 thos e under the umbrella of He has written widely Olympic Gaines. They show how the SACOS. The vast majority of of the social nu effects of apartheidand the politics deprivations of apartheid, from Black athletes belong to these non of apartheidsport. trition and health care through racial federations They rent and

22 SOUTHERN AFRICA/APRIL 1983 racial federations. They rent and International Coordinating Centre The Tasks Ahead maintain their own sports grounds, Against Apartheid in Sport, Ram After digesting these two valu pay their own way, and run theit samy may well be the single most able, and complementary books, own show. The government and the active person in the non-racial what steps remain for us to .take official sports bodies vilify their\ sports campaign today. As the cur here in the US? I suggest two main leaders, impound their passports, rent leader of SAN-ROC, which has tasks: first, to increase our protests and make them out to be political reconstituted itself outside South and demonstrations against the radicals who must be avoided and Africa, he is closely in touch with all staging, sponsorship, and media ridiculed by all right-thinking the latest developments "on the coverage of all sports events that people. ground" back home. An athlete include South Africans while the The South African Game: Sport himself, Ramsamy was forced to policy of apartheid is in force; and and Racism is also a powerful leave the country in 1972, as was second, to pressure the US govern appeal for continued and expanded his predecessor, Dennis Brutus who ment to formulate a sports policy world support of the anti-apartheid left South Africa in 1964 after against contacts wit-h South African sports movement, and of its de spending ten months in South Afri sportspeople, until apartheid is mands that countries like the US ca's notorious political'prison, ended. The socialist states, the and Britain stop playing ball with Robben Island. Non-Aligned Movement, the Scan apartheid. Challenging the South Real Hurdle is a bare-bones docu dinavian countries, and even African state's propaganda cam ment dealing exclusively with Canada and the other Common paign about increasing integration sports, but it includes all the essen wealth countries have already in sports the authors quote a power tials: a brief history of sports among moved in this direction. We must ful statement by the exiled South the Black population; legal and po pressure the US to join with the African non-racial tennis champion, lice aspects; a review of the govern other countries at the UN to formu - Jasmat Dhiraj, who says: ment's extravagant efforts to break late a Security Council interna "There is no way I can be equal to a South African sports out of its in tional convention against sports white man who has more facilities, ternational isolation-with the help contacts with South Africa. The UN better housing, better jobs, just be of overseas sports collaborators; has passed a 1977 General Assem cause he is white . ..It is inspiring bly international declaration in this cQmmercial (including US firms') regard, but when a sportsman overseas says he sponsorship of apartheid sports it is not mandatory or will not go to South Africa because of events; the continuing binding. its policies, or when white South interna Africans are thrown out of some in tional campaign against apartheid In the past, successive admini ternational body ... [because] I was sports, and the determined struggle strations have explained their wasted and, of the 18 to 20 million inside South Africa towards non policy as one that, "doesn't interfere Blacks in South Africa, thousands racial sports. in the decisions of private sports are being wasted . . . I forgot my The book also records the impor bodies." The consistency of that Indian tag at some stage in my life tant contributions made by the stance was shattered by the ex ...Well, the whites must also reach United Nations Special Committee treme pressure President Carter that stage, of identifying with the Against Apartheid, including its chose to exert on the private US Blacks. Until they do ... I don't care semi-annual publicatioti of a regis Olympic Committee-and private how liberal they are, their hypocrisy ter (known stands out like a bright star in the as "The Blacklist") of ,olympic committees around the sky ... . Those people are lucky that athletes who compete with South world-to boycott the Moscow' we cannot demonstrate in South Af Africa. It is typical of his modesty Olympic Games in 1980 over a po rica. If we could, not a single match that Ramsamy avoids any mention litical/military issue that had would take place. They should J be of his own key role in drawing up nothing whatsoever to do with thankful it is a police state!" the register. sports. The US government needs to The Robert Archer is a young English author's total immersion in be challenged for not taking a boy historian, now working for the the day-to-day struggle is reflected cott stance on an issue that directly Catholic Institute for International in the style of his book-a brief affects the sporting interests, and Relations in London. Antoine Bouil handbook designed to arm activists also the most fundamental human lon is a Paris-based journalist and with the essential elements they rights, of the majority of the popu former secretary-general of the need to keep campaigning. lation of South Africa. French Anti-Apartheid Movement. Both authors have campaigned against sports contacts with South Africa in collaboraton with SAN Help Fight Apartheid. Distribute HC and Sam RBamsamy, the Southern author of the second book under Africa promotional fliers. Write or call review here. As full-time joint chairperson of (212) 619-3314. SAN-ROC and coordinator of the

APRIL 1983/SOUTHERN AFRICA 2 he City lege /ounced in March thatof New it will York award an- @.NukesTies Nix Nud of Th naio a nu l a fe z /M andela an honorary Doctor re Laws-degrree in June of this year. ]Tentoa ula CCNY President Bernard W. paign has taken the first Harleston also announced he will tow ards including the issue so a . 'e fa-w with seek the assistance of thea pren- State Afnuclearicollabo°ratlin in nuclear we e in arranging lateralo freezeb e e S a tone of the award to Man aper- dl al conference the nuclearfreez iande soa ly.USSR.ointernational At its mid-February n of the solved that US collaborationin t New York, Greece solidarity, the cityCity ofCouncil Olympia be- South Africa be included ancient Greek educational work Honor-Mandela stowed honorary citizenship on ganization's local freeze chapters wo African National Congress leader Mandela on March 17. Further- that Nelson Mandela, the imprisoned more, the United Nations Informa- support Congressman ChL, symbol of Black resistance in South tion Center in Athens, Greece, and Rangel's(HR-1020) to(D-NY) c off alllegisla nues Africa, continues to receive recogni the UN Special Committee Against tion and support from the interna have begun a country- ports to Southof SouthAfrica Africans and prc Apartheidpetition campaign calling or the training tional community, even as he enters wide facilities. the twentieth year of his life sen Mandela's release. nuclear tence. The resolution, which was duced at the conference by C and Laity Concerned's Disa ment Coordinator Tony Wat was co-sponsored by CALC all Washington Office on Afrc.'~ was a way to see if we could q campaign to have an issue would be palatable to Black I said Watkins. The nuclear freeze has ah mailed ou 5,000 copies ofthe V ington Office on Africa's Sto Apartheid Bomb leaflet, and kins anticipates that the freen endorse an effort to build a nat coalition to end US-South A nuclear collaboration. For moi formation contact: Tony Wat Clergy and Laity Concerned, Broadway, New York, NY 1 (212) 964-6730.

Hats Off to Trade Uiconists In a show of solidarityf with workers in South Africa, the A gamated Clothing and Te Workers Union (ACTWU) ha sued a statement calling for a cott of children's headwear Te unionlie b r an

writing campaign against rete who import the products from S Afria. They are presently targ

IjTRN I AFRICA/APRIL 1983 the Caldor Retail Chain, which has all people of good will. The sale of regional organization based on the repeatedly ignored ACTWU appeals South African goods in the United principle of support for armed (na to replace the South African im States lends economic strength and tional) liberation struggles, as well ports with domestically-made head political legitimacy to apartheid." as total divestment of shareholding wear. The ACTWU is requesting that in companies operating in South Union President John Hudson letters of concern be sent to the Africa, and support for the cultural stated two reasons for the boycott: president of the Caldor Retail boycott," said organizer Nessen. "First, products made under sub Chain, Dennis Bookshester, at 20 The process of establishing this standard conditions jeopardize jobs Glover Ave., Norwalk, Connecticut regional coalition will continue on that our members desperately need. 06852, and that a copy be forwarded April 30, when a larger meeting of Second, and of equal importance, to the Amalgamated Clothing and activists is scheduled to take place the South African apartheid system Textile Workers Union, AFL-CIO, at Amherst. For more information of institutional racial discrimina CLC, 15 Union Square, New York, about that meeting, contact Joshua tion and exploitation is repugnant NY 10003. Nessen, American Committee on to us, as we're sure it is to you and to Africa, 198 Broadway. New York, Students Meet, Plan NY 10038 (212-962-1210). E Coordinated Actions On March 12, fifty student and Rights Group I MIhERDl community activists came together Targets Namibia for a day-long conference on grass roots strategies for anti-apartheid Amnesty International has organizing in the northeastern launched a campaign against hu United States. The conference, man rights violations in Namibia. which was organized by the Ameri The campaign, launched last De can Committee on Africa and held cember, is intended to stimulate at Amherst College in Massachu public awareness of the atrocities setts, brought together groups from being committed against the Nam communites as far apart as Maind ibian people by the South African and New Jersey. army. AUOA's student organizer Josh There 4re presently 90,000 South Nessen pointed to the meeting with African troops illegally occupying its large attendance as "reflecting Namibia. Amnesty officials cite the growing strength of the anti such key issues as detention with apartheid movement on campus and out trial, torture, disappearances, in the community." extra judicial executions and the Conference participants spent death penalty as targets of the cam half the day reporting on actions paign. that have happened in the north Amnesty International received east during the past year, and the reports in late 1982 of 25 arrests by remainder of the time was spent de South African security police and ciding on what types of actions military forces operating in the should be taken in the future. Kavango area in northern Namibia. The period April 6-20 was desig According to Amnesty Internation nated as a time for coordinated al's campaign coordinator, Susan anti-apartheid actions and students Riveles, since Amnesty published agreed to kick off the two-week its first paper on human rights vio period with a nationwide armband lations in Namibia in 1977, the sit day on April 6. On April 15, simul uation has noticeably worsened. taneous demonstrations for divest "Recently, two Namibians died ment will be held at Dartmouth, within two hours of being detained," Columbia, and Amhetst. Organ Riveles said, "and we're conduct izers emphasized that although ing an inquiry into the autopsy in April 6 and April 15 are key dates, order to make the information mobilization against US collabora public." For more information re tion with apartheid will take place garding the Namibian human from April 6 through April 20. rights situation, and "The meeting was Amnesty's marked by a campaign, write Amnesty Inter high degree of unity, reflected by national, 304 W. 58 Street, New the unanimous decision to form a York, NY 10019. l

APRIL 1983/SOUTHERN AFRICA 25, STATES

UNITED STATES

Mass Divest--A Campa ign ThatUNITED Worked

Mass. Divest made a firm deci from the start not to accept promise bills but to push for divestment of all South Afr related stocks and bonds. The| as Sen. Backman explained, wa send the strongest possible mes to the rulers of South Africa only government in the world w constitution mandates racial crimination-and to South Afr allies in Washington and the coy ate world." By defining that and sticking to it, Mass. Di soundly defeated several attet to weaken the bill. The bill drafted by Mass. Di was also carefully designe( broaden its appeal by specif3 that proceeds Mas Divest members (from left) Willard Johnson, Liz Phillips, Jenny Patchen and Paul from the divestn Pallacols listen to testimony at the state legislature. sales be reinvested in Massa( setts firms whenever possible. ' Patricia Lee Farris Jack Backman and Representative provision helped attract ur Mel King, public employee unions, endorsements, and it strengthE Boston-The final vote wasn't even southern Africa activists, Black Mass. Divest's argument that m close. By landslide margins of 23-5 community groups and churches. companies operating in South I in the State Senate and 133-2 in the "Our new law," a delighted Rep. ca had recently shut down plant House of Representatives, the Mas King remarked, "is a tremendous the state. sachusetts state legislature over psychological boost to those who are whelmed Governor Edward King's oppressed and are looking for signs Initial Prospects Not Rosy veto on January 4 and made their of support in their fight against In planning outreach and lot state the first in the nation to apartheid." The activist Black legis ing strategies, Mass. Divest t o( require full divestment of public lator from Roxbury voiced the hope cold, hard look at the realitiei funds from firms doing business in that the divestment campaign could Massachusetts politics," accord or with South Africa. Over the next "put such pressure on South Africa to Melinda Tuhus, an early coo three years, the state is now com that their system will be forced to nator. Although the state has a mitted to sell nearly $100 million of change." eral reputation, the prospe pension fund investments in 27 The victory reflects several key looked far from rosy. major banks and corporations strategic decisions made at the start The Governor throughout the including Ford, Xerox, Exxon, and of the campaign in 1981. That was vestment campaign was Edw the Bank of America. when Backman, a liberal white leg King, an extremely conservat The decisive vote capped a deter islator from suburban Boston, and Democrat who strongly suppor mined two-year campaign by a coa King initiated formation of Mass. Ronald Reagan's economic and lition called Mass. Divest, which Divest to generate the wide com eign policies. Many legislat united legislative sponsors Senator munity support they believed was shared King's world view. The st necessary to move the'bill through treasurer also linedup-agaliW PatriciaLee Farriswas media coor the legislature. bill, claiming that divestmi dinator for Mass Divest and is a In addition to forging an unusual would hurt pension fund prol long-time southern Africa solidarity ly coordinated effort between thus damaging the pensioners' worker. legislators and the community, tirement benefits. And at least 1

26 SOUTHERN AFRICA/APRIL 1983 UNITED STATES

paid lobbyists showed up to work local meetings and persuading their legislative session. When Governor against the bill, one representing own churches, unions, and constitu King stepped in at the last minute I the South African government itself ents to contact them." with an amendment favored by the and the other the Ford Motor Ford lobbyist to exempt companies Company. Union Backing Crucial that had signed the feeble anti Against this array of forces, Mass. Backing of the public employee discrimination guidelines of the Divest marshalled a two-year shoe unions proved crucial in rebutting Sullivan Principles, the coalition string budget of $4000 and no paid the state treasurer's charge that was ready w: h evidence that the staff whatsoever. But starting with a divestment would cause their pen principles were "sugar coating on a group of activists who had partic sion funds to lose money. Union bitter pill," in the words of the local ipated in an earlier Poston Coalition officials testified that divestment TransAfrica chapter leader Prof. for the Liberation of Southern Africa was financially sound. And buoyed Willard Johnson. The amendment campaign to boycott the First Na by an improvement in the bond was soundly defeated. And when tional Bank of Boston because of its market, coalition financial experts Governor King finally vetoed the South Africa ties, Mass. Divest were able last October "to demon bill, supporters managed to bring it brought together a handful of core strate that divestment would actu back to the floor just before the end activists who, at their peak, brought ally yield a $2 million profit," said of the legislative session and over out thirty activists to regular meet Mass. Divest research director Dick ride the veto. At last, Massachu ings. And this small coalition formed Clapp. setts had the strongest divestment a base that won endorsements and Mass. Divest also sought and ben law in the nation. active support from a broad range of efited from extensive media cover Mass. Divest organizers want influential organizations. age. The state's leading daily, The their victory to encourge similar SArmed with a slide show about Boston Globe, published a lengthy actions in other states. According to Massachusetts and South Africa, series on divestment at the begin the group's coordinator, Tom Wat coalition activists addressed more ning of the campaign, followed by kins, "We have already heard that at than 100 organizations, the group's four editorials endorsing Mass. Di least 27 other states will consider outreach coordinator Peter Aladjem vest's bill. A timely front-page divestment proposals in their 1983 reported. And they came back with article in Boston's most widely read legislative sessions." endorsements from the three unions weekly helped expoe the role of the To aid divestment work across the which together represent the bulk of anti-divestment lobbyists. country, Mass. Divest plans to hold state employees (the Massachusetts Above all, Mass. Divest relied on a conference on divestment strategy Teachers Association, AFSCME and the persistence and determination in Boston on April 15 and 16. The the Service Employees Internation of its members. When Senate con American Committee on Africa and al Union), from Black organizations servatives stalled passage long other national groups will co-sponsor such as TransAfrica and the enough to keep the bill from reach the event. For details, contact Sen. NAACP, and from church groups, ing the House floor in 1981, the Jack Backman's office: Room 213B, including the politically powerful coalition simply started all over State House, Boston, MA 02133; Massachusetts Catholic Conference. again at the beginning of the next (617) 722-1639. Endorsing organizations were urged to contribute more than their names. "One of the most effective things we did was to arrange for delegations of leaders of influential organizations to visit key legisla tors at crucial moments," explained lobbying coordinator Liz Phillips. "We also triggered floods of letters and phone calls at the time of every major vote." Wendy Earle, another coordina tor, offered examples of other tactics that proved effective. "We won over the Public Service Committee chair man by arranging for 27 diverse organizations to testify in favor of d'Kys$t1R ,J cked committee hearing on tie bil. We worked on other legislative leaders by leaflet ting shopping areas in their dis tricts, asking them questions at Box Bout in fers (criCket-going audien Bophuthatswana South Africa pay well to se competition), but to procla Frank Sinatra is returning to Sun SACU President Pamensk City, South Africa to introduce two that "the game is now totall world-title boxing matches. On May racial." 27, Davey Moore will defend his Yet the highly secretive junior middleweight title against Indian tour had scarcely arr Roberto Duran and lightweight Pretoria when Jamaica den4 champ Ray (Boom Boom, Mancini the cricketers for accepting will fight Kenny (Bang Bang) money" for playing with apa Bogner. The event will be broadcast The consulate-general note( Changes on the Hill live in the US on cable TV. "it is well known that the Sinatra sang in South Africa in African regime is increw Following national elections last 1981 when he opened a new stadi using sport in order to attej November, the US Congress an um in the Sun City gambling resort create a favorable image : nounced in early March the new complex located in the Bophuthat apartheid policy," and banner members of the key congressional swana bantustan. Ever- since, 01' Jamaican members of the tou committees that review US Africa Blue Eyes has been a frequent tar playing within their nal policy. get of anti-apartheid activists in the borders. In the House, Howard Wolpe of United States. Within South Africa, Bla( Michigan remains chairman of the But money talks. Moore and Man Indian political organization Africa subcommittee, but the only cini will receive $1 million each been attempting to organize other member to carry over to this plus a percentage of the gross cott of the products of the session is George Crockett, Jr. estimated at $20-$25 million. sponsoring companies. (D-MI). The new line-up includes Duran will get $500,000 and Bogner four more Democrats Howard Ber $200,000. No one will comment on man (CA), Harry Reid (NV), Ed what Sinatra will get, but at the Principles? ward Feighan (OH), and Ted Weiss time of his 1981 performance, press (NY), and three new Repulicans reports estimated his pay for a week The new national coordinz Gerald Solomon (NY), Toby Roth tour at over $1 million. the Sullivan Principles in (WI), and Ed Zschau (CA). Solomon, Africa, Roger Crawford, re the ranking Republican member, is Cricket Team said that management, not u reportedly more interested in com knows what is best for worki batting the Soviet/Cuban presence Breaks Boycott an interview published i in Africa and opposing the libera In mid-January, a group of West Financial Mail, a South A tion movements (he has character Indian cricket s became the third business magazine, Crawfor ized SWAPO as "terrorists") than in foreign team in the span of a year to "Ibelieve that an organizatio dealing with the issue of South. break the international isolation of applies the Sullivan Code v Africa s apartheid policies. This South Africa in the field of sports. fact achieve more for its wi position, according to TransAfrica At a price tag of 'early $100,000 than any union." legislative aide Salih Abdul-Rahim, each, at least elevqn profesional "As a result of my experi( means there will no longer be bi West Indian cricket players toured think that management has partisan agreement to address par South Africa dluring a mnth-long ter understanding of the need: ticularly the issue of South Africa in visit, denintrating te South own work force than a union." a constructive way. Nonetheless, Africani Union's CU) de ford's views contrast sharpl3 liberal Democrats still retain a 6- terminat buy its wy out of those of the growing Black the Internal C Confer movement in South Africa ence's boycott of South Africa n in union, the Motor Assembler ternationl cricket competition. Component Workers' Uni At the end of last year, SACU laid South Africa, was asked by th out big money to i i ateam Motor Company-considered from SriLanka, w due toa suc the "best" employers in cessful domestic b ott-and the Africa-to comment on the Su Code. MACWUSA said that tE resulted i a loss of almost livan Code "citc1Wa'r6lI heid's basic structures. The from the West Ides, home for some does not demand apartheid b( of the world's t players, was an ished, but merely to moderni; attempt not only to refurbish its cof- ensure its perpetuation."

28 SOUTHERN AFRICA/APRIL 1983 LaborLeader-Knocks New Death in Detention',. # Apartheid Ad John Glasel, president of New A man suspected of membership is full of loopholes. In' in the banned African National critics cite the total lack of York Local 802 of the American dependent oversight of pol Federation of Musicians has pro Congress, Tembuyise Simon found hanged in his duct, and of South African ! tested an advertisement announc Mndawe, was place cell in the eastern Transvaal town laws in general, which ing openings for a South African ers under the complete co orchestra that appeared in the Feb of Nelspruit on March 8, the 55th African political detainee to the police without access to ruary edition of the AFM newspaper, South and family. Mr die in police custody. He was arrest lawyers InternationalMusician. so soon a ed on February 22 while allegedly death, occuring In a March 7 letter to the news code was announced, 'is sun paper's editors, Glasel wrote: carrying a Soviet-made submachine gun and banned ANC literature. weight to these criticisms. "South Africa's racial policies are Detention without trial I well known. The laws of our own Although police said Mndawe made a confession before a magistrate on been a key part of South country and the policies of many massive array of internal trade unions are opposed to all dis February 23, the day after his ar rest, he was never brought to court measures. When other uei crimination....It is high time that simply: and formally charged. Mndawe's the government can the AFM mad opposition to racial litical dissidents and hold t discrimination a matter of policy. A family has retained a piivate path perform an 'independent definitely. H.J. Coetzee, Sot good first step would be a policy of ologist to has C postmortem. ca's minister of justice, not accepting advertisements in its detaining opponents by ; journal from areas where discrimi that "the, subtle manner 1 nation is sanctioned. We, therefore, Mndawe is the first'political de tainee to die in custody since the they operate does not alwa: ask that no further insertions of the it possible to charge them i Natal Philharmonic ad be printed Security Police, under growing scrutiny from community groups of law." and that in the future, similar ads of subtlot such as the Detainees' Parents But no charges be rejected." laid, against the police. I President 'lasel told Southern Committeeinstituted a code of con duct in the handling of prisoners de overwhelming evidence thai Africa that, "Our union is absolute and assault are routinely against racial discrimination and taited under South Africa's Draco ly even before on detainees under interr we will continue to speak out on nian security laws. And Mndawe's death, government op Mndawe's death is harsh i social issues affecting our members of this continuing brutality. in the future." ponents charged that the new code A House, Not A Home According to Sheena Duncan, of the nation's total population., figures on head of the white liberal South "When these peopl' are moved into According to I African Black Sash organization: the banWtans they become trapped lice, over 2( are unable to arrested on p "Rather than living in a period of into pi.erty. They p apartheid reform, we are in the leave becauseI the law states they 1982, a 90' E midst of an accelerated process of may not work in South Africa if rests since 19E bringing apartheid to its desired they are regidit in a h A'land." The goverm conclusion." Speaking before a Sinpe'the trst ban tan -was up attacks o: group of students at the University forced to accept a shair 'indepen- Soweto and I of the Witwatersrand in mid-Feb- dence" under the government's some camps r Duncan cited the forced re- "separate development" scheme in ing residents ruary, into t moval of over three million Blacks 1976, Duncan said, over eight Blacks from "white" areas as evidence that millionBlacki havebeen stripped of the highly-pi life forthe African majority is their South 4 ii cit$xship and decision to se' changing for the worse. ofialit 4est Aq i citizens of the ow*ed 'lheuses Duppan said the removals, which bar'ktustais No b n i beqi ittacke began in.the, 1960s, had increased' recognize tha i j&Oeom. $ any wile BiackE the number of Blacks living in the oftth b..t.4.. owed to pu already overcrowded and underde- Duniicag4 cbithi$oa reqived . "white" areas voloped African reserves or bantu- added credibility ffQn ih govern- from owning 1 stars, from forty to fifty four percent ment' own e house stands. (T)

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