Copy of a letter addressed to Mr & Mrs T.O. Ranger, from Brian MacGarry sj,

Copy of a letter addressed to Mr & Mrs T.O. Ranger, from Brian MacGarry sj, P/Bag 7, KANYE, Botswana. 41CV78 You may be interested in a few notes on my visit to Selibe-Phikwe and Francistown last weekend. Persons visited: 1) Fr. Francis, formerly working in the Wankie diocese and in Bulawayo, now working for the UNHOR in Selibe-Phikwe; & 2) ZANU acting rep in Francistown; the chief rep has been recalled to Maputo and will not be replaced until Dec, but the office continues, run by some keen and efficient young men. I tried to contact ZAPU representatives, but did no succeed, partly because it was a holiday weekend and everybody was celebrating. Pr Francis recommends me to keep trying, as these things move slowly. Informationi no. of Zimbabwe refugees in Botswana: approx. 20,000 divided between three camp* - Selebi Phikwe Francistown Dukwe - about 5000 each and families pcattered among, and often badly exploited by Tswana farmers and herdsfolk, divided by political allegiance: 64 pro-Muzorewa: the Botswana govt is trying to convince them that they no longer qualify for refugee status and should return to Zimbabwe. The pro-Sithole faction have done so. 7 pro-ZANU (in the camps, all at Selebi-Phikwe) the rest ZAPU. ZANU are, of course, strong among teachers and other intellectuals working in Botswana, but they are not part of the refugee problem. OraAnisatIon of Camps: general administration by World Lutheran Federation, under supervision of Botswana govt., health services catered for by International Red Cross, paid by UN: doctor, two nurses of some grade or other per camp. security (outside camp perimeter') by Botswana Defence Force; inside mostly by the parties concerned, i.e. FAPU except for the few who are not their members. Francis describes the facilities as quite good, there is a good deal of money coming in etc., except that camps are overcrowded; Phikwe was designed for 500 now has 5000. The new camps at Dukwe, on the Francistown-Nata road, has facilities for gardens, etc., and piped water although some may have to go quite a long way to get it. Dukwe was originally for teenage girls only (ZAPU seem to prefer this kind of age-grade grouping), but now also has families and small children. The girls and the separate small children are grouped in houses of 8 or so, each under a senior girl. Housing or materials to build with are provided for all, and vegetable gardening is encouraged. In Phikwe there is an experimental urban settlement scheme, with some 90 families living among some 230 in a section of the town. ntual aim is to mix all refugees who choose to stay with the local people. ZAPU WEDS (as far as I can tell): help with shipping refugees out. They used to take standby seats on all flights out of Phikwe to Lusaka but pilots (all Rhodesian) allege technical reasons for keeping some seats empty now. UNCHR andRedCross i will pay for women and small children, but not for young men of military age. - but I still have to meet ZAPU folks. ZANU needs: are mainly in Mozambique. They suggest that routing some things via Botswana might help. 5 vehibles from W. Germany addressed to ZANU Maputo were confiscated recently in SA. They could een addressed to individuals in Botswana, and driven, even via Zambia. They also suggest medical supplies, or other compact expensive items, could come this way and be airfreighted via Zambia. List of requests will probably follow, to be enclosed with a covering note from me endorsing the request. This is their suggestion. They are also out of touch, and would welcome information on the progress of the war, such as the J & P booklets, or anything more of that sort which may not be pub&ished yet ( and the ICJ report?), and material for policy discussion. They could take as many copies of the CUR Rhodesia to ZiAbabwe series as you can send. More details later.