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News briefs

South Africans Deny Kameeta Passport Dr. Zephaniah Kameeta, Vice-Praeses of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in SWA/Namibia, has been refused a pass- port for further travels outside Namibia by the South African government. Dr. Kameeta's passport expired in August, 1983 after he returned from a visit to Lutheran churches in the United States of America. Invited by the West Ger- man Rhenish Church to a special part- nership meeting in October, the passport was denied without comment by the South African authorities. (See interview Events on page 3) Dateline: Namibia Article Banned RETIRED NAMIBIAN EVANGELIST, 71, FLEES By South Africa FROM TERROR An article by Dr. Abisai Shejavali that appeared in the last issue of Dateline: WINDHOEK, Nambia, Oct . 20 (lwi) armed men to the local army camp at Namibia has been banned by the South —Namibian evangelist Timoteus Nakale Nkongo. Apparently unconcerned, the African government . "Repression and and his wife Hilalia had looked forward soldiers said yes, those are the SWAPOs Human Rights Violations in Namibia" a to a peaceful retirement, surrounded by who will kill you . When Trianus pro- speech given at the UNESCO headquar- their children and grandchildren. But tested that the tins were South African, ters in Paris and printed in Dateline, was now, because of the war and terror in the soldiers said yes, maybe they were banned by the government in July. northern Namibia, they have been forced bought in a shop. U.S. Bank Loans to S .A. Increase to flee their home of 17 years . They On July 6, a group of armed men According to the South African gov- are internal refugees with an uncertain came to the evangelist's house looking ernment news review of October 6, U .S. future. Born in 1912, Nakale was sent by for him. Nakale was not home . After Bank loans to South Africa rose from the Evangelical Lutheran Ovambo- asking his wife many questions, the men $1 .8 billion outstanding in June 1981 to kavango Church (ELOC) to the fertile left, heading in the direction of a nearby nearly $3 .7 billion in December 1982. Kongo district in 1966 . His ministry, area where a certain farmer, Immanuel supported by business people active in Shidolo, was killed that night. The wife, South African Says Reagan To Be the church, was to the Bushmen . He afraid, left the house, met her husband, "Even More Sympathetic" lived in the village of Ekoka in the and the two of them took refuge in a According to Dr. Michael Spicer of the extreme northeastern part of Ovambo- village some 30 km (20 miles) away. South African Institute of International land, at the edge of the traditional Bush- During the first week of August, Nakale Affairs, it is likely that President Reagan man area. With their 14 children—some went back to his home. The windows will win the election in 1984 and will natural, some adopted—fully grown, the had been broken, and the interior was then "appoint a new Secretary of State for Nakales retired last year. a mess of broken objects . Neighbors African Affairs who will be even more Their trouble started the last day of reported that the armed men had returned. sympathetic to the South African posi- May when a group of armed men came Nakale then went together with the local tion." Writing in a column in the South to the home of their son, Trranus, a teach- leader to the Ovambo police headquar- African Sunday Express, Dr. Spicer also er. Describing themselves as SWAPO ters at Oshakati . The police told him that stated that there is a growing suspicion (South-West Africa People's Organiza- they were not looking for him and that he in Windhoek, "based on the level of tion) guerrillas, these men stayed around should go home . He went back to his South African military and other invest- the son's home all day, eating food from district, stopping at the police station at ments in Namibia and the lack of visible tin cans. When they finally left, they said Nkongo . The police there also said they contingency plans for a settlement, that they would return . Trranus examined the were not looking for him . But then some- South Africa actually has no intention of tins and saw that they were South Afri- one came from Ekoka, saying that the leaving Namibia:' can. He got into his car and reported the continued on page 6 Editorial!' "However," he continued, "the posi- issue of linkage and the South African Prolonging tion of South Africa regarding the issue occupation of Namibia; "South Africa of the withdrawal of Cuban troops from cannot seek, through its use of force, Namibia's Agony Angola as a precondition for the imple- unilaterally to reshape the region. mentation of Resolution 435 still makes Boundaries and sovereignties must While the eyes of the world have been it impossible to launch the United Nations remain inviolate . . . The first step towards riveted on the recent tragic events in plan :' a settlement must surely be the immedi- Beirut and Grenada, the suffering of the In the wake of Mr, de Cuellar's report, ate and unconditional withdrawal of Namibian people under South African the world has stepped up its rejection of South African forces from Angola. Their rule quietly continues . Unswayed by linkage and made strong calls for an end presence there cannot be justified in international appeals and the prayers of to U.S . support for the South African terms of international law and practice. millions of Christians around the globe, position . On October 26 the Security The Secretary General has noted that South Africa stubbornly refuses to end Council met to consider the Secretary South Africa continues to make the with- its bloody and illegal occupation of General's report, and by the end of that drawal of Cuban forces from Angola a Namibia, and grant the Namibian peo- meeting, had issued an unequivocal and condition for its withdrawal from Nami- ple their freedom. unconditional rejection of linkage and a bia. South Africa cannot, however, legit- In 1981 the South Africans discovered harsh condemnation of the continuing imize its illegal occupation of Namibia a new pretext for keeping Namibia under South African occupation. by raising other issues . . . . Namibia colonial thrall—the presence of Cuban "Gravely concerned at South Africa's should have its independence regardless troops stationed in Angola . The Cubans continued illegal occupation of Nami- of what happens or what does not hap- were called in by the newly independent bia," the Council declared ; "gravely pen in Angola . . . . Our goal must be to Angolan government to repel a massive concerned also at . . . the mounting threat ensure that [Namibia's] independence invasion of its territory by South African to the security of the region and its wider comes soon and peacefully" soldiers and CIA-bankrolled mercenar- implications for international peace and And so must the quick and peaceful ies in 1975 . There is not a single Angolan security resulting from South Africa's independence of Namibia become our or Cuban soldier on South African or continued utilization of Namibia as a goal as well. As Christians we are called Namibian soil and there has never been springboard for aggression against and to confront evil and aid the victims of any. Indeed, thousands of South African destabilization of independent African injustice, and as citizens of the United troops now occupy vast stretches of states . . . Indignant that South Africa's States we have both the right and the southern Angola. insistence on an irrelevant and extrane- obligation to accept responsibility for Yet in an act of unparalleled political ous issue of "linkage" has obstructed the the policies pursued by our elected lead- cynicism, South Africa—the aggressor implementation of Security Council res- ers. But particularly since 1980, our gov- —demands that Angola—the victim of olution 435 . . . Condemns South Africa ernment has chosen to side with South aggression—send the Cubans home as a for its continued illegal occupation of Africa and openly support its criminal precondition for a settlement in Namibia. Namibia . deeds in Namibia and Angola. Not surprisingly, the Angolan gover- Only the United States failed to sup- While closest allies of the United ment has declined to commit national port this resolution. States have tried to distance themselves suicide and unconditionally rejects this It is easy to be cynical about the United from the policies and practices of the demand. In this they have been supported Nations and perhaps it will be said of apartheid regime, our government has by virtually every country in the world— this resolution that it is just another moved even closer to South Africa, coop- with the exception of the United States example of communist and non-aligned erating closely in the fields of nuclear and South Africa. countries using their numbers to "gang technology, relaxing previously restricted In the last issue of Dateline: Namibia, up" on America. sales of high technology and militarily we reported that, in an effort to break But it is not so easy to brand as com- useful items to that country, and protect- this deadlock, United Nations Secretary munist our closest geographical, poli- ing South Africa diplomatically from General Javier Perez de Cuellar was tical and cultural ally, Canada, who world opinion. instructed to submit a full report on the strongly supported the resolution . The This "constructive engagement" pol- stalled talks to the United Nations Secu- Canadian representative, Mr. Pelletier, icy towards South Africa is a compact rity Council on August 31 . This he has spoke movingly and directly against the with evil, and its horrifying results can done, and his findings, together with be found in press reports of the latest subsequent action by the Security Coun- South African attack on Angola, Mozam- cil at the end of October, pose an impor- bique or Zimbabwe, or clergymen's tant challenge to all Christians who pray reports of torture and oppression inside for an end to the misery of the Namibian South Africa and Namibia . How much brothers and sisters. more blood must our Namibian brothers Following a brief fact-finding trip to and sisters shed before we feel ourselves South Africa, Namibia and Angola in compelled to act? How much more ter- mid-August, the Secretary General told ror and devastation must South Africa the Security Council encouragingly, sow in the region before our government "These prolonged and extensive negoti- washes its hands of this renegade and ations have resulted . . . in resolving vir- ruthless regime? But as we go to press, a tually all the outstanding issues . In fact top U.S . official, Frank Wisner, has we have never before been so close to reiterated America's commitment to link finality of the modalities of implemen- age, and support for South Africa's obdu- ting resolution 435 (1978) :' South African Armored Vehicle in Namibia rate position. 2 Church Leaders An Interview with Zephaniah Kameeta When people discuss the role of the church in the life of Namibia, it is not long before the name of Zephaniah Kameeta is spoken with love and admiration . A relatively young man of 37, Dr. Kameeta is Vice Prases of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of SWA/Namibia . But his role as pastor, teacher and theologian for the Christians of Namibia is not fully expressed by his official position . Since his days in 1971 at the Lutheran Seminary at Qtjimbingwe, he has been one of the most forceful preachers for justice and reconciliation in Namibia . Arrested twice by the South Africans for his public activities as a pastor, he is of constant interest to the South African security police. Granted a Doctor of Divinity degree by Wartburg Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa in June 1983, he returned to Namibia and was promptly denied a passport for future travel . The following interview took place while on that last trip, and the questions come from several different persons. Zephaniah and Elisabeth Kameeta live in Windhoek with their five children . Elisabeth and Zephaniah Kameeta

Question: Pastor, perhaps you could begin by saying some- You can't negotiate with injustice at all . I think that's why thing about yourself and life for the Namibian people under Christ during his trial at times kept quiet when he was asked South African rule. several things ; he just kept quiet . There was nothing, of course, Kameeta: I would like to say that we are not struggling for to negotiate . There was the one way of the death on the cross, human rights in southern Africa . Human rights is almost a the one way of confronting the sin, the evil in this world. luxury for us. We are struggling for human lives . People are Thus we know that we will be detained, even killed, but the dying, people are being tortured to death . People are being message has to be brought to the people and we have to humiliated every day That's what people call apartheid . Apart- confront that system . The Church of Christ should, in that heid is violence . When people react on that they're judged as kind of a situation, be prepared to take up the cross and follow violent, but the policy of apartheid itself is a policy of vio- the very same route He also took. lence. It's a matter of life and death. Apartheid is not based on a political ideology, but on Question : Did you get any response from the Western Five? religion— foremost on the Gospel . This text is being used by Kameeta: I don't know of any response from the Western Five. South Africa to justify apartheid! All authority is given by The only people who responded were the Reagan administra- God to the South African government and those who are tion people, one from the American consulate in Cape Town fighting against that authority must be communist and Marxist. and one from Washington. It was the most terrible meeting I But our experience up to this day in Namibia is that the [South ever attended and I think it was a disappointment for some of African] authorities are there to punish those who are doing our church leaders who really thought that we were negotiat- good and praise those who are doing wrong . We asked, "What ing and working with honest people. is the responsibility of the church in this kind of situation? At that meeting [with U.S . officials] it became clear that we Should the church keep quiet in view of the suffering of the were sitting with people who underestimate black people, people, in view of injustice?" And so we decided to make a who think that they can't do things for themselves and say draft of what became the famous [1971] open letter to the things for themselves . People who even doubt the intelligence Prime Minister of South Africa . [The open letter condemned of black people . You could feel an atmosphere of almost South Africa's violation of human rights in Namibia and arrogance in that room . When the president of the Council of called for immediate steps towards independence .] Churches in Namibia said, "We are now speaking to you as Fortunately the church board accepted it and [the letter] representatives of the majority of the Christian people in this was read to all the Lutheran congregations on the 18th of July, country and we reject the linkage of the Cuban presence in 1977 . It was the first time the church really said something Angola with the implementation of Resolution 435," one of and the people accepted it . It was a rebirth of the church in these gentlemen said, "But how did you determine that you Namibia and that tradition has been continued up to this day are representing the majority of Christians in this country. Question: Dr. Kameeta, several months ago the Council of Was there a nationwide election?" It was really an insult. Churches in Namibia issued two new open letters—one to the Some of us were at a point to close the meeting because there Prime Minister of South Africa, I? W Botha, and the other to was no purpose in discussing this issue with these people. the members of the Western Contact Group [the United States, At the end of the meeting the council president said, "I feel Britain, Canada, West Germany and France] . In those letters the same as I felt at the beginning of this meeting and also as I you called on Botha to end the suffering of the Namibian felt on the day we wrote the letter. There is no progress, and people and honor the UN plan for Namibian independence. the freedom of the Namibian people is being purposely delayed You also very pointedly called on the Contact Group to drop by linking the Cuban issue with the implementation of Reso- the extraneous issue of the Cuban troops in Angola . Don't lution 435" It helped make many church leaders believe that these letters put you into greater confrontation with the occu- the Western Five were really not honest in their negotiations piers of your country and aren't you afraid of retaliation? with South Africa. Kameeta: In this kind of a situation you can't avoid confronta- Question : Can you help us understand what the Namibian person thinks about the United States right now tion with the South African government . If you try to do that . What is the then you will betray what you have been commanded to do; image of President Reagan, the leader of the Western world, in the minds of the Namibians you lead and pastor? (To proclaim) the message of justice and reconciliation ; the message of liberation and peace . This we know very well Kameeta: An average Namibian will speak with anger when and we knew also when we wrote those letters that this means you mention the United States, and the name of your Presi- confrontation . And of course injustice has to be confronted . dent is known negatively in our country. We see [the U.S .] as 3 one of the governments which is putting a stumbling block to our peaceful solution of these problems, and one that is helping to postpose our liberation . In that postponement many lives will be lost and blood will flow unnecessarily. The world is trying to implement plans for a peaceful solution of the problem, but [U.S .] support is being given to that system not to give in. Question: I understand something like 50 percent of Namibia is under martial law Could you tell us a little bit more what that means for the ordinary person. Kameeta: From Windhoek which is in the center of the country up to the Angolan border, that whole area is a so-called security area . But the area most affected is the northern part, which is traditionally called Ovamboland . That area is really under martial law. I sometimes ask myself, when the world is shouting so hysterically about martial law in Poland, why they also don't whisper a little bit about martial law in the northern part of Namibia . That means soldiers can come and search your house without any warrant . Not only police, but President Weible Wartburg Seminary and Dr . Zephaniah Kameeta soldiers. They can tell you to leave that house or they can even destroy that house . That means from six o'clock in the after- Question : What does apartheid do to the faith of individual noon to six in the morning, nobody is allowed to move Christians? outdoors—not even in the case of emergency, not even in the case of sickness . Everybody being outside during that time Kameeta: I met some Namibians who lost their faith because will be shot dead without any explanation at all . Many people of apartheid . I met three young people who told me they have been shot dead without any warning. haven't got anything to do with the church . I asked them whether they had Marxist education somewhere, but they said Question: But newspapers and the South Africans say that they didn't know what that was . They had become disillu- apartheid has ended in Namibia . Would you like to comment? sioned that, in the name of the church, apartheid is practiced. Kameeta: Yes, that's good you are asking that . What we call Apartheid is not being practiced in the name of Karl Marx cosmetic changes have been taking place . They remove for but in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ . And people are the eyes of those who come from outside the apartheid signs angry about the things which are being done in the name of directing certain people to go in certain doors, that madness Karl Marx . Okay. But I think that Christians should be doubly you know But the roots of apartheid haven't been removed at angry about the bad things being done in the name of their all, it remains the same. Lord. For the church in the United States and other parts of the If you see or encounter an accident on the roads of Namibia, world to be quiet in view of this distortion of the Gospel is a for example, and if you phone an ambulance, you mustn't betrayal of the message they say they stand for. It doesn't make the mistake not to say clearly whether that person is matter where the message is being distorted. black or white. That's because, especially with blacks, if you But on the other hand, I should also say that God is so good say a person is in an accident and a white ambulance comes, and gracious in His love, so strong and forever, that despite that person will not be taken . The white ambulance will this policy the church in Namibia is so much alive that you return and a black ambulance will come . In the meantime that wouldn't even compare it with the church in many other parts person will die. It's happened already. Many people have of the world. In some congregations we have a problem died. Well, in the case of a white person, if a black ambulance accommodating all the people coming to the church service. comes they will take him anyway, because [a white life] will That the church is growing in this kind of a situation is only be very important . But in the case of a black, his life is not God's miracle and the strength of His spirit. worth a white ambulance. Question: Some people say that because SWAPO receives That's why we call them cosmetic changes, changes that help from the Soviet Union and Cuba, it is Marxist-oriented don't really touch the root of that evil of apartheid . If you want and that a free and independent Namibia would be a commu- to destroy evil you just can't take away the result, but you must nist country. Could you comment? take away the roots . That's what I believe . Kameeta: If you put that question to a normal Namibian, he would then ask, "What's the problem if it does become a communist state? From the beginning of this century up to now we have been suffering under [what is called] Christian- Western civilization, so lets try another thing ." But I don't want to answer it as simply as that and I won't dismiss fears that there might be Marxist-oriented people [in SWAPO]. You've also got them in the United States . Maybe you've got some atheists in the Democrats and so on . I wonder how it is with the Republicans? Anyway, the Namibian situation is no exception . For sure, with the independence of Namibia they will come back with thoughts, ideas and influences from the Eastern countries . That's not a problem to us . We will not stop accepting help from the Eastern countries because those who are complaining that [SWAPO] people are becoming com- munists are not doing anything to help . It's a fact that SWAPO 4 An outdoor market at Kaututura, the Black Township outside Windhoek

~' asked for help from the Western countries and it was turned Somebody in Germany once said to me that he was afraid down. They didn't get that assistance and they turned to the to work for the liberation of Namibia because we might kill Eastern countries for support and help . I don't know why they each other. I think that kind of argument is quite arrogant . It's started with the Western countries, maybe because they thought not long ago, the Nazi time and that wasn't an African country. since we were colonized by Western countries these people But when you read about what happened during those years could understand our struggle. And its not just the Eastern you wouldn't believe that a "civilized" nation could do such countries which are helping us . Holland is giving tremendous things. I thinking particularly of Auschwitz, the gas cham- help and I' m sure there are people here in the United States bers. Will our mistakes be greater than that? I'm not saying and in other Scandanavian countries who are assisting. there will be no problems, there will be . But for the grace of Question: As you know, many people feel that US corporations the Lord, please give us the chance to make our own mis- in South Africa support the whole system of apartheid and takes. Give us the chance to do what we can, learning out of should leave. But the corporations point out that if they left, the mistakes of others. other companies would come in and nothing would change. Question: What do you feel is the most effective role our What is your opinion? country can play in this struggle . What do you see the United Kameeta: When Albert Lutuli—you know he was the famous States doing to help make a difference? South African leader—was asked that question, he said, "We '~~ Kameeta : In the struggle for our liberation we see ourselves in know we are going to suffer, but for God's sake, if it is going to the frontline. We don't want to put other people in that place. destroy apartheid and end our suffering do it now" That's That's our own . But, it seems as if other people, and I'm clear. Now I won't tell you today to stop the corporations talking of governments and especially the [ U. S . ]government because I would go straight to jail, but morally it is confronting are trying to make our struggle for liberation very difficult by apartheid. Maybe black people will suffer economically, but I strengthening the system we are fighting against politically, wonder if it is for the sake of the black people that these people economically, morally, and culturally. These are links which are doing business in southern Africa anyway. We will suffer, are giving moral support to this kind of a system . We are not but if there is a clear message against apartheid it will have fighting in Namibia against a certain race or a certain color. fruits. That's a way to a peaceful solution. We are fighting a policy of violence which is apartheid, a That's why I will say, "Do these things which can challenge system, an ideology. And we feel so bad that people cooperate apartheid—even if it is only a moral challenge. You know with this ideology, with this system of violence and support it what I'm saying here will put me in danger . My passport is in so many ways. going to be withdrawn because I say that . I will be detained and restricted to a certain area . My family will suffer. But still I say it. Question: Let us pray and hope that there will be freedom and PRAYERS AND LETTERS self determination sometime soon . But when that happens, FOR NAMIBIA what are the requirements to build a society in Namibia . . .Are preparations underway for independence? Dr. Kameeta and others in Namibia need your Kameeta: Yes, there are people who are preparing for a return prayers and letters of support . Write him today to a normal situation. I also know that in many parts of Africa with your message of concern and solidarity. such preparations weren't done correctly and things went wrong . But I will disagree with those who would like to Dr. Zephaniah Kameeta postpone our liberation because of what happened in Uganda Evangelical Lutheran Church in SWA/Namibia during the regime of Idi Amin . No, we don't expect a paradise Box 5069 on earth after hoisting the Namibian flag . We expect to have a Windhoek, 9000 Namibia double responsibility in that situation, with difficulties and mis- understandings. But this must not be used to justify the prolong- ing of our suffering and the holocaust in which we are living . s continued from page 1 Events SOUTH AFRICAN WHITES VOTE Evangelist Flees NEW CONSTITUTION "soldiers" were still coming to his house South Africa's all-white electorate went Africa . "There is no hidden agenda ;' during the night, and sometimes in the to the polls on November 2, where by a he said. day They were two whites and some two-thirds majority they approved a Despite the exclusion of the African blacks. They had a list of names of peo- controversial and complicated plan to majority and denials of further changes ple they were looking for, and Nakale's include the Indian and "coloured" (people to come, the U. S . State Department name was on the list . When people of mixed race) minorities—but not the applauded the referendum as a portent complained again to the police, saying African majority—in segregated and sub- of things to come and a victory for its that these must be South African secu- ordinatechambers ofparliament under a "constructive engagement" policy. "This rity forces, the police dismissed them, new national constitution. opens the way to constructive evolution- saying that perhaps the whites were Under the new arrangement, portrayed ary change towards a system based on Cubans. by South African Prime Minister P.W. the consent of all of South Africa's Nakale continued to hear stories from Botha and his supporters as a dramatic citizens ;' said State Department spokes- his village about people being beaten reform of the apartheid system, most man John Hughes, "over 80 percent of and even killed, of others being arrested, power will now reside in the office of the whom are not white" and of the armed men continuing their President (presumably Mr. Botha him- It is not a view shared by many blacks visits in the middle of the night . Many self)with virtually unlimited authority to in South Africa. The Reverend Allan teachers from the area, including his son, conduct affairs of state. The President in Boesak, President of the World Alliance have now fled and are teaching in central turn will preside over three separate of Reformed Churches and a leading Ovamboland. The son's drivers license parliamentary chambers, one each for anti-apartheid leader in South Africa, was seized by police for no reason. whites, "coloureds ;' and Indians, who denounced the election as, "an attempt to Nakale speculates that they perhaps sus- are, theoretically, responsible primarily co-opt `coloureds' and Indians as junior pectedthe son of giving rides to guerril- for the affairs of their respective ethnic partners of apartheid,' Boesak, along las. Some soldiers also told a friend of groups. with such prominent opposition figures the son that they had tried to kill the son On matters designated of national as Bishop Desmond Tutu, head of the five times with landmines but that the concern by the President, the chambers South African Council of Churches, and son had not taken the same road . Wheth- will meet in joint session . Since whites Dr. Nthato Motlana, Chairman of the er all these stories are true or not, the far outnumber Indians and "coloreds" influential Soweto Committee of Ten, atmosphere of fear and terror has caused in South Africa, the new constitution are among the leaders of the United the Nakales to flee. Commenting on the guarantees continued white supremacy Democratic Front, a national alliance of Nakales' plight, the Rev Petrus Shipena, no less effectively than the previous, African "coloured" and Indian groups ELOC communications director, said, Westminster-style parliament. opposed to the new dispensation. "For someone like Nakale to move, the Indeed, Botha's explicit commitment The UDF has argued that, far from situation must be very hot" to perpetual white rule was an integral representing a shift away from apartheid, part of the campaign to win white support the new constitution actually enshrines for the new constitution . Speaking to a racism, into the very structure of the convention of his ruling National Party political system . They also point out that on September 28, Botha assured dele- the people it is theoretically designed gates that, "No one is asking you to to benefit—the "Coloured" and Indian accept integration ;' and promised his lis- communities—had no voice in its pre- teners that strict racial segregation in paration or its promulgation . Finally, housing and education would remain. UDF has argued, any political structure Botha also heatedly denied suggestions that deliberately excludes over 70 per- that the referendum represented only cent of the population can only promote the first step in a "hidden agenda" for further racial conflict and heighten exist- eventual interracial democracy in South ing tensions. Newsbriefs South Africa Warns Indians And said it was "in the interest of orderly Coloureds To Leave White Areas coexistence and sound human relations On October 17, the South African that the traditional way of life of sepa- Minister of Community Development rate residential areas be maintained Mr. Pen Kotze, warned persons classified throughout South Africa" When asked as Indian or Coloured living in areas of if the government would assist the Indians Johannesburg, South Africa, reserved and Coloureds to move, Dr. Kotze said, for White persons to leave immediately. "We can assist them, but we are under Mr. Kotze announced that the govern- no obligation to do so" He noted that ment will introduce "drastic measures" thousands of others on waiting lists to deal with these violations and will ask would be helped before "these illegal the South African Parliament to "relent- people" would be helped . "They didn't lessly deal with all offenders" Accord- live in the sky before they moved in here ing to The Citizen, a newspaper closely illegally," he said, "They can go back alligned with the government, Dr. Kotze where they come from"

Newsbriefs From Inside Namibia EVEN WITH THE WAR Minister's Wife by Sebulon Ekandjo spread all over Namibia and this has Says resulted in broken marriages, and fami- The situation facing the Evangelical lies, unemployment and a worsening of Coloureds "Non-Persons" Lutheran Ovambokavango Church can businesses:' be understood by looking at the annual Festus Ashipala, the Supervisor in The wife of South Africa's Minister of reports from different church regions. the Ndonga Church region reported: Internal Affairs is reported to have told a In all these reports the war situation "Time has been hard for us, but large meeting of women in South Africa that is reported disrupting the works of the numbers of people attended church the coloured people are `a negative congregations, but all the reports include services" group' and the Indians `needed super- also a message of courage, for God kept Most congregations have individual vision : Mrs. Merike de Klerk, said that these people strengthened during all the responsibilities over one or two mission the coloureds are `not black, not white troubles. places . This means a congregation not an Indian in other words a non- About seven places where missionary ~' sponsors and sends some of their mem- person" In a Sunday Express article of work was being done have been closed bers to a distant place to help spread the October 30,1983, Mrs . de Klerk is also down because the war won't permit such Gospel where it has not yet reached. quoted as saying that the Indians who operations to continue . One of these There is an increase in the number of live in South Africa "must have super- places is Okatseyidhi, where the chairs individual contributions to mission vision and this supervision, in fact the have been taken away from the church works. Hilja, from Okahoa, donated baasskap (mastership or control) of the building. every check of her salary to mission whites is built into the system ;' Five of the workers in these mission work. In Uukwamyama one congrega- Mrs. de Klerk also assured the women places have been beaten, and Jeremia tion member donated a new car to serve that a person of colour could never Kadongo, one of them, was imprisoned the church and the mission. become State President of South Africa. for a long period . The report from Many pastors conduct services wear- However, this wasn't written into the Uukwanyama region said ; "Most con- ing cloth "robes" given by individual new constitution because it would then gregations members were forced to congregation members . Many altars are be rejected overseas . move to other regions because of the dressed in the same manner. war. Most young people left and are Translated from OMUKWETU, #14,1983.

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From Inside Namibia The leaders from this congregation stood in front of the BISHOP DUMENI IN OTSHILEMBA congregation on the last day of the visit and they received God's blessing to continue with their tough jobs. CONGREGATION To the readers of 0mukwetu ; the people in Otshilemba are working hard and all they need from you is your prayers . Jer. 33:3 . Translated from OMUKWETU, #11, 1983. Bishop Dumeni made his first visit to the new established congregation at Otshilemba . This congregation is a year old and is 20 miles west of Tsandi in northern Namibia. First, Dumeni met with the executive committee in the A NAMIBIAN LAMENT congregation. The members of this committee came one by one and had to bow down to get into the small room of 12 by 8 Lord, remember what has been done to us. feet where the bishop was . This room is the main office of the congregation. The roof is about 8—10 feet high . On the wall God, look how we are looked and trampled down. hang the programs of the congregation and those for the Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers whole church (ELOK) . There was also a calendar for group and our homes to aliens. and Sunday School activities. Against the mud wall was a steel desk, where the pastor kept books and important papers. We are left like orphans without fathers. All these books appeared in good covers, because the regula- Our mothers are like widows. tions say so . These books are to be well kept for historical We pay from our skimpy salaries purposes. Although everything in that small room seemed very Water and firewood which we should get free. simple, it was neat and in organized form. After hearing the different problems the new congregation Our oppressors are sitting on our necks. faces, the bishop responded by referring to Luke 9 :23, that we When we are tired they don't let us rest. must be ready to face troubles when following our Lord . He also encouraged them and ensured the victory over these We are like slaves. troubles guaranteed because Jesus was resurrected from death. There is no one who can snatch or seize us, Dumeni had to cut his meeting that afternoon because he had to let the people go before it became dark (the South and rescue us from their hands. African curfew) and because the trips these people had to Our black skin has become unnaturally black, travel are not safe in that area which is much affected by war. like a furnace because of the sweat of hunger. It was in the neighborhood of this congregation that the first guns between South African's Police and SWAPO were fired Our heart of joy has disappeared. (1966). The present situation is estimated by the people in this Our dance has changed into sorrow. region as much more dangerous than it was in 1966 . Rev. Lord, you rule forever, Syambo, the pastor in this congregation, kept on reminding from generation to generation. the visitors not to forget them in their prayers. This congregation has 1,526 members (1982) and among Or did you forsake us, and become ever angry those 553, confirmed Christians (1981). with us Lord? The Otshilemba congregation is very small compared to others in ELOK, but its deeds are very strong and well done . It was able to balance its 1982 budget with some surplus left . It Lamentations 5 :1—22 afforded and built a strong fence surrounding a new cemetry Written in Namibia and translated especially for Dateline :Namibia which was opened during this visit .

United States Senate: Dateline:Namibia is published by the ADVOCACY LETTERS The Honorable Division for Mission in North America FOR NAMIBIA United States Senate Lutheran Church in America, in coop- Washington, DC 20510 eration with the Division for World Take time today to write your member Mission and Inter-Church Cooperation House of Representatives: of Congress or Parliament regarding The Honorable and the Office of Church in Society, Namibia. Let them know that the libera- House of The American Lutheran Church. tion of Namibia from South African Representatives occupation is very important to you . Your Washington, DC 20515 Dateline:Namibia letters and phone calls to elected officials Editor: John A . Evenson can assist in putting the political focus Canada Associate Editor : Anne Leo Ellis back where it belongs, on the illegal Members of Parliament: Mailing Address: 231 Madison Avenue, occupation of Namibia by the South Afri- The Honourable New York, N.Y 10016 can Defence Force . House of Commons © 1984 DMNA/LCA Ottawa, Ontario K 1 A OA6 Printed in U .S .A .