SOUTHERN AFRICA: AN END TO WAR? Angola • Mozambique • Namibia MELILLA Tunis CEUTA Antananarivo I MAURITIUS MADAGASCAR ^ Q Port Louis REUNION LESOTHO Maseru Copyright © 1984 by the African-American Institute, Inc MARCH-APRIL 1989 AMERICA'S VOLUME 34. NUMBER 2 LEADING MAGAZINE ON AFRICA A Publication of the RT African-American Institute Letters to the Editor 4 The Update 5 African-American Institute Editor: Andre Astrow Chairman Mozambique Maurice Tempeisman The Battle lor Zambezia 13 Publisher By Karl Maier Frank E. Ferrari A Permanent Emergency 17 Editor-in-Chief By Margaret A. Novicki Margaret A. Novicki Interview Managing Editor Pedro de Castro Van-Dunem "Ix)y": Creating Conditions for Peace 23 Alana Lee By Margaret A. Novicki War's Victims Assistant Editor Page 17 Namibia Andre Astrow The Transition Timetable 26 By John A. Evenson Editorial Assistant W. LaBier Jones South Africa Contributing Editors Fortress South Africa 31 Michael Maren By Michael Maren Andrew Meldrum Daphne Topouzis Thabo Mbeki: Shining a Spotlight on South Africa 34 By Margaret A. Novicki Art Director Kenneth Jay Ross Finding a Meeting Point 38 By Andrew Meldrum Advertising Office 212 949-5666, ext. 728 Turning Right 41 By Margaret L Knox Interns UN Arrival Marya Sophia Gilborn Page 26 Tanzania Alison Volpe Damns Mbogoro: The Business of Development 43 Harry West By Colleen fjywe Morna Africa Report (ISSN 0001-9836). a non-profit magazine ot African affairs, Return to the Land 45 is published bimonthly and is sched- By Thomas Spear uled to appear al the beginning ot each date period at 833 United Uganda Nations Plaza. New York, N.Y. 10017. Editorial correspondence and adver- Back to School: The Revitalization of Makerere 48 tising inquiries should be addressed to Africa Report, at the above By Colleen Ij)we Morna address. Subscription rates: Individ- uals. USA $24. Canada $30, air rate Western Sahara overseas $48. Institutions: USA $31, Canada $37. air rate overseas $55. Saharan Statesmanship 52 Second-class postage paid at New By Gary Abramson York. N.Y. and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: If this maga- Liberia zine is undeliverable. please send ANC Outreach notice to Africa Report at the above Page 38 Living Dangerously 56 address. Telephone. (212) 949-5666. Copyright " 1989 by The African- By Ernest Harsch American Institute. Inc. Interview To our readers: Cecilia Johnson: A Woman's Place 61 We apologize for the delayed publication of this issue of By Ernest Harsch Africa Report, which was due to the introduction of a new com- Somalia puter system. Now in place, this Barre's Unholy Alliances 65 system will enable us to By Richard Greenfield enhance our production capabili- ties in the future. Culture Coloring History: Senegalese Glass Painting 69 Photo Credit: By Howard Schissel The cover photo of Mozambi- can refugees was taken in Mas- The Back Page 70 saca, Mozambique, by Mar- Peace at Last? By Margaret A. Novicki garet A. Novicki. Page 52 Letters to the Editor To the Editor: readers should they be able to contribute To the Editor: to our general fund, or are interested in The recently published interview sponsoring one or more students, with Trust in circumstances, one might with Dr. Mathilde Krim [November- the possibility of communicating directly tell the writers of your two articles on December 1988] contained several with them. Any inquiries regarding the Namibia in the January-February 1989 inaccuracies regarding the Department school fees structure, etc., would be issue. Your writers do not seem to accept of State's policies. welcome. the fact that the South African First, the Department's HIV testing May I also add that any funds government might feel carrying out its program is based on departmental received for this purpose are all agreement to withdraw from Namibia is policy, not federal law. Second, we are accounted for and not channeled into in its national interest. Building up a unable to "pledge" thai employees will other directions—no one should have military position is not contradictory to donate blood for all U.S. citizens who any fear on this score. In closing, may I intent to withdraw. It can be a way to need transfusions at posts overseas. say how delighted we would be to hear protect troops during the dangerous Although U.S. embassy personnel from your readers. withdrawal period. Isn't this what the traditionally have provided exceptional —Micheline Chidzero Cubans seem to have done in Angola? assistance to private citizens in Shamwari Dzevana Ve Zimbabwe Many conservative critics have emergency situations, the walking blood (Friends of the Children of Zimbabwe) charged that the Cubans intend to banks at these overseas locations, many P.O. Box 8598. Causeway violate their treaty and find ways to keep of which are very small, cannot be Harare, Zimbabwe troops in Angola. But why bother, one viewed as a reliable source of blood for could reply? Why sign a treaty you everyone who travels overseas. intend to violate? To get the South Lastly, embassies are unable to Africans out of Namibia? But if Cuban provide medical care for private citizens To the Editor: troops stay in Angola, the South Africans and are therefore unable to provide leave, or return, to Namibia. Why would saline solutions or any other The focus of your November- the South Africans bother signing a medications. I would suggest that those December 1988 issue on "AIDS and treaty they fully intend to violate? who have this concern look into Africa" was excellent and I thank you This is not to praise the Pretoria commercially available first aid kits that very much for giving such attention to government, just to look at have such equipment. If traveling with a the long overdue issue. Equally circumstances. The South Africans can tour, the tour agency would logically be disturbing is the story of Maj. Kojo easily intervene in Namibia, and know it. responsible. Boakye-Djan and his company's alleged A potential Swapo government in —Paul A. Goff, M.D., M.P.H. activity toward the oppressed people of Windhoek will also know it, and seek to U.S. Department of State South Africa ["Update"]. remain on as good terms as possible Washington, D.C. It is quite distressing and difficult to with the South Africans. Swapo understand when there are deserters President Sam Nujoma has already said To the Kditor: among us. What will it take for the that the ANC is not likely to be given children of Africa to say: My dignity and bases in Namibia. After seeing your very informative pride for my people precedes my The South Africans may feel that by November-December 1988, issue it stomach? withdrawing from Namibia, and getting occurred to me that perhaps some of There is a song in Ethiopia which at least a substantial number of the your readers might be keen to support goes something like this: "When a Cuban troops out of Angola, they can the Third World in its educational father dies, one mourns in his land / have their cake (military security and development. When a mother dies, one mourns in his economic advantage) and eat it too Despite the highest budget allocation land / When a sister or a brother dies, (avoid the casualties and economic drain given to education, secondary schooling one mourns in his land / Where could of war as well as the political onus of is not free in Zimbabwe and many bright one possibly mourn when his country staying in Namibia). students are unable to continue their dies?" Looking at these realities, and those education due to lack of financial means. I hope that my views are shared, that facing the Cuban government, puts the The Friends of the Children of without Africa's people free, we all are treaties in a different perspective than Zimbabwe, a registered welfare under apartheid, even those who get your articles. Nations often ignore logic, organization, is very much aware of the paid to do apartheid's dirty laundry. but the situation in Namibia and Angola plight of these youngsters and has looks very hopeful. established a sponsorship program to help at least 200 students every year. We —I.cmlem Tsegaw, R.N. —Bruce Brager would be glad to hear from any of your Chesapeake, Virgina Arlington, Virginia AFRICA REPORT-March-April 1989 UP'TM- "Unita is to be congratulated for its American Institute. But Kaunda. the elections." At that time, the White courageous demonstration over more current chairman of the group of south- House reiterated its staunch support for than a decade that solutions to Ango- ern African frontline states, reported!) the rebels, and to judge from Bush's la's problems cannot be found through declined Bush's request that he play an letter to Savimbi. it would appear repressive military force." said Bush in intermediary role in the Angolan con- Unita's backers in Congress can rest the letter that was leaked to The Wash- flict, refusing to put pressure on the dos assured that the new administration has ington Post. "I also want to assure you Santos government lo negotiate with every intention of following in the that American diplomacy will continue Savimbi. footsteps o\' its predecessor. As to encourage African and other inter- Nonetheless. Bush's assurances to DeConcini put it recently. "I'm pleased ested governments to provide maxi- Savimbi that the new administration with the strong position Bush has taken mum support to a process of negotia- will not allow Unita to be left out in the and I urge him to continue." tion leading to national reconciliation cold only serves to undermine the In any event.