Number 6 April 1986 STUDIES IN CONTRAST THE MEANING NKO/V1ATI ACCORD - OF U .S . AID IS IT DEAD? TO UNITA In October 1985, Mozam- bique's President Samora Machel paid an official visit to the United States . He was well received by President Ronald Reagan and cabinet members including Secretary of State Schultz . The admini- stration expressed its support of the Mozambican government under the leadership of President Machel and its desire to see the South African government respect the Nkomati Accord . Many ultra- conservative groups strongly protested the red carpet treatment given to President Machel . In July, the Reagan The need for a large, strong Mozambican defense administration offered the force was not diminished with the Nkomati Accord Mozambican government a little as Mozambicans had hoped . over $1 million in non-lethal military aid (later blocked by Last August 28, the assured Mozambican leaders conservatives in Congress). Mozambican Armed Forces with that they too only wanted The offer of military aid Zimbabwean air support, took peace in the region . But and the welcoming accorded the over the largest known documents captured in the Mozambican delegation would Mozambican National Resistence attack proved without any tend to suggest that the (MNR) base inside Mozambique. doubt that while Mozambique Reagan administration backed The base, located in Central suspected the South African the Marxist government of Mozambique in the province of government was stockpiling the Mozambique and is opposed to Sofala, provided more than a MNR and dropping supplies to the South African-backed guer- two year's supply of weapons them, the South African regime rillas who are known as the and a look at life inside a was in fact guilty of these MNR or RENAMO. MNR command base . The takeover violations and more. In February 1986, Jonas also provided irrefutable Savimbi, the head of UNITA, an evidence that South Africa had Documents Show Complicity organization backed by the continued its support of the South African government which armed bandits known as the Volumes of documents, is fighting to overthrow the MNR. including diaries, minutes of legitimate government of On March 16, 1984, the meetings and copies of com- Angola, visited the U .S . He governments of Mozambique and munication with South African too was well received by South Africa signed a command showed how the South President Reagan and cabinet non-agression accord at a African government system- members including the Secre - bordertown called Nkomati . The atically continued their tary of State. accord pledged both countries support of the MNR. The administration ex- to not support groups involved One of the documents pressed its strong support of in violence _ against the showed that in Febuary 1984 - the armed group which has other . Throughout the year a month before the Nkomati- fought with South African following the accord, South Accord was formalized - but backing, against the Marxist Africa assured Mozambique that when both countries were Angolan government since 1975. it was doing everything within negoiating - one of the bandit During that time South Africa its power to stop the MNR from eaders was caled to began moving troops across receiving aid from supporters Pretoria . ."in order to have inside South Africa . South conversations with the South (Continued on page 15) African government officials (Continued on page 3) President Machel Visits ECONOMIC PLAN FOR 1986 the U .S.A . PRESENTED During ten days in Sep - or the Front Line States tember, President Samora support the use of sanuctions Machel and a delegation which against South Africa . In his During the presentation included several ministers, talks with George Schultz, of the budget and the central paid an official visit to the Samora Machel is said to have state plan for 1986, Rui United States . President asked that the Administration Baltazar, the Minister of Machel's last visit to the not let the effect of Finances, reported that the United States was made in 1980 sanuctions on neighboring main economic aim for 1985 - when he spoke at the United countries be the a principa stopping the decline in Nations . The purpose of the consideration in considering economic activity - had not most recent visit was to sanuctions . What Mozambique been achieved . Instead the address the U .N . on its 40th and the other front line economic activity for the anniversary and also to lay states want is that those country declined by 20% over the foundations for the countries which are in a 1984 . further development of position to take measures "Our income in foreign bilateral relations with the against apartheid, do so - exchange declined, both from United States. while also doing what they can exports and from invisibles The delegation was met on economically for the Front and this provoked huge its arrival by Chester Line States. difficulties for us as regards Crocker, the Assistant President Machel met with to imports and other Secretary of State for African Vice-President Bush, as well expenditures in foreign Affairs and was officialy as Deputy Secretary of State exchange, " explained the received by Secretary of State Chester Crocker and the Minister . The result of the George Schultz . President Assistant Secretary of State decline has meant less goods, Machel descriped the internal for African Affairs, Frank clothing, fuel, medicine and situation in Mozambique and Wisner . Events and politics of food for the country's 13 explained the nature and the southern African region million plus people . Goods activties of the MNR to dominated the conversations. such as radios, batteries, Secretary of State Schultz President Machel had a material for clothing and when they met . Mr . Schultz is two-hour meeting with bicicles provide incentives reported to have assured him President Reagan, once again for peasants to increase that the U .S . government dominated by discussions of production . At present offers no support or sympathy the southern Africa region. peasants are paid for their to the MNR . Mr . Schultz also Later in the day, President crops but can't find the goods assured President Machel that Machel addressed the Foreign they want to buy. the U .S . government supported Affairs Committees of both The main reasons for the the Nkomati Accord and would Houses of the Congress . In his current slump are two-fold: do what they could to see that talks Machel stressed that the the targeting of economic the agreement was respected. U .S . "should put pressure on projects by the MNR as a way Prior to the the arrival South Africa for the to destroy the counrty's of the delegation, the elimination of apartheid ." He economy and the morae of the Washington Post carried a explained that several areas people and the lack of parts story which implied that the for cooperation existed and raw materials vital to. the purpose of the visit to the between Mozambique and the smooth running of any factory. United States was to U .S . and that Mozambique needs The 1986 plan calls for a discourage sanctions . In fact, 13% increase over that of 1985 Mozambique and other countries which would bring the overall production to 90% of what it was in 1984 . The plan seeks to increase by 29% the amount of produce marketed by peasants. While farmers will be encouraged to grow more rice and vegatables, there will also be an emphasis on the production of cashew nuts and other crops which can bring in foreign echange . A projection of a 40% increase on the food supply includes planned inports and food donated by international organizations. The plan also suggests an eight percent increase in the enrollment of the nation's schools, while the main objective of the Ministry of Health will be to rebuild as President Machel with Randall Robinson and members of the many of the MNR-destroyed Black Caucus in Washington. health center as possible and (Continued on page 7) 2 NKOMATI deliever supplies to the MNR commander appearing on the ACCORD inside Mozambique. program explained that South On September 16, the eve Africa would have to defend of President Machel's depar- itself against the "Soviet (Continued from page 1) ture for the United States, he Threat" coming from Mozambique confronted South Africa's and Angola . In response, Foreign Minister Botha with Mozambique's Minister of African generals, at the the evidence . Three days later Information issued a com- invitation of the latter . ." the South African Minister led munique dening that there was The meeting resulted in the a delegation to a bordertown ever such a build-up and promise of a massive influx of in South Africa where they met pointing out that South Africa weapons within eight weeks . with a Mozambican delegation has the greatest military The infiltration of arms and led by Minister of Interior strength in the area and that men occurred just a short time .Oscar Monteiro and Minister of their activities include "the before the signing of the Security Sergio Vieira to re- recent escalation of de- Accord . spond . But the truth had been stabilising actions against The Mozambican government re- vealed the night before at the People's Republic of revealed in the news con- a press conference in Mozambique through systematic ference at which they Pretoria. violations of the borders . ., announced the discovery of the Foreign Minister Botha particularily in Maputo documents they had had what reported that the South province ." Mozambique feared they called a 'gentleman's African Commission of Inquiry that with the collapse of the agreement' with the South appointed to investigate the Nkomati Accord, South Africa Africans to not use the period validity of Mozambique's would revert back to its between their 1983 meeting and charge found that on one pre-Accord days of direct the signing of the actual occasion weapons had been bombings and invasions.