wfn.org | MOZAMBIQUE: PRIMATE DELIGHTED AT WORLD BANK INITIATIVE

[Audrey Whitefield <a.whitefield@quest.org.uk>]

Oct. 21, 1997
ANGLICAN COMMUNION NEWS SERVICE
Canon Jim Rosenthal, Director of Communications
Anglican Communion Office
London, England

[97.10.1.6]

MOZAMBIQUE: PRIMATE DELIGHTED AT WORLD BANK INITIATIVE

(CPSA) The Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, the Most Revd Njongonkulu
Ndungane, has expressed his delight that the World Bank is to take steps
that could see up to 80% of Mozambique's debt being written off.

Reacting to the World Bank announcement this week, the Archbishop said
he had been calling for such steps to be taken since his enthronement a
year ago, and he applauded the World Bank for a decision which he
described as very promising.

The writing off Mozambique's debt will unquestionably result in the
country being able to lift itself from the cycle of poverty into which
it has been locked for decades.

"However, there are still many other countries in Africa and elsewhere
whose people are living in abject poverty, largely as a result of debts
incurred by their governments in the past. I therefore make a sincere
and urgent plea for steps to be taken by international financial
institutions and other relevant organisations to provide similar relief
as has been announced for Mozambique. If this happens, we will begin to
see the reality of economic growth on the one continent with, as yet,
vast untapped potential which could be the springboard of a world
economic renaissance," Archbishop Ndungane said.