wfn.org | Work for Fair Africa Trade Bill

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org (CAROL FOUKE)]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Contact: Willis Logan/Rev. Paul D. Harris, (212) 870-2645
Ad Hoc Committee for Passage of the Africa Trade Bill

NCC9/17/98     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AFRICAN AMBASSADORS URGE PASSAGE OF FAIR AFRICA TRADE BILL

NEW YORK, N.Y., Sept. 17 ---- The ambassadors from 
Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Sierra Leone, Togo, Uganda 
and Zimbabwe participated in forums on The African Growth 
and Opportunity Act (HR1432/S778) in Mississippi, Missouri 
and Oklahoma this week to urge the passage of a fair Africa 
trade bill currently before the United States Senate. 

The ambassadors' visits to the states of Senator Trent 
Lott, Senator Don Nickles and Senator John Ashcroft are 
part of an urgent national effort by African ambassadors 
with the support of the Africa Office of the National 
Council of Churches to mobilize American support for the 
Africa trade bill. "Building constituency support in these 
key States will send the right message to our leaders that 
the passage of a fair bill is important to people of Africa 
and the U.S.," said Willis Logan, NCC Africa Office 
Director.

The ambassadors visited more than 35 congregations and 
briefed thousands of people on the importance of the trade 
bill to Africa and the U.S. In each state, the ambassadors 
also met with leaders representing legislative, business 
and grassroots community organizations. The people of 
Mississippi, Missouri and Oklahoma were asked to 
immediately contact their Senators urging them to support 
the passage of the Africa trade bill and to add their names 
to the petition supporting the bill. The petitions will be 
delivered to Senators prior to the Senate vote on the 
Africa trade bill.  

Leaders of national organizations such as the National 
Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), 
Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the 
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AMEZ), National 
Baptist Convention of America, African Methodist Episcopal 
Church (AME), General Board of Global Ministries of the 
United Methodist Church, Church of God in Christ (COGIC) 
and the National Council of Churches (NCC), have passed 
resolutions or spoken in support of the economic 
development of Africa, including strengthening U.S.- Africa 
trade and investment relations. 

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (H.R.1432/S.778) is 
seen as a positive shift from the U.S. Cold War policy to 
one that will emphasize expanding trade with Africa. It is 
an attempt to change U.S. development strategies to balance 
aid with debt relief and long term trade and investments.

The shift is welcome by African nations as an important 
change for Africa at a time when Africans are seizing post 
Cold War opportunities to seriously tackle social, 
political and economic challenges that have plagued Africa 
for the last four centuries. Ambassador Edith Ssempala of 
Uganda urged support in Missouri saying that "The African 
Growth and Opportunity Act is a start to make right the 
wrongs done to the people of Africa." 

Support for The African Growth and Opportunity Act has come 
from most members of the Congressional Black Caucus, with 
leaders such as Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) leading the 
charge for support of The African Growth and Opportunity 
Act in Congress. His influence was key to the passing of 
the bill in the House of Representatives in March 1998.  

The primary source of support of the bill comes from 
African leaders who have been involved in promoting the 
bill in Washington, D.C. In a recent letter to President 
Bill Clinton, Ambassador Roble Olhaye of the Republic of 
Djibouti and the Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps, 
urged support of the bill stating that the continent 
remains "in great need of long term investment to develop 
its abundant resources."  The signatures of 48 African 
ambassadors were attached to the letter. 

Ambassador Amos M. Midzi of Zimbabwe insisted in Oklahoma 
that even though the passage of H.R.1432/S.778 would 
formalize U.S. corporate involvement in Africa, the bill 
"must be used to strengthen ties with Americans who are 
concerned about the development of Africa."  Africa's 
economy is already greatly influenced by former colonial 
nations like Britain and France. Asian nations such as 
Japan and China have also increased trade and investments 
in Africa. The current level of U.S.- Africa trade 
relations exceeds those with Eastern Europe but trade and 
investments are mostly limited to South Africa and major 
African oil producing states: Nigeria, Gabon and Angola. 

The ambassadors' visit to build support in Mississippi, 
Missouri and Oklahoma is at a time when The African Growth 
and Opportunity Act is greatly challenged by election year 
politics. The U.S. Senate Finance Committee has just passed 
a watered-down version of the bill passed by the House of 
Representatives in March. Benefits to Africa such as 
manufacturing textiles for export to the United States have 
suffered greatly in that erosion of the bill. Ambassador 
Roble Olhaye described the recent Finance Committee action 
as a "slap in our face" and an empty gesture to a continent 
in great need. 

The House of Representatives' version had some key benefits 
to sub-Saharan African nations, such as: duty free access 
of African textiles to the U.S. market; allocation of funds 
for the development of Africa's infrastructure; debt relief 
to very poor African countries; and maintaining U.S. annual 
development assistance to Africa.

At each church visited in Tulsa, Okla., the Rev. Paul 
Harris of the Ad Hoc Committee for Passage of the Africa 
Trade Bill introduced Ambassador Archibald Mogwe of 
Botswana, saying that "The African ambassadors have 
traveled far and wide with the news of a new beginning for 
Africa. One in which our children will help to rebuild our 
homeland ravaged by slavery, colonialism and corrupt 
politics." Meanwhile in Mississippi, Ambassador Eunice 
Bulane of Lesotho reminded congregations of "the 
significance of the American people in helping to make 
Africa accepted as equal partners with the U.S."

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