wfn.org | AANA BULLETIN No. 27/03 July 14, 2003 (b)

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AANA BULLETIN No. 27/03 July 14, 2003 (b)

We'll Not Co-operate With Bush On Zim, Says Commission

GABORONE (AANA) July 14 - Foreign ministers of Botswana and Zambia closed 
the 12th session of Botswana-Zambia Joint Permanent Commission of 
Co-operation with a statement saying that there would be no quick fix 
solutions to the Zimbabwean crisis.

The commission said as the meeting ended on June 30, that they would not 
allow their countries to be used as a launch pad for countries wanting to 
effect a regime change in Zimbabwe.

Their stand came days ahead of United States President George Bush's visit 
to southern Africa. There was speculation that Bush would explain to 
President Thabo Mbeki, an offer by the United States to finance a political 
solution for Zimbabwe.

The ministers indicated they were fairly optimistic that the Zimbabwean 
problem would eventually be resolved.

According to them, the legitimacy of Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe, 
was a matter that would be decided by Zimbabwean courts and not by the 
superpowers.

When AANA inquired what they would do if the US and UK decided to remove 
Mugabe forcibly, Zambian Foreign Minister, Kalombo Mwansa, said: "We would 
not co-operate."

The commission agreed on the need for the two countries to intensify 
collaboration in animal disease control, to improve crop production, and to 
establish a subcommittee to monitor and control HIV/AIDS.

It was also agreed that it was imperative for both countries to expedite 
the Bilateral Road Transport Agreement, in order to complete construction 
of the Kazungula Bridge across Zambezi River, which marks the border 
between the two countries.

The commission, which will hold discussions in Zambia in 2005, is designed 
to increase trade volume between the countries.

Reported by Rodrick Mukumbira

Catholic Church In Botswana Is Celebrating Platinum Jubilee

GABORONE (AANA) July 14 - The Roman Catholic Church is celebrating its 75 
years in Botswana.  Celebrations kicked of end of June and will continue to 
November.

The Church came into the country in 1928, when it opened a parish and St 
John's College in Kgale in the south.  The college became the first 
educational institution in the country.  It rose to become a respectable 
establishment.

Before its establishment, well to do Batswana relied on schools in South 
Africa.

Celebrations in Kgale were held at the college on June 30.  This will be 
followed by other festivities in missions scattered around the country.

Fr John Carrigan, the former principal of the college, said the Catholic 
Church has been instrumental in many social changes in Botswana.

"The wealth of diamonds had not yet been discovered, so the money for 
education was in short supply. However, priests, brothers and sisters who 
came to the mission were prepared to work hard to fulfil the dream started 
in 1928," said Fr Carrigan.

Former president, Sir Ketumile Masire, recalled how the college was 
established from grass-thatched buildings to becoming one of the best 
educational institutions in the country. Sir Masire is a product of the 
college.

"Looking back on the past 75 years, the predominant feeling is one of deep 
gratitude to God for His unfailing goodness, His patience and His constant 
protectiveness in the life of St Johns' College," he said.

He added: "I salute the principals, Priests, Sisters, Brothers and Lay 
teachers who provided a service which has truly been Apostolic, educational 
and civic for our nations."

The college is now a government aided mission school, through a partnership 
between the Catholic Church and the Ministry of Education. Though a 
Catholic mission school, it also enrols students from other denominations.

Reported by Rodrick Mukumbira

New Catholic Radio Station Comes To Life Amid Jubilation

NAIROBI (AANA) July 14 - The Catholic Church in Kenya has launched a radio 
station.

Amid jubilation by faithful, Radio Waumini 88.5 FM, was switched on here on 
Sunday, July 6, by Assistant Minister in the Office of the Vice-President, 
Danson Mungatana, on behalf of the Vice-President, Michael Kijana Wamalwa.

Earlier, Archbishop John Njenga of the church's Mombasa archdiocese had 
delivered a homily to mark the launching of the first ever radio station 
for the Catholic fraternity in the country.

The blessing of the station, which followed, was performed by the head of 
the metropolitan archdiocese of Nairobi, The Rt Rev. Ndingi Mwana a'Nzeki.

In his homily, Archbishop Njenga called on the Catholic faithful to support 
the new radio, which he described as "our first baby".

He told the huge gathering, which included six bishops, priests, nuns and 
parliamentarians, that more of such radio projects will be instituted in 
other metropolitan archdioceses of Mombasa, Nyeri and Kisumu. "But all this 
will depend on how best our first baby will perform, " he pointed out.

The Catholic clergyman noted that Radio Waumini was expected to participate 
fully on issues relating to peace, justice and reconciliation as they 
relate to the religious and social teachings of the Church.

"Our hope here is that our professional men and women in communications 
will guide us through this endeavour," he said.

The new radio station is wholly owned by the Catholic Church in Kenya, 
under the umbrella of its national body, Kenya Episcopal Conference (KEC).

It is broadcasting in English, French and Kiswahili, these being the 
languages broadly spoken in eastern and central Africa, but has a limited 
broadcast range of 150 kilometre radius.

Currently, out of 92 organisations already granted frequencies by the 
Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK), 11 of them were church oriented.

Reported By Osman Njuguna

Orombi Becomes New Head Of Uganda's Anglican Church

KAMPALA (AANA) July 14 - The Anglican Church of Uganda has a new leader. He 
is Archbishop Henry Orombi, who formerly headed Nebbi Diocese in the 
north-west.

Though hailed as a fiery priest with enormous persuasive, intellectual and 
mobilisation capacity, little is known about the political inclination of 
this 54-year old British-educated clergyman. He was elected to the high 
position on July 3.

Expected to assume office in January next year, Archbishop Orombi takes 
over from the politically less controversial, Bishop Mpalanyi Nkoyoyo, who 
was sympathetic to the ruling National Resistance Movement.

Nkoyoyo was a practical man, whose regime realised the completion of a 
multi-million dollar residence befitting the head of the Church.

Archbishop Orombi comes in at a time when people's expectations of church 
leaders on matters of politics are high. A research conducted recently 
indicated that clergymen were the most highly trusted on political matters.

Seen as closer to the government, the Anglican Church, which has five 
million members in Uganda, has been less forthright in its criticism of 
political programmes, compared to the Catholic Church.

However, the issuance of a joint declaration from the Joint Christian 
Council, on churches' disapproval of an intended constitutional amendment 
to allow President Museveni stand for a third term, indicates the Church's 
endorsement to this trend.

Orombi becomes the third Anglican Archbishop since President Yoweri 
Museveni took power, and the second from northern Ugandan since the 
country's independence.

Reported by Crespo Sebunya

Christians Want Compensation For Damages By Muslims

BLANTYRE (AANA) July 14 - The Catholic Church here, and the Malawi Council 
of Churches, have asked the government to compensate victims of violence 
perpetrated by some sections of the  Muslims, which occurred after the 
government refused to honour a High Court order restraining deportation of 
five Al Qaeda suspects arrested here on June 21.

The government of Malawi, in collaboration with the US intelligence agents 
apprehended the five Muslim expatriates on suspicion that they were Al 
Qaeda operatives. The suspects were whisked away  to an unknown 
destination, even after a High Court order against the move.

The Muslims accuse government authorities, and the Musim Association of 
Malawi (MAM) for failing to ensure trial to establish if the suspects were 
members of Osama Bin Laden's Al Qaeda network or not.

Rampaging and riotous, they ransacked the secretariat of MAM on June 27, 
destroying furniture and computers. Another group caused extensive damage 
to various premises in the southern region district of Mangochi.

Five Christian churches, the office of the ruling United Democratic Front 
(UDF) party, Save the Children Fund (USA), were among the damaged 
buildings. The Muslim youth also burnt several vehicles, including one 
belonging to Fr Lazarus Girevulo of the Catholic Church.

In its statement, the Malawi Council of Churches (MCC) has urged speedy 
compensation of victims, demanding setting up of a joint commission of 
enquiry to determine the root cause of the violence.  "We call upon 
Christians to be calm in the face of this hatred and provocation as we seek 
redress for the damage caused to property and persons," says part of the 
statement signed by Rev Matiya Nkhoma, of the Presbyterian Church.

The Catholic Church, through its Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace 
(CCJP), blamed the administration of President Muluzi for permitting 
Muslims to take law into their hands.  "Why did some Muslims think they had 
to take up arms on behalf of the five suspects who are not Malawian 
nationals, and on an issue that is not immediately religious?" queries a 
CCJP press release.

Reported by Hobbs Gama

Talks Of Border Water Conflict Mark Muluzi-Mkapa Meeting

DAR ES SALAAM (AANA) July 14 - The issue of whether Tanzania's border lies 
inside Lake Malawi, also known as Lake Nyasa, continues to emerge during 
meetings of leaders of Malawi and Tanzania.

At a recent meeting between Presidents Bakili Muluzi and Benjamin Mkapa of 
Malawi and Tanzania respectively, the two were at pains to deny existence 
of problems associated with use of the waters of the lake and of River 
Songwe on the border between the two countries.

Answering a question at a press conference here on July 7, President Muluzi 
said the issue about how to use the waters was not a big problem as was 
being portrayed. "It is not controversial as you put it...It affects our 
people, but I think, we can talk about it," he maintained.

Muluzi explained that there have been several agreements between the two 
countries on the use of the lake and the river.

Commenting on the matter, President Mkapa pointed out that the decision to 
step up efforts to integrate the economies of Malawi and Tanzania, 
including utilisation of the common waters, would render the problem
redundant.

Lake Malawi, as it is known in Malawi, or Lake Nyasa according to 
Tanzanians, is seen by Malawians to be wholly situated on their soil, with 
its northern shores barely touching Tanzania. But Tanzanians maintain that 
their border with Malawi is somewhere inside the lake.

River Songwe, which largely runs along the border between the two 
countries, but has had its waters changing course and causing confusion 
among communities residing along its banks, has become another 
controversial water body between the two states.

In a joint communiqui released at the end of the meeting, the two leaders 
expressed desire to co-operate closely also on Songwe river stabilisation 
project.

Reported by Henry Neondo

AACC Mourns The Death Of Cameroonian Soccer Star

NAIROBI (AANA) JULY 14 - The All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) has 
joined the rest of the world to mourn the death of Cameroonian soccer 
legend, Mark Vivien Foe, which occurred during the recently concluded 
Confederations Cup match in France.

In a press statement released here, AACC Acting General Secretary, Mr 
Bright Mawudor, said the organisation was stunned by the death of the 
28-year-old Mark Foe, who collapsed during a semi-final match between 
Cameroon and Colombia on June 28, and later died.

"The continent has been robbed of one of its brightest international soccer 
athlete who was an inspiration to many youths, not only in Cameroon but the 
whole of Africa," said Mr Mawudor.

He noted that the loss is not only to Cameroon but to Africa at large, 
since hard work, resilience and determination exhibited by Mark Foe, will 
be dearly missed by all.

Cameroon has been the continent's soccer power house, and are the current 
African Cup of Nations champion.

AACC will be holding it's Eighth General Assembly in Yaounde, Cameroon, in 
November (22-27) this year.

Reported By Herman Kasili