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AANA Bulletin						Bulletin APTA
  Editor -Elly Wamari					Editor - Silvie
Alemba

AANA BULLETIN No. 37/03 September 22, 2003 (b)

ECUMENICAL  AFFAIRS

Raiser's Proposals For A New Ecumenical Configuration

GENEVA (AANA) September 22 - Rev Dr Konrad Raiser re-affirmed the need for 
a new configuration of the ecumenical movement in his last report to the 
Central Committee as World Council of Churches (WCC) General Secretary.

Emphasising the need to move the whole Christian community to a renewed 
common witness in the 21st Century, Raiser outlined a process for the 
"re-configuration of the ecumenical movement".

"The WCC takes this initiative not out of institutional self-interest, but 
in response to its constitutional mandate to further and maintain the 
coherence of one ecumenical movement in its diverse manifestations," he 
said.

A consultation will be held in Lebanon in November with a view to analysing 
the challenges presented by a changing world. It will identify key areas of 
change, and design a process of study and consultation, which could lead to 
proposals being put to organisations involved.

Raiser acknowledged the difficulties faced by the ecumenical movement, 
comparing them with those faced by the United Nations (UN). He named these 
as, shortage of funds, increase of bilateralism, growing competition 
between UN agencies and the NGO community, and defensiveness of governments 
against the influence of civil society organisations on the shaping of a 
new international order.

"Generally, there is a trend to respond to the challenges by way of 
pragmatic organisational and structural changes, hoping to increase 
relevance by adopting looser, lighter and more flexible structures," he 
noted.	However, he continued, "We cannot be content with a pragmatic and 
functional re-adjustment of structures to facilitate co-operation and 
render (ecumenical organisations) more effective."

He pointed out that instead, "the aim should be to rally the partners again 
around a common set of values and attitudes, to sharpen the sense of a 
common mission."

In pursuit of this, there is, according to Raiser, a "fundamental value 
option in favour of multilateralism versus bilateralism; in favour of a 
conciliar model of ecumenism against the confessional model; in favour of a 
wide notion of ecumenism against the concentration towards an ecumenism of 
churches as organised 
bodies". 

Consequently, said Raiser, "the legitimate partners in this emerging 
conversation are all those who, irrespective of their relationship with the 
WCC, recognise the basic affirmations of faith as expressed in the basis of 
the WCC, and who acknowledge that the churches, in spite of their 
institutional limitations, are the main actors of the ecumenical movement".

In his report, Raiser referred to issues to be addressed through ecumenical 
relations as including bio-technology, and working among people with 
disabilities. According to him, the expectations that churches find courage 
to address the fundamental spiritual and moral questions among people today 
"is increasing everywhere".

"Even human life is no longer protected by those fundamental ethical 
convictions which affirm the sanctity and inviolability of life," he said 
in reference to the advances in genetic technology.

At the conclusion of his report, Raiser observed:  "I have confidence in 
the future, for the movement in which we are engaged is ultimately in God's 
hands and God will complete what we have had to leave unfinished."

The retiring WCC head underlined the importance of including Roman 
Catholics, Evangelicals and Pentecostals in a broader and more inclusive 
ecumenical movement.

By WCC Media Team

Botswana, Zimbabwe In A Showdown Over Border

A diplomatic row is brewing between Zimbabwe and Botswana, following the 
erection of a 500-kilometre electric fence by the latter on part of their 
common border, reportedly to stop an influx of Zimbabwean illegal 
immigrants, and livestock suspected to carry foot-and-mouth disease. Our 
Correspondent Rodrick Mukumbira outlines the details.

A three-metre high electric fence, whose construction began early this 
year, will snake through scrub-land that acts as a crossing point for 
refugees and illegal immigrants fleeing economic and political hardships in 
Zimbabwe.

Some 167 kilometres of the fence has been erected so far, with some 
sections already electrified.

When finished, the fence will stretch from Maitengwe, a village north of 
Botswana's second-largest city, Francistown, to Mabata, a camp next to 
where the two countries' border meets with that of South Africa in eastern 
Botswana.

Botswana hopes to finish construction of the fence this year, when 
immigration officers, reinforced by police and army units will patrol the 
barrier.

But Zimbabweans are not amused.  To start with, illegal immigrants are 
already vandalising parts of the fence to continue gaining entrance into 
Botswana, considered one of Africa's strongest economies.

Secondly, Zimbabwean officials in Botswana have lashed out at their 
neighbour, saying the structure is an insult to human rights.

Phelekeza Mphoko, Zimbabwe's high commissioner in Gaborone, claims that the 
southern African country is building its version of the Israeli security 
wall, "a new Gaza Strip" to alienate its northern neighbour.

"People will continue to destroy the fence because it has divided families 
on either side of the border," he says.

Ties between Botswana and Zimbabwe soured when President Festus Mogae of 
Botswana criticised Robert Mugabe's controversial land redistribution 
programme.  The fence has now worsened the situation.

But Botswana has defended the move as a legitimate response to the threat 
posed by infected cattle, and unemployed Zimbabweans who have illegally 
crossed the border in record numbers since 2000.

Though occupying a larger area, Botswana's population of 1.7 million feels 
tiny and vulnerable compared to its neighbour's 11.8 million.

"We are not closing the border with Zimbabwe.  There are gazetted points of 
entry," says Mompati Merafhe, the country's Minister for Foreign Affairs 
and International Co-operation.

He adds: "I cannot understand people who say we are trying to close the 
border with Zimbabwe, while we are encouraging Zimbabweans to use the 
gazetted points of entry. We have more border posts with Zimbabwe than with 
any other country."

"The construction of the fence must continue, and it will continue. We have 
to go ahead with the fence and when need be, we will open some more border 
posts," the minister asserts.

Merafhe says Botswana has had problems with Zimbabwean illegal immigrants 
and infected cattle crossing the border to spread contagious livestock 
diseases.

Officially, the fence is to stop cattle infected with foot-and-mouth 
disease. Two outbreaks in two years, which affected Botswana's lucrative 
beef exports to the European Union, were blamed on Zimbabwe.  Jobs were 
lost, as thousands of cattle were destroyed to control the disease.

In 2001, Botswana exported beef worth more than P350 million (about US$ 
72.2 million), according to a latest briefing from the Ministry of 
Agriculture.

But in the past two years, the exports have been declining due to two 
consecutive foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks, the ministry says.

While the government has moved in to restock herds of livestock that were 
killed following the recent outbreak, cattle farmers say it will be 
difficult for them to recover, since the latest outbreak was severe.

Some are also thinking of diversifying into other agricultural activities 
in a semi-desert country, noting that livestock rearing has become a risky 
business in the country.

A number of law enforcement officials are sceptical of the effectiveness of 
the electric fence as a barrier against potential border jumpers escaping 
Zimbabwe's deepening economic and political crisis.

"We have cases of vandalism along the border. Some people cut the fence and 
we have cases where parts of the fence have been recovered in Zimbabwe," said
Solomon Matswe, spokesperson of Botswana Police.

Authorities in the capital, Gaborone, say the current influx of illegal 
Zimbabweans into the country poses the biggest immigration problem since 
it's independence from Britain in 1966.  About 2,500 people are being 
repatriated each month.

In 2002 alone, Botswana repatriated 26,717 illegal Zimbabweans.  The 
country says it needs over P1.7 million or US$ 314,000 per month to cover 
expenses related to repatriation, including salaries and allowances for 
immigration officers.

In the latest apparent sign of being "swamped", mass graves were needed for 
the hordes of unclaimed corpses of illegal immigrants clogging the 
mortuaries, according to Sylvia Muzila, the district commissioner of 
Francistown.

"We are concerned about what is going on [in Zimbabwe]. It is very 
unfortunate that we have our houses being burgled every day and our 
children being harassed. We understand why our people are saying that 
Zimbabweans must go," says Alfred Dube, Botswana's representative at the 
United Nations.

Residents of Tlokweng, a small village outside Gaborone, introduced 
vigilantes and tried to expel Zimbabweans, referred to as makwerekwere 
(foreigners) in derogative language, after blaming them for a spate of 
robberies and burglaries.

Accusing their hosts of xenophobia and of having misplaced condemnations, 
Zimbabweans say they come into Botswana in search of sanctuary and work, 
not for trouble.

"Most Zimbabweans are hard working and law abiding citizens who have been 
displaced by the political and economic situation in Zimbabwe," says Luxon 
Mangwiro, a Zimbabwean journalist based in Maun, a resort town in 
north-western Botswana.

"The accusation that most Zimbabweans are thieves or vandals is just 
stigmatisation being sparked by a few unruly Zimbabwean elements," he adds.

  Shepherding Unfortunate Mothers Out Of Despair

Desperate young mothers in Lesotho, who may not be in the know, need to 
hear this.  For about seven years now, Good Shepherd Sisters congregation 
have been running a centre that provides single mothers in difficult 
circumstances with a safe and supportive place to live in, while 
reconstructing their self-esteem, thereby instiling a sense of pride in 
them.  AANA Correspondent, Lebohang Lejakane reports.

Her serene composure is amazing, considering the hardship and pain she has 
had to endure in the recent past.

First, not seeing eye-to-eye with her step-mother forced her to leave her 
home and stay with an aunt at Pitseng village,	250 km east of Lesotho's 
capital, Maseru. Her biological mother had died.

Then just when she thought a bright future lay ahead of her, the unexpected 
happened.  In March 2000, she discovered she was pregnant by her boyfriend 
and classmate.

"Then I was in the penultimate year of my high school education, and I was 
already imagining myself as a student at the National University of Lesotho 
because I was doing very well in class," recalls Lisebo, 22, (not her real 
name).

"I cried and cried, finding it hard to come to terms with the fact that I 
was pregnant at the age of 19.	I felt like the world was collapsing on 
me," she recollects.

"The hardest moment for me was to break the news to my dear aunt, to whom I 
was like her own child," she adds.

When her aunt heard the news of her pregnancy, she (the aunt) was naturally 
disappointed. "Even so, she acted calmly and responsibly and told me she 
would immediately take me to the Good Shepherd Centre in Ha Mokujoe," 
recounts Lisebo.

The centre is about 10 km East of Maseru.  When she arrived there, she had 
no idea that she was set to enjoy a new lease of life.

"Counselling and education about life at this centre has empowered me to 
look at life in a positive and more serious light," she says, explaining: 
"That is why when my child died after a short illness last year, I took it 
in my stride."

Asked about the most important thing she has learnt at Good Shepherd, 
Lisebo quickly answers: "It is the fact that setbacks of whatever magnitude 
do not mean the end of the world, and as long as one has faith in God, 
there is always light at the end of the tunnel."

Lisebo is one of the 15 young mothers at the centre, currently being taken 
care of and empowered by the Sisters of Good Shepherd congregation. She is 
now about to complete her high school final grade at St Joseph's High 
School in Maseru.

"Since the centre was opened by the Sisters of Good Shepherd of Quebec on 
February 7, 1995, 117 young mothers and 339 pre-school children have been 
through it," reveals Sr Pius Phate, the principal of the institution.

Sr Pius adds that they allow children from neighbouring villages to mix 
with those from the centre's kindergarten "so that our children do not feel 
any sense of isolation".

The purpose of the centre, she explains, is to provide single mothers in 
difficult circumstances with a safe and supportive place to live in, while 
they learn to care for themselves and their children.

  "Some of them have been disowned by their families after they fell 
pregnant," the principal points out.

"We strive to enhance the dignity of mothers by promoting self-esteem and a 
sense of pride and autonomy," she says.

"We also assist them acquire education and/or vocational skills, as well as 
providing an opportunity for a Christian living experience," she adds.

On the length of stay at the centre, Sr Pius says the initial commitment to 
the programme is two-and-a-half years.

"Staff and mother re-evaluations are conducted every six months to 
re-assess progress and goals," she notes.

According to her, the centre gives young mothers good grounding to face the 
world with confidence. "We give them shelter, counselling, parenting 
education, home-making skills, classes in sewing, knitting, agriculture, 
worship and fulfilment of spiritual needs, personal enhancement and shared 
responsibilities," she explains.

"As for children, we provide shelter and [guide] their physical, emotional 
and social development," she adds with an air of satisfaction.

Sr Pius affirms that health care for the mother and child is assured 
through the full services of the medical clinic on site. A nurse is on duty 
at the centre day and night.

On the mode of operation at the centre, the principal states that it is a 
two-way deal. "We require young mothers to bring to the centre, their own 
food, cooking utensils, own toiletries, personal clothing, bed sheets and 
blankets," she explains.

"On our part, we supply items such as knitting and sewing machines and 
materials, and we share our food with those who do not get any from their 
families," she continues.

Sr Pius pays tribute to organisations that have contributed to the 
expansion of the centre in the form of additional buildings and facilities, 
including projects such as poultry rearing.

The organisations include, UNICEF-Lesotho, the Irish Consulate, the 
American Embassy, Save the Children Fund-UK, Rotary Lesotho and the Lesotho 
Government through the Department of Social Welfare. "Without their 
support, we would not be where we are today," she acknowledges.

Stressing the importance of the centre, Sr Pius says "the current high 
levels of poverty means that some of these young  mothers do not get any 
help from their families and are increasingly relying on the centre for 
survival".

Besides the one at Ha Mokujoe, the Good Shepherd Sisters are running 
another centre in Maseru that houses about 80 girls who have difficulty 
finding accommodation. It has been operating since 1969.

Sr Pius hails the Lord for giving them the courage to do "this heavy and 
unrecognised work which demands sacrifices, patience and love for these 
poor young mothers."

Now Hawking Conflict Turns Ugly In Dar es Salaam

A 21-year old hawker with disability has been admitted to a special 
national referral facility in Tanzania after sustaining a broken leg, a 
second time, in running battles with security personnel. Oscar Obonyo 
examines the current hawking menace in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's commercial 
city.

Except for the petty traders littered everywhere, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's 
commercial city on the shores of the Indian Ocean, is a beautiful 
metropolis currently realising very rapid growth.

However, contrary to its name, which means "safe city",  Dar, as it is 
fondly referred to by locals, has lately been rocked by bloody 
confrontations involving hawkers  and enforcement officers of the city
bylaws.

Owing to the skirmishes, a crippled hawker is currently admitted at the 
special Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (MOI), after suffering a secondary 
leg injury.

Unable to flee fast from the marauding enforcement officers or city askaris 
like his able bodied colleagues, 21-year old, Felician Manjira sustained a 
broken leg, a second time, after being clobbered with a hefty club.

"This particular incident is very ugly and most unfortunate. Why condemn an 
already crippled and helpless trader to a second disability?" remarks Lawi 
Joel, a Dar es Salaam based journalist.

Only recently, Prime Minister, Fredrick Sumaye, castigated the city 
officials for violently evicting the traders. He accordingly issued an 
order requiring them to use humane and friendly ways of enforcing city 
bylaws.

Following last December's directive barring hawking in certain unauthorised 
areas in the city centre, city officials have repeatedly pounced on 
machinga as the hawkers are popularly known, engaging them in endless 
running battles.

According to the Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner (RC), Yusuf Makamba, 
the move was aimed at observing hygiene standards, fighting crime and 
reducing traffic congestion within this city of an estimated three million 
residents.

Most of the machinga have, however, refused to budge. They argue that 
confinement to far off locations outside the city centre will rob them of a 
valuable daily income.

Some of the designated areas such as Mwenge, some seven kilometres from the 
city centre, are isolated and completely devoid of sanitary facilities.

Other proposed locations include, Magurumbasi, Kibasila, Manzese and 
Michikichini. Of these, only Michikichini is located within the city centre.

Hawking business in Tanzania is mainly operated by members of the 
Wamachinga tribe of Mtwara region in the south-east, on the 
Tanzania-Mozambique border, hence the machinga nickname.

Over the years, the traders from Mtwara region have invaded Dar es Salaam 
and other major towns in this expansive East African country to sell their 
wares.

With members of other communities joining the trade, the machinga business 
sub-sector has expanded fast, employing nearly 15 percent of Tanzania's 
school drop-outs.  "This appears to be our only way of earning a living and 
I can assure you that it will not be easy to clear us from the streets," 
vows Miss Margaret Shirima, who sells mineral water and soft drinks along 
Samora Machel Avenue.

When AANA visited the scene along Azikiwe Street and the New Post Office in 
the heart of Dar es Salaam moments after the latest battle, the area was 
littered with smashed tomatoes and lots of abandoned foodstuff, especially 
fish.

Although the affected vendors claim to have suffered huge casualties, only 
three people, including Manjira, were injured in the resultant commotion, 
according to the Dar es Salaam Regional Police Commander, Alfred Tibaigana.

It is Manjira's case, however, that has touched the hearts of many. Both 
the Association of Disabled Persons in Tanzania (CHAWATA) and Tanzania 
Federation of Disabled People's Organisation (TFDPO), have previously 
condemned physical harassment meted on helpless disabled hawkers.

Noting that persons with disabilities comprise two percent of Tanzania's 
estimated population of 36.7 million people, TFDPO's Vice Chairperson, Ms 
Eva Biswaro, decries mistreatment of disabled persons and calls for "a 
national policy for the disabled".

The delay by the government to formulate such a policy is viewed as a 
stumbling block for having persons with disabilities integrated into the 
broader society. "Since there is no such policy in the country's current 
constitution, the involvement by disabled persons in economic development 
is completely absent," complains Biswaro.

Her comments are perhaps best exemplified by endless protests staged by 
disadvantaged groups, including hawkers, disabled persons and beggars in 
Dar es Salaam and other parts of the country.

In April this year, for instance, over 50 beggars demonstrated in the 
northern town of Arusha at the District Commissioner's office, demanding 
the right to continue begging in the municipality and insisting that it was 
their sole means of survival.

The demonstration in Arusha followed a similar order as the one issued in 
Dar es Salaam, to hawkers and beggars to vacate the town's streets.

Around the same time, an equally embarrassing drama was unfolding in the 
neighbouring country, Kenya. In the capital , Nairobi, city council 
authorities  were under fire for clobbering disabled hawkers demonstrating 
at the State House gate with the intention of petitioning the President 
over their eviction from the streets.

For many years, hawking had equally become a big problem in the Kenyan 
capital. However, Mayor Joe Aketch took a firm stand, protests from members 
and agencies of the disabled not withstanding, to rid the streets of the 
hawking menace.

All is not rosy, however, for Aketch's Dar es Salaam counterpart: 
"Sometimes our [officers] clear these people off the streets only for them 
to reappear later. It is extremely difficult to eliminate the practice," 
concedes, the mayor, Kleist Sykes.

Claiming that nearly 60 percent of Dar es Salaam's building structures are 
unplanned for, Sykes acknowledges that this factor has greatly hampered 
plans to relocate the hawkers elsewhere.

However, the Dar es Salaam RC is determined. "They must leave at once and 
if you have issued them with licences to conduct businesses, then you must 
withdraw them immediately," Makamba recently told city officials.

If Manjira pulls through from hospital, probably on a wheelchair this time, 
he may have to avoid a third disability by opting to settle for a stall in 
one of the  sheds being put up in the city's estates.