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CNS 3848     |	   SOUTHERN AFRICA	|     6 JULY 2004

Anglican leaders' visit marks deep concern for troubled Swaziland

Media release from the office of the Most Revd Njongonkulu Ndungane, the
Archbishop of Cape Town and Primate of the Province of Southern Africa

5 July 2004

The Archbishop of Cape Town and head of the Anglican Church in Southern
Africa will lead a global delegation to Swaziland next week (8-10 July
2004).

Swaziland is one of the six countries within the Church of the Province
of Southern Africa. This visit comes in response to appeals from Bishop
Meshack Mabuza, Anglican Bishop of Swaziland, and members of his region,
for wider Anglican Communion involvement.

This pastoral visit will enable the delegation to familiarise itself
with the situation and to show solidarity and support - through prayer
and discussion - with the leaders and people of Swaziland.

Archbishop Ndungane will be accompanied by: the Bishop of Lebombo in
Mozambique, the Rt Revd Dinis Sengulane; the Bishop of the Highveld and
Dean of the Province, the Rt Revd David Beetge; the Episcopal Bishop of
Washington, the Rt Revd John Chane; the Bishop of Edinburgh and
representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Rt Revd Brian Smith;
the Reverend Canon John L. Peterson, the Secretary General of the
worldwide Anglican Communion; and Canon James Rosenthal, who is Director
of Communications for the worldwide Anglican Communion.

"The situation in Swaziland seems to have reached a crisis", says
Archbishop Ndungane. "Poverty is rife, with a reported 65% of the Swazi
population living below the poverty line and the HIV and AIDS statistics
are reported as the highest in the world."

"The hospitals are only able to provide 2,000 hospital beds at any given
time which means that about 18,000 people die in their homes. A UNICEF
study conducted in 2002 showed that there were 5,500 orphan-headed homes
with the eldest being 11 years old. The Anglican diocesan AIDS programme
lays emphasis on home care but obviously the need is far greater than we
can meet."

The delegation intends meeting church and civic leaders, the head of
state, the prime minister and various ambassadors to Swaziland to
discuss the socio-economic situation and the ongoing constitutional
development of that country. A service will be held in the Anglican
Cathedral Church of All Saints in Mbabane on Saturday morning (10 July).

Previous article on Swaziland:

http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/articles/38/00/acns3823.cfm

And information on the Church of the Province of Southern Africa:

http://www.anglicancommunion.org/tour/province.cfm?ID=S4

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