Muzenda praises World Council of Churches Zimbabwean offical defends land policy and calls for debt relief By Parker T. Williamson The Presbyterian Layman Monday, December 7, 1998 HARARE, ZIMBABWE: Acting Zimbabwean President Muzenda publicly thanked the World Council of Churches for supporting the liberation war that placed the Robert Mugabe regime in power. In a keynote address on the Assembly's December 3 opening session, Muzenda said the WCC has been "a shining example of matching its words with action." Muzenda expressed regret that President Robert Mugabe, who is in London, could not bring personal greetings. Mugabe, an outspoken opponent of homosexual activity, which is illegal in Zimbabwe, has stated his displeasure with the WCC's plan to allow gay and lesbian issues a platform during the Assembly. Spokesmen for the president indicated earlier that in light of the WCC's intention to showcase this subject, Mugabe might choose not to greet the Assembly. But at a press conference, John Newbury, WCC information officer, announced that Mugabe would speak on Tuesday. Who owns the land? Muzenda thanked the WCC for its partnership in Zimbabwean development, and he called for Christians around the world to support his government's controversial land reform, which he admitted is "not without problems." Citing passages from Leviticus and Joel, Muzenda said that the Bible clearly supports taking the land away from whites and returning it to blacks whom he called "its rightful owners." Muzenda named "Christians who came from the north with the mission of enlightening the heathens," with responsibility for the maldistribution of African land. Government officials claim they are purchasing land from white farmers and redistributing it among the landless poor. The program is falling under heavy criticism due to the fact that the government pays a fraction of what the whites - supported by independent appraisals - believe the land is worth. Although some confiscated farm land has been passed on to the poor, government officials' family members, friends and business associates have acquired much of the property for themselves. Even Harare's government-censored newspaper, The Herald, has cited evidence that the program is resulting in a new class of wealthy blacks to replace the class of wealthy whites. On December 2, The Herald reported that a national people's conference of the ruling party will be held later this month in Gweru to focus on the land redistribution issue. About 5,000 party members are expected to address the growing problem of landless peasants invading farms because, according to The Herald, "Government had taken long to distribute land." Slogans; not solutions A Harare taxi driver, who asked that his name not be printed, told The Presbyterian Layman that in his observation, the Zimbabwean people are no better off now than they were before the revolution. He said he had supported the war of liberation in the hope that it would result in benefits for all the people, but now, he said, "my hopes are gone." Government officials and their friends are amassing great wealth while the poor are poorer than ever due to inflation (currently 35 percent and expected to reach 40 by the end of the year) and a poorly administered and rapidly deteriorating infrastructure. Failures in the government-controlled Zimbabwean economy are numerous. The National Oil Company of Zimbabwe posted a huge loss of $1.7 billion in 1997 and prices at the gas pumps have doubled in recent months, causing "stayaways" by taxi drivers and the inability of low income workers to pay bus fares. The Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company has failed to meet targeted production levels due to obsolete plant, equipment and low sales against high expenditures. The company is reporting losses of $445 million. The National Railways of Zimbabwe recorded a $241 million loss, and the national airline, Air Zimbabwe showed losses of $172 million. On December 2, the day before the WCC's opening session, Harare headlines reported that one of the city's major hospitals, Parirenyata, had run out of blood. When the hospital's outstanding balance to the blood bank reached $2.7 million, Blood Bank officials cut off the supply. Patients are now told that they must pay up to $1,660 in advance for every unit needed or else they cannot be treated at the hospital. Sounding the 'Jubilee' theme Avoiding any suggestion that governmental corruption and incompetence might have contributed to Zimbabwe's problems, Muzenda expressed an opinion - common among WCC leaders - that Third-World economic crises such as those experienced by Zimbabwe were caused by the West. He stated his gratitude for the fact that WCC officials have placed "Jubilee debt relief" high on the Assembly's agenda, referring to proposals that, if adopted by the Assembly, would call on the United States, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to cancel debts incurred by Third-World countries. During an informal discussion after Muzenda's speech, the issue of corruption by Third-World leaders was voiced by Rev. Tim Royals, a representative of the Church of England. Royals cited situations in which development loans are made through a Third-World government to businesses that have "no real means or intent of production." Royals said the real cost of such loans ends up on the backs of the people. "We must make a commotion about corruption," he said. Similar concerns were raised by a German reporter at a press conference with WCC Moderator Aram I and General Secretary Konrad Raiser. Referring to WCC proposals calling for debt-relief, the reporter asked the WCC leaders to what extent they would pressure African governments to reform corrupt practices. Aram dismissed the question, saying, "Corruption is everywhere, not just in Africa." Raiser said that the WCC had no authority to put pressure on governments. Reflecting Muzenda's theme that governments of the West are responsible for economic miseries currently experienced in Africa, Assembly participant, Tafadzwa Chigwedere said, "Governments around the world are looting the future of young Africans." Chigwedere, 23, who plans to make a presentation on the subject of economics to the Assembly, continued: "The problem of debt is painful to us … Even if our debts are canceled, the West must stop trying to control African countries' economies." Chigwedere expressed disdain for World Bank and International Monetary Fund policies that have imposed fiscal and monetary control requirements on Third-World governments when they seek increases in their indebtedness.

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