---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 17:57:48 -0000
From: "Pritchett, John LCDR  PRITCHEJ" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
To: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: [AfricaMatters] Congress to Consider So. Africa Debt
    Relief/Reconstruction Act

23 March 2000  Congress to Consider So. Africa Debt Relief/Reconstruction
Act  (Congressional Black Caucus joins with African diplomatic corps) (710)
By Charles W. Corey Washington File Staff Writer  Washington -- "Now is the
time to get right with Africa," the chairman of the Congressional Black
Caucus (CBC) told reporters March 23 as the CBC joined with the African
diplomatic corps to highlight legislation that calls for debt relief and
reconstruction aid to flood-ravaged Mozambique and several of its southern
African neighbors.  The bill, known as the "Limpopo River Debt Relief and
Reconstruction Act of 2000," was to be introduced into the House of
Representatives later in the day. If passed into law it would provide
assistance to Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa,
Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, the site of huge floods in February and
March.  In discussing the proposal, CBC Chairman James E. Clyburn (Democrat
- South Carolina) recalled the recent economic and political progress
achieved by Mozambique and warned that those gains are threatened by the
recent floods, which have devastated the nation.  "In 1992, this nation
ended a 16-year civil war and became an African model of democratic and free
market change. Over those eight years, more than 800 former government-owned
enterprises have been privatized. Mozambique experienced a 6 percent
economic growth rate in 1998," he added.  Clyburn also pointed to the
central importance that debt relief -- which is provided for under the
legislation -- must play in the economic development of Mozambique and many
of its African neighbors.  "Quite frankly, no matter what we do, if we don't
deal with debt relief, not just for Mozambique, but for other nations in
Africa as well," he said, it will be very hard or virtually impossible for
many sub-Saharan African countries to achieve meaningful economic growth and
development.  Congresswoman Maxine Waters (Democrat - California) -- the
bill's principal sponsor -- credited the United States government for
quickly aiding Mozambique with more than $37 million in short-term disaster
assistance. But while "disaster assistance is essential," she stressed, it
is "not enough to adequately address the critical needs of the people
affected by the floods.  "We must also enable the governments of the
affected countries to begin substantial repair and reconstruct their damaged
infrastructure," she added, as provided for under the terms of the proposed
bill.  Among other things, Waters said the legislation:  -- would provide
"complete cancellation of all debts that affected southern African countries
owe the United States";  -- would "authorize appropriations for the repair
and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure in these countries";  -- "could
include funding and technical assistance for the repair and reconstruction
of roads and bridges, schools and hospitals, energy infrastructure,
telecommunications facilities and other essential infrastructure; and  --
"urges other countries and international financial institutions to fully
cancel all debts of affected southern African countries and provide them
with similar flood relief and reconstruction assistance."  Asked how the CBC
(which now contains only Democrats) hoped to get such legislation enacted in
a Republican-controlled Congress, Waters said that "the Congressional Black
Caucus has never been deterred from taking leadership and doing the right
thing, no matter what the odds are."  It is because of the CBC and other
progressives in the Congress, she explained, that certain developing nations
are now enjoying some measure of debt relief. That initial level of debt
relief, while modest, nonetheless now stands as a "tremendous start" in the
overall debt relief process, she said.  "The more we work on Africa, the
more we put it on the foreign affairs agenda," Waters added. And although
the CBC is not "in the majority," she said, "we are making gains and
achieving successes."  Congressman Charles Rangel (Democrat - New York)
added that the Republican majority in the House is "not organized, and we
are."  South African Ambassador Sheila Sisulu announced that her group, in
cooperation with the African Ambassadors' Spouses Association and staffs
working in the African embassies in Washington, has contributed $100,000 to
support disaster relief efforts in southern Africa. She also thanked the
United States and international organizations for their assistance during
this ongoing emergency.

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