by Gaynor Paynter

G21 Africa Columnist

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Gaynor Paynter & her sons

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - Hello from a rather weary South African. Besides the rather unrelenting heat (even though it is now March and the mornings are beginning to feel a little cooler than a few months ago, the day times themselves are still harsh and dry with our summer sun) we have been keeping rather busy at work. Nine hour days without lunch breaks to provide a blessed respite are not uncommon (in fact, they are a daily occurrence).

As you may know I work for a company which specialises in recruitment, and I find it quite amazing just how many of my countrymen are looking for work - between us, we get to interview at least eight to fifteen job applicants per day. I am not complaining, at least I get the opportunity to meet different people on a daily basis - constant exposure to South Africans from all walks of life, and as it truly is a rainbow nation, this is always interesting.

As a Christian in general and an Anglican in particular, I was interested to hear the other day about the fact that the Anglican Archbishop, the Reverend Njongonkulu Ndugane, has decided to involve himself actively in politics, more specifically, in the humanitarian issue which has raised it's ugly head in our neighbouring country, Zimbabwe, governed by the Zanu PF party (it's President is President Robert Mugabe).

I always get a tentative feeling when I hear of religious men involving themselves in politics, for, in some circles (as with sport), it is felt that religion and politics should not mix. However (and this can be construed in a good or a bad way!), the Anglican Church in South Africa has a history of being involved in politics, with the most renowned Anglican representative being the Archbiship Desmond Tutu (who was a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize some years back).

Therefore, when I heard of this latest development I pricked up my ears and paid attention - the humanitarian issue surrounding the Land Redistribution Policy whereby land has been taken from White Zimbabwean farmers for redistribution to the people of the country (by fair means or foul, I might add) is one close to my heart. The paternal side of my family consists largely of farmers and in some issues our country South Africa has a tendency to follow our neighbour. It is not the land redistribution itself that bothers me but more the manner in which it has been done, which has not always been peaceful, and many farmers have died in South Africa and Zimbabwe alike.

Also, some Zimbabwean farmers, whose families have been on the land for many years, have been left with little or nothing. No homes to go to, and if they go back to the farms, the chances are good that they will be killed..

Of course, there is the other matter of the official opposition. After the general election in Zimbabwe, was felt by many to be an unfair election because of the threat to non-Zanu PF supporters of violence or death (by Zanu PF supporters). The Zanu PF won the election with a landslide victory, and consequently, the leader of the opposition, the Movement for Democratic Change, Morgan Zhandurai, has been accused of and is being tried for treason. I believe that if he is found guilty the crime is punishable by death.

These issues, of course, have led to strained relations amongst Zimbabweans.

And so to Archbishop Njongonkulu's involvement in the issue (encouragingly, he has been given the go ahead by Robert Mugabe to mediate for peace amongst all parties in Zimbabwe).

After meeting twice with the Zimbabwean government, opposition parties, civic and church groups in the past month, Archbishop Njongonkulu (who is the most powerful man in the Anglican Church in South Africa) told a press conference that there would be no alternative to resolving Zimbabwe's crises other than using dialogue and that this process would be difficult and long. I tend to agree with him there, living myself in a country which knows first hand the extreme difficulties behind reconciliation between two different colours and creeds of people. He also said that he was very much aware of the difficult road which lay ahead for Zimbabwe, using the imagery that it would be "like trying to turn the Titanic whilst at the same time trying to avoid the iceberg".

I feel that patience on both sides would be a key factor in bringing about this successful reconciliation, and being that patience is in itself a Christian virtue, who better to teach it to the Zimbabweans than South Africa's most important member of the Anglican church? I can never understand why human beings persist in turning to violence to sort out their problems. This has been the case since time began, and we still have problems today, so obviously there must be a flaw in the system somewhere! Thousands of young men and women have died, children have been orphaned, sons and husbands lost in the name of war. Bloodshed and violence does nothing but breed more bloodshed and violence. Reconciliation breeds reconciliation, so to me the choice seems obvious, which would we rather have?

According to Archbishop Njongonkulu, President Robert Mugabe has indicated to him that the root cause of the country's problems had arisen from the unfinished land issue with the former colonial master, Britain. This reaction does not surprise me, for it is common in Africa (amongst Whites and Blacks) to blame others for misfortune and use the problem as an excuse not to sort out the future. I am pleased to report that the gross generalisation I have just made is not true of Archbishop Njongonkulu, who has made it his perogative to take definite action, and as such, he has recently been in touch with his British counterpart, being the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, to discuss ways of restoring dialogue between London and Harare over the land problem. (In the eyes of the world the importance of the issue seems to have died down in the light of the impending war against Iraq).

But, as stated by the Archbishop, there are several internal issues which need to be resolved, and, interestingly, in a statement which was read by Charles Villa-Vicencio, who is the executive director of the South African based Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, Ndungane and his delegation agreed that it is "very clear that the Zimbabwean crisis involves more than a land crisis".

He backed this strong statement up by passing the further comment (in the form of a written statement): "The restoration of political normality, a culture of human rights, hunger relief and political legitimacy are important to bring peace and stability to Zimbabwe.

Civic groups said people in this country need space, political space," he said.

When he was asked what part his initiative would take when already other attempts at dialogue had taken place and seemingly failed, Ndungane said his was simply to complement, and followed this up with a promise that he would share with South African leader President Thabo Mbeki comprehensive details of his findings and that he expected him to convey all the relevant information to President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, who was in Zimbabwe last month.

Archbishop Njongonkulu concluded that the situation in the southern African country had improved from last year when Zimbabwe was suspended from the Commonwealth.

Although civic and rights groups are of the contrary opinion, I would like to take the opportunity to laud Archbishop Njongonkulu as an upstanding member of the South African society, a South African who has shown himself to be prepared to physically get involved in the prevention of humanitarian crimes. Just think what a different place South Africa, and indeed the world, would be if we were all prepared to do the same. You could start it from a grass roots level: Put a stop to humanitarian crimes within your own lives and your own workplaces. Effectively, if all humans were involved in doing this, it would end all crimes such as murder, rape, etc. An idealistic notion? Maybe so, but we can all make a difference to other people's lives, even though it may be on a small scale. In closing, I issue you all a challenge: For the next week, make a point of doing something nice for someone in your lives each day. It doesn't have to be earth shattering stuff, but I guarantee you your lives will be enriched. There is no feeling comparable to that of having made someone else happy. Too few people in this world know the truth of these words.

God bless you all, and again I pray that the impending war in Iraq will be quickly resolved with no loss of life. God bless America, guide her people and give her peace, in Jesus name, Amen.

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References: iafrica.com, The Star Newspaper 13 March 2003