From: barnhart@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Mr. Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS:AFRICA: HOPES AND FEARS FOR '93
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 14:03:16 GMT
Organization: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.

Copyright Inter Press Service 1993, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: AFRICA: HOPES AND FEARS FOR '93


harare, dec 29 (ips) -- despite glimmers of hope in africa at
the beginning of the year, 1992 has been another season of
conflict, economic stagnation, drought and political
instability.

among ordinary africans, the hope for 1993 is a simple but
heart-felt one: peace and prosperity.

''i wish it could continue raining so that we could have a
bumper harvest in 1993. no more drought and starvation in 1993
please -- that is my plea to god and our ancestors'', says john
jaya, an ice-cream vendor in zimbabwe's capital, harare.

the 1992 drought crippled the entire sub-region, threatening
25 million people with hunger. livestock has been decimated,
economies strained and it will take several years of good rains
for the soil to recover its fertility and for resevoirs to be
replenished.

jennifer madhuveko, a harare mother of five, hopes that 1993
will ease economic hardships. ''the cost of living has rocketed.
the prices of basic commodities and electric bills are just a
bitter pill to swallow and i hope the government will address
these problems and do something for the suffering poor''.

wonder femberwi, a member of the zimbabwe national army,
hopes the new year will bring peace and stability in mozambique,
south africa and angola. ''we are tired of war. please let
political leaders iron out their differences and give the people
a rest. no more bloodshed in 1993, please''.

in nigeria, black africa's most populous country, the story
is one of frustration with the pain endured over six years
of an economic structural adjustment (sap) which still sees
little light at the end of the tunnel.

''look, i have three kids all in fee-paying schools and i
have found it very difficult to cope. the same condition has
prevailed for years, so why should i continue to hope'', says
james tutumor, a 38-year-old civil servant in the capital lagos.

umoru datti, a market labourer, believes: ''only the 'big
men' (a term used for the rich and influential) are enjoying in
our country. i carry loads for people and get just enough to
feed myself, wife and four children''.

according to sam aluko, renowned economics professor: ''the
outlook is bleak but i still hope a miracle will happen along
the line''. squarely blaming the succession of military leaders,
he adds, ''when a nation gives its government to the military,
that nation is finished. it is a pity that many of us are yet to
realise that fact''. (more/ips)


africa: hopes (2)

in zambia, southern africa, which is only a year into its own
donor-driven sap following the election victory last october of
its free-market orientated movement for multiparty democracy
government, the economy is also the centre of concern.

''it is about time that economic reform started bearing
fruit. we want to see prices stabalised and increased
production. we want to see government start repairing the
roads'', says former government investigations officer, lweenbo
hamusankwa.

journalist davis mulenga notes: ''the establishment of a free
market implies increased efficiency and production and
ultimately a drop in prices''.

however, he warns after a spate of corruption charges
against cabinet ministers taking advantage of the privatisation
programme, ''there is no way that government can stimulate
development if public officers are interested in only
fullfilling their own selfish ends''.

in the west african country of sierra leone, the problems are
of a different magnitude. already faced with the refugee
fall-out of the liberian civil war across the border, rebels
backed by liberian warlord charles taylor have made steady
progress in the south and east of the country capturing the
vital diamond-mining districts.

sierra leone also recorded the only coup in africa in 1992
when 26-year-old capt. valentine strasser siezed power from the
corrupt seven year regime of joseph momoh.

''i hope the 20 month rebellion in the country will come to a
speedy end so peace can return again'', says journalist abdulai
braima. ''for the press 1992 could clearly be described as a
difficult year. i hope 1993 ushers in a new understanding
between the press and government''.

for fatima turay, a housewife: ''i personally suffered in the
wake of the rebel menace in (eastern) kono district by loosing
my property and money. i am displaced at the moment and i hope
the war doesn't chase me here in (the capital) freetown as i
have nowhere else to go.

''my fear is that the economy will continue to go down the
drain and civil liberties curtailed by the army. i'm afraid this
regime will push towards a more fascist position''.

as a ghanaian seamstress notes, where her country's return to
constitutional rule is being challenged by an opposition
claiming that november's presidential election was rigged by
incumbent jerry rawlings: ''in a peaceful atmosphere, all other
things may be assumed to follow''.
(end/ips/az/ro/jm/lf/ma/oa/92)
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