From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: Mozambique: LIFE ON THE BORDER
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1992 08:15:09 GMT

/** gen.newsletter: 147.0 **/
** Topic: The ACTivist 8#10, October 1992 **
** Written  9:32 pm  Sep 24, 1992 by web:act in cdp:gen.newsletter **
The ACTivist is published by ACT for Disarmament, 736 Bathurst St.,
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CHAMBUTA: LIFE ON THE BORDER

By Costa Siziba
Special to the ACTivist

I travelled by bus about 500 kilometres from Bulawayo to reach 
my destination, after receiving approval from the Commissioner for 
Refugees in Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe. The main purpose of 
the visit was to assess how OPEDISA could be of help to the people housed 
at the camp.

When I returned and reported to members of OPEDISA, I challenged 
them to start a campaign to collect clothing, utensils and toys (but no 
war toys) for the men, women and children at the Chambuta Camp, 
located near the border of Zimbabwe and Mozambique, near the town 
of Chiredzi. The residents number about 25,000 and are housed in 
plastic shacks, mud huts and thatched roofs. Those who had most 
recently arrived had no housing but made their homes under trees 
which, due to the drought, had lost their leaves so shade was sparse. 
The camp administrator gave me a guided tour around the various 
villages within the camp, which is 900 hectares or 13 km in 
circumference. I observed that about 85% of the occupants were 
dressed in rags or were naked. 

When I asked them why they fled their country, most said they left 
because of the war, while others left due to drought and hunger. At 
the transit centre which is manned by the Red Cross, I found some 
arrivals being screened. The screening methods fall under categories 
that include the refugee's health, security position and number of 
dependents accompanying them.

The huts are used as bedrooms only, since most of the day's activities 
take place outdoors.

The camp has one primary health centre with no resident or 
consulting doctor. There is one state-registered nurse, six 
state-certified nurses, eight nurse's aides and three general hands. 
The camp administrator told me the clinic was too small and consisted 
of two wards with two beds each. Most patients, including pregnant 
women, occupied a tent close to the clinic. He hoped to receive some
 assistance from a donor agency in the U.S. to expand the clinic.

The refugees do not have access to education, although it is said a 
skills training centre will be built some time in the future. I watched 
a primary school class being held under a tree. They learn Portuguese, 
Shona and Shangaan and are taught by untrained teachers from among 
the adult refugees.

I also saw some amputees with no ears, nose, or in some cases 
hands, resulting from the effects of war that is being waged by 
RENAMO guerrillas in Mozambique.

OPEDISA is hoping to raise awareness within and outside Zimbabwe 
about the hardships suffered by the refugees. An estimated 500 
Mozambican refugees arrive in Zimbabwe daily.

The Zimbabwean peace activists are asking those who can help the 
refugees with clothing or useful materials to contact OPEDISA about 
shipping arrangements. Donations to help them continue their 
campaign are also required -- you can donate directly to OPEDISA, 
account number 2486641, Barclays Bank of Zimbabwe, Main Street 
Branch, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. OPEDISA can be reached at PO Box 
21, Magwegwe, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, or by fax at 263-9-78054.

Costa Siziba, coordinator of the Organization for Peace and 
Disarmament in Southern Africa (OPEDISA), recently paid a visit to 
one of the five refugee camps for Mozambican refugees in Zimbabwe. 
Some one million Mozambicans have been made refugees by the war
 between the government and South African-backed RENAMO 
guerrillas. 
** End of text from cdp:gen.newsletter **

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