Nairobi — DR Congo: The Archbishop of Boston, USA, Cardinal Law, wrote to the Ambassador of Uganda in the United States, concerning the deportation of Archbishop Kataliko to Butembo.
In his letter, on 18 February, the Cardinal says: "This outrageous act on the part of the RCD is a direct affront to the Archbishop's human rights and religious freedom. It further demonstrates the gross violations of human rights by all parties involved in the war".
On 3 March from his "exile" in Butembo, Archbishop Kataliko ordered his priests to lift the "Mass strike", but to make sure all liturgical celebrations are kept low-key. "Sunday Masses must be as simple as possible, until the situation returns to normal", the prelate told his people. The three-week "strike" which stopped all Masses for three Sundays running, was called on 12 February, in protest against measures taken by rebel troops to prevent the Archbishop from returning to his diocese. (Source: ANB-BIA)
* Cameroon
Two new leaders, Right Rev Nyansako-ni-Nku and the Rev Dr Asana Festus Ambe were inducted in Cameroon. The outgoing moderator, the Very Rev Henry Anye Awesom, Moderator emeritus inducted the new church leaders on November 7 1999 in Buea, Cameroon.
Apart from inducting the new church leaders, the moderator emeritus handed the "Pectrol cross" of authority and leadership to his successor, the Rt Rev Nyasaho-ni-Nku.
The Rt Rev Nyansako-ni-nko called on the churches to unite by all means, as he quoted Pslms 133:1, "how good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live in perfect unity"
The Synod clerk, the Rev Dr Asana Festus Ambe, celebrated the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, assisted by 14 other pastors with over 200 pastors of the PCC and at least 10,000 people including guests from Germany, Switzerland attending.
* Kenya
International Women's Day was celebrated on 8 March. In a pamphlet published by the Association of the Sisterhoods of Kenya for the occasion, an explanation is given as to why such a day should be celebrated. Women as well as men need to remind themselves that they are created in the image and likeness of God; Women are the mothers of the leaders of our nation; Women are the most economically productive group; Women are increasingly participating in professional fields; Women make safe, peaceful and happy homes; Women's rights need to be increasingly recognized; Women's contribution to Society is endless. Advice is also given as how to celebrate the Day: "Put on your best skirt/dress/khanga and wear a flower/ribbon or any other decoration; Create time to celebrate by bringing other women together to share ideas and solve common problems; Organise a special event; Tell at least 8 other groups about Women's Day. (Source: Imara Cantre)
* Madagascar
Floods brought on by heavy rains in the wake of two cyclones have affected over half a million people, creating a major humanitarian crisis. UNICEF says that an initial survey, shows that more than half a million people have been displaced, half of them children. UNICEF, at the request of the government, has dispatched a cargo plane from its supply Copenhagen supply centre with 15 metric tones of relief supplies. Cyclone Gloria washed through the country on 2 March and was followed by heavy downpours, before moving westwards. On 7 March Madagascar launched an appeal for international aid. At least 130 people have died in the floods. The government also requests aircraft to help distribute the aid, particularly to the cyclone victims sheltering in extremely remote areas of the island. The government only completed its initial assessment of the crisis on 6 March, when officials flew over the worst affected areas. UN agencies, NGOs and the government meet in Antananrivo to discuss ways of bringing relief. They decide to adopt a policy of rapid intervention followed by ongoing assessment of the destruction. "We cannot wait any longer for assistance. I have stated that this disaster could become the next Mozambique", says Dr Sergio Soro, UNICEF's representative in Madagascar. "I made that statement last Friday because we have to cut the bureaucratic red tape. We already knew many areas were in trouble. In an emergency you cannot wait" (Source: ANB-BIA)
* Sierra Leone
Claire Short, Britain's minister for overseas development, launched a micro- credit project for market women during her two-day visit which ended on 10 March, a civil society leader in Freetown told IRIN. According to NGO leader Zainab Bangura the nationwide project, aimed at increasing women's economic independence, received a grant of US $50,000 from the British Department for International Development. Bangura, who is the coordinator of the Campaign for Good Governance, said Short had consultations on the implementation of Sierra Leone's peace process with all the major political players in the West African nation as well as civil society representatives. (Source: IRIN)
* Uganda
Outspoken MP for Samia Bugwe North, Aggrey Awori has said that Uganda has no serious security interests in Congo except to steal the country dry. "We no longer have serious interests in the Congo, we are not there on a security mission but to steal. We are raping the hapless Congolese orphans who are grappling with administrative problems left by the Mobutu government," Awori said. Awori said this on 6 March, at a symposium on the referendum organised by the Nkumba University students guild. He was discussing a paper entitled: "Presence of foreign troops in Congo as an infringement of the sovereignty of the DRC, an independent state". He alleged that Uganda is only in Congo to steal minerals and loot Congolese riches. Awori said that Uganda's actions in Congo can be equated to raping hapless orphans. He said that last year's clash between the RPA and the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) was caused by the differences on how to share the loot from Congo. Awori said that the UDPF's presence in Congo has failed to stop the Allied Democratic Forces' (ADF) attacks on Bundibugyo and other areas of western Uganda. (Source: The Monitor)
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* Zambia
The increasing number of crimes, cases of HIV/Aids and prostitution plus the onslaught of corruption, adultery, injustice and general immorality have forced Zambia's Muslims to call for the introduction of Sharia Law to curb the current high level of moral decadence. The National Islamic Propagation Centre's director, Sheikh Shaban Phiri, told journalists that Muslims have embarked on an ambitious and intensive programme of enlightening the masses on what is taking place. Phiri said that the secular law, as used in Zambia, has failed to adequately address the country's social needs as it has been borrowed from and tailored around Western situations. He said that Zambia's young democracy is under threat because of a lack of justice and order in society. On the other hand, human rights activists have condemned the call by Muslims for Sharia Law. (Gideon Thole, ANB-BIA)
AFRICANEWS News & Views on Africa from Africa Koinonia Media Centre, P.O. Box 8034, Nairobi, Kenya email: amani@iol.it
