Page 2 Portland Observer January 24,1960
EDITORIAL/OPINION
Rhodesia:Election fever grips the county
By N. Fungai Kumbula
Support literacy
Entry tests not fair
Zimbabwe’ s politics has always
Union (ZAPU ) 1960. Considered from the liberation movement. Up
been
bizarre,
to
say
the
least.
It’s
the
until 1963, he was Nkomo’ s deputy
the
most dangerous African at one
Nicaragua, recently freed from the U.S.
The State Board of Education has decided that only country in the world that: 1)
in
ZAPU. That year, after ZAPU
point,
he
was
jailed
for
almost
ten
supported dictator Somoza through a socialist university graduates - and even university stu
used to be free as Zimbabwe 2) was
was banned and all the nationalists
years
by
the
white
minority
regime
revolution, has followed Cuba's example by dents -- should be literate. No quarrel w ith that.
stolen and became Southern
had agreed not to form any more
o f Ian Smith in a futile attempt to
declaring 1980 as the "Year of Education."
parties, he went ahead and formed
s tifle the nationalist movement.
To insure literacy, they will now require ap Rhodesia 3) joined with the then
In 1961, Cuba sent m ore than 35,000 plicants to the University of Oregon and Oregon Norhtern Rhodesia and Nyasaland
ZAN U , causing the split that has
Generally considered an oppor
teenagers out into the countryside, each with State University to pass a language test designed to become the federation o f
not yet healed. He remained the
tu n ist, his flirta tio n s and secret
Rhodesia and Nyasaland 4) became
head o f ZA N U u n til about two
negotiations with Smith in 75 and 76
a hammock and lantern, to l.'ve and work with to measure their writing ability.
Southern Rhodesia once more with
years ago when he was ousted. He
may hurt his chances. His
the people and to teach them to read and
This might not seem unreasonable, and if tests the breakup o f the Federation in
subsequently signed the internal
association with Robert Mugabe in
write, in one year, more than 707,000 adults were not biased and all students were able to 1963, became simply Rhodesia, an
agreement and thus effectively
the Patriotic Front and his later en
learned to read and w rite , reducing the address tests w ith the same preparation, it would international outlaw in 1965, a
destroyed what little credibility he
dorsement o f the armed struggle
pseudo Black republic in March
illiteracy rate from 23.6 to 3.6 percent.
and the calibre o f the other can had left. While Muzorewa won 51
not be unreasonable.
1979, a British colony once more in
A p p ro x im a te ly half o f N icaragua 's one
didates
all work in his favor,
seats, Sithole could do no better
It is common knowledge that Black children - December 1979 and is about to
however, look for him to pick 25 to
than 9, coming in third. A ruthless,
million citizens over the age of ten years are
especially those attending Albina schools -- are become real Zimbabwe once agin.
30 seats.
power hungry, stop at nothing
unable to read and write. In some areas, the
not being properly educated. They are not being Among other things, the London
Robert Mugabe, 57, the scholarly
politician, he is expected to do wor
illiteracy rate is over 90 percent. Nicaragua
taught to read and write. Chicano, Indian, and talks just concluded set the stage for
se than Muzorewa again.
M arxist (he is said to have five
begins its literacy crusade while it is also faced
degrees: law, public administration
Asian refugee children have a decided d is the return o f the rebel colony to
James Chikerema, 58, form er
•‘ legal’ ’ colonial status in pre
w ith rebuilding it's economy, devestated by
and economics), he is Nkomo’ s par vice president o f ZA P U , form er
advantage. Poor white children - those who at
paration for elections to be held
the war, and developing institutions nffglected
tner in the Patriotic Front guerrilla
president o f FR O LIZI (formed in
tend what the Administration calls economically next month.
by the Somoza regime.
alliance. He is considered much less an e ffo rt to unite Z A P U and
disadvantaged schools - do not have an equal
Theoretically, this will be the first
flexible than Nkom o, not as ar ZA N U ) and form er m inister o f
Already volunteer teachers have arrived in education.
time since the country was stolen in
ticulate
and almost too honest to be Transport in Muzorewa’ s interim
Nicaragua from Cuba and help is promised
As long as these differences in opp ortun ity 1890 that Zimbabweans o f all colors
a p o litic ia n . He is a relative
government. This association may
from other nations. Americans have a special
newcomer to the top spot having effectively have finished him o ff
exist it is not fair to bar any student from any w ill be able to participate in the
choosing o f a government to run
responsibility to help since it was our govern
been Ndabaningi Sithole’ s deputy in even though he did break away from
school because of a test score.
their country. After seven years o f a
ment that kept Somoza in power in spite of full
ZANU
(Zim babwe
A frica n
Muzorewa later on. He is not taken
bitter war o f liberation that claimed
knowledge of the torture and terror wrought
National Union) before Sithole was seriously at all.
in excess o f 20,000 lives, a ceasefire
kicked out. Because ZANU carried
by his administration.
Jeremiah Chirau, 59, a creation
was fin a lly agreed upon.
the
bulk
o
f
the
fighting,
over
the
o
f
Ian Smith, has never been his
A lth o u g h m anpow er fo r the Literacy
With a British appointed Gover
past two years he has come to be the own person. In the last election, he
Crusade w ill be provided m ainly by
The 1980 Census will soon be taken - an at nor, Lord Soames running the coun
most popular nationalist leader,
did not win a single seat...not even
Nicaragua's youth, other items are needed: tem pt to count the people living in the United try, it was agreed that the freedom
rising
in
direct
proportion
in his own district! This time, he is
paper, notebooks, pencils; boots, lanterns, 4- States. The information gathered will determine fighters would come out o f the bush
Muzorewa’ s tumbling. He should expected to do even worse if that is
pick up more seats than any o f the at all possible.
wheeler drive trucks; denim cloth; ID badges representation in the state le gislature and and be housed in sixteen camps
around the country and the Smith-
other candidates, 30 to 40 maybe?
fo r volunteer teachers. U.S. citizens have Congress, as well as allocation of federal funds.
W ill all this electioneering finally
Muzorewa forces would, likewise,
Bishop Abel Muzorewa, 54,
bring
peace to Zimbabwe? The an
been asked to raise $500,000 for the purchase
Traditionally minorities - especially Blacks and be confined to their barracks. A
arrogant, naive, inarticulate, this swer has to be NO. The Black vote is
of cloth to make clothing and hammocks for Chicanos- have not been fully counted so their
1,300 man Commonwealth peace
election is shaping up to be a clossal going to be split six ways, leaving
keeping force (from such countries
the volunteers. A $25 donation will completely com m unities loose representation and funds.
disaster for him. His naivete may be none o f the candidates with a clear
outfit one volunteer; $100 will support a volun The importance of an accurate count should be as Britain, Australia, New Zealand,
attributed to his lack o f experience.
majority. Britain and South Africa
Kenya and F iji) would police the
He rose from obscurity to national are pulling what strings they can to
teer fo r one m onth; and $500 w ill o u tfit a apparent.
country to keep the freedom fighters
prominence in 1974 when he led the influence the outcome o f the elec
brigade of 20 teachers.
The Census also offers temporary work. Per and the Smith forces apart.
African rejection o f the so-called tions.
South
A fric a
would
D onations can be sent to "L ite ra c y sons interested in employment should contact
Crucial to the talks was the agree
Pearce proposals. Briefly held the definately like to see Muzorewa
Crusade," National Network in Solidarity with the State Employment Office, King Facility, the
ment to hold general elections next
presidency o f the African National elected; B ritain would prefer
the Nicaraguan People, 1322 18th Street NW Peninsula Park Center or the State Welfare O f month to choose Zimbabwe’s next
Council when ZAPU, ZAN U and Muzorewa, but would grudgingly
government. Already guaranteed 20
Washington, D.C. 200036.
F R O L IZ I all united under his accept a Nkomo victory. Both are,
fice on Interestate. For inform ation call 248
o f the 100 seats, the whites will vote
leadership in 1974. His credibility therefore, w orking very hard to
4187.
first on February 14 (“ Valentine"
started to crum ble when he prevent a Mugabe victo ry. The
should turn in his grave). Blacks will
negotiated w ith Smith and sub current Soames regime in Salisbury
then go to the polls February 27
sequently signed the ill-fated inter has been dispatching Rhodesian
through the 29th. They w ill be
nal agreement. A fte r he became soldiers to hunt “ renegade”
choosing from six candidates and
“ fighrehead prim e m inister” o f ZANU forces that have refused to
therein lies the problem. It means
Zimbabwe -- Rhodesia, what come into the camps. This in spite
the 80 seats set aside for them will be
following he had quickly dissipated of the clearly spelled out provisions
split six ways. Chances o f a
when it became apparent he was no in the agreement that the Salisbury
stalemate arc, therefore, rated ex
By Missionary E. Thomas
more than an echo, a mouthpiece regime was to remain neutral.
at the dinner which was sponsored
dinner a glorious occasion. I would
cellent. A cursory look at the six
for Ian Smith. It became clear also
by Power House Church of God in
I f Mugabe is robbed at the polls,
also like to extend a special thanks
candidates may provide a glimpse of
Greetings in the name o f our Lord
that
he had “ won” the March elec chances are that the war w ill con
Christ and Franklin's Market.
to my brothers o f the Afgan Lodge
what the outcome most likely w ill
and Savior, Jesus Christ.
tions simply because he was the least tinue as if nothing has happened.
It was a great honor to have as
for their loyal support.
be.
The Lord blessed us to begin the
o f five “ evils.” Both South Africa The other side o f the coin is: South
special guests Mother Eula Williams
May God bless you and keep
Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo: at 62,
year ot 1980 with a free dinner, for
and Britain are working very hard to A frica , which should have been
o f the First Ecclesiastic Jurisdiction
smiling on each of you.
he
is the oldest candidate and also
all who were interested, which was
see him elected because he has been required to withdraw i t ’ s troops
o f the State o f Oregon, and her
Your Servant for Christ,
generally regarded as the father of
held at the Moore Street Com
and promises to be “ a very good from Zimbabwe, has been allowed
daughter Missionary Eddie James
Zimbabwe’ s nationalist movement.
m unity
Center
on
N o rtl\
boy.” He will be lucky to get more to keep them there. Further, she has
from Oakland, California.
Rev.
L.
Franklin
Pastor
In 1952, formed the Rhodesia
Killingsworth and Moore Street.
than
ten seats.
warned that i f Mugabe wins the
I want to thank my wife and
Power House Church o f God
African Workers Union to demand
We were blessed to feed more
Ndabaningi
Sithole,
57, elections, she will invade Zimbabwe
family and the members of Power
higher
wages
and
better
working
in
Christ
than two hundred and fifty people
Methodist minister, formerly Zim “ to protect her interests.” So, if
House for their help in making this
conditions; subsequently formed the
babwe's fire breathing revoluntary Muzorewa wins, fine; i f Mugabe
National Democratic Party (NDP)
par excellence, has been on a down wins, however, it’ s a no - no.
1957, Zimbabwe African Peoples
grade ever since his ill fated defectio
ENOUGH FOR NOW!
Job opportunity, too
Letters to the Editor
A open letter of thanks
Black boat people: No room in the 'land of freedom"
Continued I from page I column 4
the dreaded Ton tons Macoutes
(secret police) testified that there are
standing orders to arrest and im
prison such persons.
One refugee who had escaped
from a Haitian prison last Novem
ber said two returnees were tortured
in his presence-one fatally. This
refugee said he had been jailed
because his wife had been overheard
to say that Haiti should hold elec
tions in 1980. He said he doesnt
know what happened to his wife
following her arrest.
Nevertheless, the U.S. govern
ment maintains that the Haitians art
economic rather than p o litica l
refugees - in short, that they are
merely looking for work.
But, reports Kathleen Newman,
senior research assistant fo r the
World Watch Institute and an ex
pert on im m igration, “ The
Haitians” attorneys made a pretty
Hie difficulties o f the Haitians
refugees are part o f an overall pat
tern o f discrimination made legal by
restrictions in the Immigration and
Nationality Act o f 1965. Govern
ment statistics for 1975-76, the last
year such figures were kept, show
that 96 percent of asylum applicants
from such right-wing government as
Chile, Iran, the P hilippines and
South Vietnam were denied san-
cturary. In contrast, 95 per cent of
the applicants from communist
countries (except Yugoslavia) were
approved. Since 1972 only 58
sophisticated argument that the
refugees are poor because o f the
p o litica l system there. You can
become a political refugee in the act
of being an economic refugee. It’s a
case of "voting with your feet."
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refugees from H a iti have been
granted asylum, according to INS
statistics
An aide to Senator Kennedy said
across-the-board asylum fo r the
refugees will be made more likely af
ter President Carter signs the
Refugee Act. Under the pending
bill, a maximum of 50,000 refugees
may be adm itted, compared to
17,400 under the old law. This limit
could be exceeded if the President
determines, before the start of the
fiscal year and after consultation
with Congress, that it is justified by
“ special humanitarian concern."
Two amendments in the House-
approved version are aimed at
alleviating the grinding poverty un
der which many refugees live in this
country. One amendment would
authorize HEW to reimburse local
governments for such social services
as resettlement aid and job training.
The other amendment would
authorize the Attorney General to
grant work permits to refugees while
their asylum applications are pen
ding.
Although im m igration reform
advocates support the bill as a big
step in the right direction, they said
that it is far from a panacea. The
government, for example, could still
deny the Haitians asylum on the
grounds that they lack clear-cut
credentials as political refugees.
“ I think that’s one o f the most
difficult questions," said Newman.
"Where do you draw the line bet
ween politics and economics? With
a broader definition o f "refugee.”
there may be some hope that the bill
w ill broaden the d e fin itio n o f
“ political refugee.” And by expan
ding the overall number of refugees
admitted, there is a chance of taking
in more o f the gray area between
political and economic motives. But
the INS have reiterated its basic
view time and time again: Being
poor alone does not entitle you to
asylum.
Whatever b ill the Congress
passes,”
said
an
aide to
Congressman W alter Fauntroy
(Demo., D.C.) “ there are going to
be problems because o f the mindset
o f the people who administrate it.”
Fauntroy, a member o f the
Congressional Black Caucus, fears
that the INS w ill retain its bias
towards the Haitians “ because they
are Black, they are poor, and they
are fleeing from a non-communist
ally o f the U.S.” in an increasingly
turbulent Caribbean.
Asylum advocates also point out
that the House version o f the bill
curtails the prerogative o f the A t
torney General to use parole
a u th o rity to grant asylum. The
amemdment states that he may use
this authority only on an individual
b a s is-n o t to include broad
categories o f refugees--and only
when it is justified by “ compelling
reasons in the public interest.”
Black political leaders-the 17-
member Congressional Black
Caucus in particular-are becoming
increasingly im patient with the
government’ s determination to send
back the H aitians. The Black
Caucus has been assuming
leadership role in recent month
what had been a rather lonely o
paign by activist attorney and cl
ch oganizations.
Fauntroy noted that the Cau
“ Guidelines fo r Black Vote
evaluation o f presidential c,
didates” includes support ’
change the U.S. immigration syst
which has discriminated against
Haitian boat people, while favor
those from Southeast Asia.”
Caucus members have met
recent months with State Depa
rnent and Im m igration
a
Naturalization Service officials,
well as White House staff, in tryi
to turn the government around.
They counted a small victo
recently when Rosylyn Cart
publicly compared the plight o f t
Haitians w ith that o f the Ca,
bodian refugees. Her commen
followed a meeting last Novcmb
in which more than a hundred Bla,
Florid? politicians and leade
called for .'--U.S. Attorney Gener
to grant asyium to the Haitians t
his "parole visa” authority as w,
done for hundreds of thousands ,
refugees from Indochina, Cuba ar
Eastern Europe.
C O P YR IG H T P N 8 1«
"A n g er causes a man to ba
’ • r fro m
th e t r u t h "
Hasidic Saying
Zoroaster laid. ' I n doubt if
•n action be just, abstain."