‘Apartheid holds up regional development’

The Herald, 20 June, 1984

THE Pretoria regime cannot afford to postpone change in Namibia and South Africa as this would have serious effects on the whole region, the Deputy Minister of Mines, Cde Chimbidzayi Sanyangare, said in Harare yesterday.

Welcoming the visiting Japanese Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Ishimatsu Kitagawa, Cde Sanyangare said the dismantling of apartheid in South Africa and the independence of Namibia were keys to political stability and smooth socio-economic development in the region.

“Given the chance, our region is capable of achieving the desired levels of socio-economic development. We have both the requisite resources and the willpower.

“However, we have been severely held back by three consecutive years of serious drought. And a stable political situation is indispensable if we are to attain the kind of development we aspire to.”

Cde Sanyangare said aid from Japan had covered resettlement, rural water supply, rural road construction, drought relief, increased food production, and the supply of medical equipment.

“I would also like to make particular mention of the Mazowe earth satellite station which is being constructed with Japanese assistance. This is a most significant project for us as it contributes to our goal of self-reliance and consolidation of our communication systems.”

Mr Kitagawa said that during the past 10 years Japan’s economic co-operation with Africa had increased 50-fold in absolute value. Japan’s exports to Zimbabwe in 1983 amounted to about US$43 million and imports from Zimbabwe to Japan in the same year were US$82 million. Japan now ranked as Zimbabwe’s fifth largest trading partner.

“During my stay in Zimbabwe I am going to sign and exchange two documents of economic cooperation grants. One is for emergency food aid and the other for the increased food production programme.”