AFRICA  ON    W.GERMANY
On the 9th Feb. a Tanzanian Newspaper, THE
NATIONALIST, organ of
the Tanzanian political party TANU, published an editorial in
which it analises the
imperialist drive to
maintain and strengh-
ten its control over
Southern Africa.
The Editorial is centered on W* German participation in Cahora
Bassa - which is just
one aspect of the much
broader w» German support for Portugal1s colonial policy. The editorial represents the
position of progressive Africa concerning
that issue* We quote
from the editorial:
FAR-SIGHTED
HpHE bloody struggle against
■*- Portuguese colonialism continues hi Mozambique* Angola
and Guinea Bissau, It will continue until ultimate triumph.
But the straggle will be a long one;
let no-one Join thinking that
somehow victory will come next
week or neat year. The enemies
of Africa care nothing for the
people of Africa; they care only
for their profits. They will
strengthen their oppression as
and when necessary to increase
those profits, even while they
speak sweet words of sympathy
to OS*
So it is by actions fliat we must
judge other peoples and other
nations* not by words. And
when they take actions which
affect the people of Africa, onr
policies of non-alignment and
non-interference do not require
that we stay silent
The Portuguese have decided to
build a dam at Cabora Bassa.
They intend that it shall strengthen the colonial economy of
Mozambique as well as provide
power for South Africa and
Rhodesia. It is a big and expensive scheme; it is higjilv doubtful whether these three countries
can finance and build the dam
without outside help.
Africa's opposition to this scheme
is well-known and so is the
reason for it If this scheme
succeeds, the strusgte for freedom will become even more
difficult; its cost in human lives
will be greatly increased.
A Swedish Company had originally
obtained an important part of the
building contract for this dam. It was
forced to withdraw because of firm
action by tiie Swedish Socialist
Youth and the Swedish Socialist
Government. The liberation Movements and the free states of Africa
bailed the Swedish gesture of hitman
solidarity.
Then came a proposal that a British
firm should replace the Swedish contractors. Immediately socialists In
Britain organised to express their
opposition in Parliament and elsewhere. Their pressure on the British
Government had an effect. Finally
the Portuguese themselves decided
that the British firm could not be
relied upon; at any time it might be
forced to withdraw. It is appropriate
that Africa should congratulate to
friends in Britain for this success.
But now Slemans, the big capital!
ftrm of die Federal Republic of Ger I
many, has accepted the contract and
Its profits stained with the sweat awl
blood of Southern African peoples!
There has so far been no eridencJ
that the Portuguese think thesJ
arrangements with Germany wfil bl
untenable.'Nor have we heard fronl
the new Social Democratic Govern!
mem of Germans on this name.     I
Does this mean mat West German?!
despite changes In Hi Enropcil
policies, has finally and trrevocamj
chosen its side in the Southern Afrl
can conflict? Surely it can meal
little else. Yet Is It not strange that I
country claiming to be concemel
about human liberty, and claiming I
have overcome its Inheritance J
racialism, should be stren&netuvl
colonial oppression and racial i-|
equality in Southern Africa?
Does Germany think we do not carj
Or that we do not notice?
The editorial conclu-l
des by expressing diJ
sappointment at the [
position of the new
"democratic" government of West Germany]
and warning that Tanj
zania(and9we add,the
whole of progress! el
Africa) is vigilant
to their manoeuvres:
The German record!
far In selling arms to South fril
and in relation to Rhodesia, it V
— to say the least But w
expected that a Social Democrf
Government would speak with
voice and would at least prevent
extension of German support for |
radaHst oppression la
Africa.
Tanzania tasftold watch th
closely* s*y acta we
actions we Una he judged*
- 29 -