African Activist Archive

Dumisani Kumalo speaks about his opposition to South Africa's Ambassador Harry Schwarz going around the country asking Maine and other, to repeal their divestment legislation. No one, including Ambassador Schwarz, can state truthfully that South Africa is free; some laws have been repealed, but apartheid is still alive and well. Kumalo points out that Nelson Mandela and 30 million other black people cannot vote because they are not white; Maine should not prematurely lift sanctions and reward State President F.W. de Klerk because he has been forced to be nice to the majority black population of South Africa. Kumalo asks why Ambassador Schwarz is so actively lobbying in this country when State President de Klerk and Mr. Mandela are negotiating with 17 other organizations in a Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA). Why can't he wait until CODESA has formed an interim or transitional government which will write a new constitution for South Africa before coming before you? Kumalo says Mr. Mandela continues to call on American states and cities to maintain economic sanctions until South Africa is ruled by an interim government and not by a white minority government represented by Ambassador Schwarz. The testimony discusses Pieter Viljoen, South Africa's Consul General; Governor Gaston Caperton; the North Dakota Investment Board; Tallahassee, Florida; and Jefferson City, Missouri.

African Activist Archive

Testimony Submitted to the State and Local Committee, Maine Legislature, Augusta Maine

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