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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Dear JCTR Bulletin readers,
We are now midway to the end of the year 2002. As usual we are pleased to put together articles for you our readers. We feel greatly encouraged by your support through articles we have been receiving for publication on your behalf. The submission of articles, reactions to some, clarifications, etc., is what makes the success of this publication and indeed any other publication of similar nature.
We are currently thinking about making some changes to the format of the Bulletin. Prominent among the changes being suggested is the number of columns. Instead of having three columns, we are proposing to have two. Changes are also being proposed in terms of changing the title font of each article that appears.
These proposals are coming with a background of trying to make our publication more appealing to the readership. However, we strongly feel that these changes could only be effected with approval from you our readers. We would greatly appreciate receiving suggestions or proposals and reactions to these ideas.
CURRENT CRISIS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA
The litany on Africa's problems appears not to be ending, to some it is even growing longer and longer. Within this litany of problems however, there are those that are persistent and those that occur intermittently. This is not to imply that we as a continent are moving towards a situation of despair or despondency, no.
For one thing that is very obvious is the fact that Africa has great potential and as such there are strong reasons for being very optimistic about development prospects. One analyst said the future of the globe depends on the future of Africa. This is true indeed considering the huge potential the continent has that is yet to be realized.
Zambia and Malawi are among other countries (Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland and Mozambique) of Southern Africa currently facing a hunger situation of huge proportions. This problem has been brought about as a result of crop failure following drought in the previous agricultural season. In such situations, it is obvious that a lot of people are going to be affected. But even within that broad category of affected people there are those who will bear the brunt of hunger the hardest. For example, women, children and the elderly.
Further, effects of hunger vary in terms of impact even at the intra-household level. Some members of the household are more affected than others. It is therefore imperative to take cognizance of such variations in designing interventions aimed at pulling people out of a crisis such as this one currently facing Southern Africa.
Lest we forget, making available food is one thing and having access to that food another. People have suffered hunger in the midst of plenty -- even the current development crisis of Africa is taking place in the midst of global affluence where systems have made it difficult for those lagging behind to catch-up and provide for their citizens with adequate food, shelter, education and long healthy lives.
It is the resulting effects that are even of great concern when dealing with the problem of hunger. We know that hunger dehumanizes, steals human dignity and if not carefully handled may become a persistent phenomenon even in situations of favourable weather conducive to crop production.
It is common knowledge that the problem of hunger is generally affected by the economic performance or situation. Therefore, depending on the economic standing of a given country, hunger may be a prolonged or a persistent phenomenon regardless of weather patterns.
While we remain reminded that the current hunger problem in Southern Africa and its likely devastating impact if not properly handled is due to the failure of nature, at the same time, we remain very optimistic in dealing with the problem. This optimism -- to borrow from what the Church's Social Teaching alludes to -- is based on the fact that in the current generation, humanity has altered its relationship with food supply in fundamental ways, making the end of hunger an attainable proposition. However, it is critical to realise that hunger is also a problem of policy and politics. These two factors may affect a country's experience positively or negatively in the current.
God bless you,
Muweme Muweme
Editor