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Religion Forum Index » Christian Methodist Forum » UMNS: Africa University breaks ground for peace institute
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 Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2004 8:55 am |
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Africa University breaks ground for peace institute
Jan. 7, 2004
A UMNS Feature
By Linda Green*
Zimbabwe's economic problems have not eroded the confidence that United
Methodist and U.S. officials have in Africa University's ability to move
the continent toward peace.
The university recently broke ground for a $1.8 million building to
house its Institute of Peace, Leadership and Governance. The institute,
at the school's campus in Mutare, Zimbabwe, will focus on helping
African nations build a sustainable culture of peace, improved
management systems, security and socio-economic development.
Construction funds for the three-story building were donated by the
United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a longtime
supporter of the university. Since the university was formally
established in 1992, the agency's Schools and Hospitals Abroad Program
has contributed $8.3 million for development and expansion at the
university. This has included building and equipping the library, the
faculty of agriculture and natural resources, and the faculty of health
sciences.
The Institute of Peace, Leadership and Governance building will have
academic and administration sections, an auditorium, 10 seminar/lecture
rooms, a library, offices and a cafeteria. The United Methodist Church's
Baltimore-Washington Annual (regional) Conference provided seed money of
$15,000 to assist the university in its peace effort.
Joseph Sullivan, the U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe, was among those
attending the November groundbreaking. "Africa University and the
institute (are) well placed to promote critical values for the future
development of Africa and the prosperity of its people," he said. "These
include human rights, democracy and the efficient management of public
and private institutions."
He said the U.S. government's financial and moral support for the
institute "will go a long way towards achieving the vision to contribute
to the building of a peaceful and prosperous Africa by providing a forum
for debate, training and research, which actively promotes peace, good
governance and responsive leadership to meet the challenges being faced
on the African continent."
Peace in Africa is important, he said, as he reflected on his time in
Angola during the last three years of that country's civil war. The war
has ended and the country is working toward peace.
"Peace is critical for development," Sullivan said. "In order to make it
possible, there needs to be leadership - leadership not just of
politicians, but leadership of society as a whole to come forward."
Sullivan said the institute's title says what Africa needs - peace,
leadership, governance. "If those three things can come together and
these new students being educated at this institute can help provide
that leadership for Zimbabwe and other countries ... Africa can realize
the tremendous promise it has for the whole world."
The university's effective use of resources for 11 years and its clear
vision for the African continent have continued to attract USAID
support, he said. "We have confidence that it (the university) will
continue to do this, notwithstanding the difficulties that Zimbabwe
itself faces."
The United States has also provided resources to establish an American
Corner in the university's library to increase knowledge and mutual
understanding between America and Zimbabwe.
The institute received its first students in January 2003, when 14
people from seven African countries enrolled in its postgraduate
programs. The second class is expected to begin lectures this January.
The programs are aimed at responding to the major challenges facing
Africa in the political, social and economic effects of globalization.
In addition to offering conventional academic courses, the institute
will run workshops, conferences and retreats for leaders, professionals
and practitioners in public and private sectors and civil society
institutions.
According to James Salley, associate vice chancellor for institutional
advancement, the USAID money "says that the U.S. government has all the
confidence needed in order to make an investment of another $1.8 million
into Africa University."
"What it says to us is the people of the United States have not given up
on Africa University or the country of Zimbabwe," he said. "What better
way to support progress on the continent than invest in projects like
the institute, which promotes and teaches good governance, leadership
and peace - all the things needed to bring harmony to the continent of
Africa University? It is worthwhile and speaks to the future."
Acknowledging that Zimbabwe's 2002 presidential elections eroded good
will between the U.S. and Zimbabwean governments, Sullivan said it is
the people of the country who need help. He said the country is
undergoing multiple crises around economics, politics, an HIV/AIDS
pandemic and a food shortage.
Despite the political problems, the United States is providing
approximately $130 million annually in food assistance, which is 40
percent of the total of international assistance provided, according to
Sullivan. The U.S. government is also providing $15 million for HIV/AIDS
treatment, prevention and awareness programs, he said. "We hope to see
progress in reducing what is a horrendous rate of infection."
In addition to the groundbreaking, the university celebrated the
election of Bishop Nkulu Ntanda Ntambo of the Democratic Republic of the
Congo as new chancellor and chairman of the Africa University Board of
Directors. Ntambo succeeds Bishop Emilio J. deCarvalho, who retired
after serving the university for 11 years. He will be formally installed
early in 2004.
# # #
*Green is a news writer with United Methodist News Service in Nashville,
Tenn. Contributing to this story were David Manyonga, acting director of
information for Africa University, and Hilly Hicks, staff member at
United Methodist Communications.
********************
United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org |
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