GaRY 9 - Sunday, February 18, 1990 - North Shore News WBaNNERMAN TELEVISION CAN be truly marvellous. Some scheduling genius decided to air a series on King Shaka and the Zulu Wars of the last century, just as modern South Africa em- barked on a dramatic new voyage. Anoiher slice of news video dur- ing the past few days displayed a vivid contrast. Resplendent in the colorful costume of a Zulu Chief, dancing behind a tall shield that would have protected Shaka on the battlefield, was a household name in African affairs. Fading to a different scene, the same chief, conversing with uni- versity-acquired eloquence, was more characteristically attired in a tailored business suit. Chief Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi, political leader of the KwaZulu homeland and the In- katha democratic movement, grandson of King Dinizulu and the nephew of the founder of the Af- rican National Congress, cheered openly when his lifelong friend and associate Nelson Mandela was fi- nally released from prison. As the unchallenged leader of seven million people — twice the number of white electors who send the government to Pretoria — Buthelezi wiil hold a dominant position in any future design for the country. I had a conversation with him this week. ken As Mandela was freed last week, newscasts retraced his history. It was reported that when all dissi- dent groups — principally the Af- rican National Congress — were outlawed in 1960, Nelson Mandela illegally left the country in search of support. After a period in England, he surreptitiously re- entered South Africa. His clandestine travels in his own country took him to Durban. Leaving the powerful Zulu homeland of Natal Province, Mandela was arrested, not to be released until this week. What was unreported was that the purpose of his 1961 Durban visit was to meet with his then 33- year-old friend Gatsha Buthelezi. They disagreed on the subject of violence. Mandela had come to believe that militancy was the only hope. The leader of African history’s most fabled and courageous war- riors, vehemently disagreed. Buthelezi advocated negotiation and an almost Ghandi-like deter- mination. He has never wavered. The chief has been similarly res- olute in the face of what he viewed as ingenuous offers by the South African government. When they proposed quasi-independence to several black homelands (Lesotho, Bophuthatswana, Vendei, and Transkei et.al.), KwaZulu was among them. Buthelezi surprised many by his determined rejection _of the proposal. He had been ad- vocating a pratotype multi-racial democracy in Natal province. But he argued successfully that the Afrikaner proposa! was to create impoverished ghettos, with none of the advantages of associa- tion, but with all of the indignities of dependence. A few years later, when P.W. Botha expected praise for a restructured parliament, Buthelezi was unsure whether to laugh or cry. The tri-cameral Parliament features a Legislature for whites, another for ‘‘coloreds’’ and the third for blacks. I'll keep you guessing as to where the decisions were made. All of Buthelezi’s ire has not been directed at the National Party government. He has deplored vio- lence and communist leanings by the ANC. His people have been both victims and perpetrators of violence, some of it motivated by politics and some rooted in tribal jealousies. In economic and international political forums he has decried the lunacy of sanctions, pleading that they have hurt the innocent workers far more than the guilty government. © open lines ¢ It was my second encounter with Gatsha Buthelezi. When he visited Vancouver in late 1986 as a guest of the Fraser Institute, we spent a day together aboard the Hotei, touring Vancouver Harbor and Indian Arm. On that occasion we discussed his moderate stand at a time when so many were predicting that blood would run in the streets. Buthelezi expressed confidence that common sense would ultimately prevail, but his friendly eyes turned to stee] when he pointed to the history of his Zulu people. ‘If we have to fight, we “All of Buthelezi’s ire has not been directed at the National Party government. He has deplored violence and communist leanings by the ANC.’’ When I advised him this week that western governments, such as Canada’s, were saying that their sanctions have brought about change, the Zulu chief snapped out only one blunt word in reply: “Balderdash!’"’ will not be found wanting.” Subsequent to that visit, I was approached by Dr. Angus Gunn, Professor Emeritus of Education at UBC, and travel agent Michael Corbett, inquizing if I would sit on the board of the Buthelezi Cana- dian Educational Foundation. They outlined its goals to expand education among Africa's poorest citizens. The plan is to teach prospective black teachers. Most of those cur- rently teaching in rural areas would barely pass literacy tests in our society. We have spent over a year in organizational stages. Companies that do business in South Africa want to be unnoticed. Those who don’t, seem to avoid even compas- sionate efforts. It’s less political to donate to local charities or some obvious calamity like Ethiopia. As these same corporate gurus applaud current events, one hopes they are not applauding themselves @ Drivers guilty of drinking RECENT CONVICTIONS in North Shore courts have resulted in fines and penalties for drinking and driving related offences. WEST VANCOUVER: Herberi Edward Clement, 64, 503-1730 Duchess Avenue, West Vancouver (over .08, $1,000 fine, one-year driving suspension); Joanne F. Smith, 27, 3195 Westmount Place, West Vancouver (over .08, $700 fine, one-year driving suspension); Gerd Imhoff, 47, 101-2065 West Ist. Avenue, Vancouver (impaired, $1,500 fine, one-year driving suspension). A Place To Go When You're Pregnant And Need Support: GIRTHRIGHT Cali 987-7313 » Free Pregnancy Test + # 229 Lonsdale in Vancouver Cail y North Vancouver 687-7223 . DO YOU CARE? WILL YOU HELP US GET PEOPLE LIKE DONALD INTO CANADA? .. Month after month many thousands of Britons and similar people in Europe, the former Dominions and the United States, are summarily tum- ed away when they try co immigrate to Canada. Those fortunate enough to clear the first application hurdte must wait for as long as a year for a first interview with an immigration officer — and wait even longer to learn the final decision. Below is just one recent case out of the scores and scores of files which this Euro/British Immigration Aid Association possesses. THE STORY OF DONALD BLIGH Donald, age thirty, lives in Nottingham, England. He is married and has three children. His parents, his sister and her family, live in B.C. He has no other relatives. They have always been a ¢losely knit family unit, and it is important to them that they all live cogether. Donald has applied five ames to the Canadian High Commissioner in Landon to come here over a period of seven years: each time he has been turned away. An experienced floor-layer, Donald is also qualified in other interior building trades. He listed his various skills and experience in every applica- tion. His wife is an expert business-machine operatar. Each time, Donald's application has been refused on the basis that his occupation is not on the very limited list of the government's “open oc- cupations” for would-be “independence” iramigrants. He has had a number of offers; he has one now as a machinery- You've earned it! f you’ve made purchases from a major manufacturer this year, chances are you've earned ce-op advertising support. Most manufacturers offer cooperative adver- tising plans which pay for some or all of your newspaper ad costs. In most cases, you must utilize these co-op dollars within the calendar year, otherwise you'll likely be required to begin to ac- crue your co-op dollars all over again in the new year. Give us a call now — we can find any available co-op advertising dollars you qualify for. CO-OP 980-0511 TWE VOICE OF NORTH AND WEST VANCOUVER north shore SUNDAY - WEDNESDAY + FRIDAY mainteaance man in a remote Central B.C. logging camp where his father also works. But Employment Canada will not approve any job offer for him unless Donald’s prospective employers can prove that no other Canadian can be found to fill the job: a nearly impossible hurdle. Donald's parents cannot sponsor him as a “Family Class” member because he is married. And so, like many other thousands, he finds the door to Canada firmly closed. Donald cannot understand why. We also cannot understand why. Why do our government's immigation policies keep qualified people such as Donald and his family out? Why discriminate against able people who can almost immediately contribute to our economy?. Donald writes to the Association, “We haven't had much luck in ger- ting over to Canada. It seems that Canada doesn’t want British people anymore, unless they are wealthy. [ hope you can get us over there to live where our hearts and family are.” Donald has every confident expectation of being able to settle successfully in Canada. Yet Canada’s immigration policy persists in excluding people tike Donald, while it opens the door widely to people from other parts of the world who do not have that ability. Because of a deep concern over this situation, we founded the Euro/British Immigration Association. We believe the large majority of Cana- dians share chat concer. We intend to urge the government to change its policies so that the Donald B's of this world are encouraged and allowed to come and to help build Canada. People like Donald's parents demonstrate thar: yee their son is not welcome. The present immigration policies can be changed and re-directed. But first, people Tike you and us, must demand the changes. We invite you to show your interest by using the coupon below: what you get will encourage you to support actively the common cause: the futtere of our councry is at stake! EURO/BRITISH IMMIGRATION AID ASSOCIATION “A nationally chartered, non-profit organization” 1250 Homer Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6B 2Y5 mo = USE THIS COUPON NOW! Soe To: Euro/British Immigration Aid Association, 1250 Homer St., Vancouver, BC. V6B 2Y5 tam heartily with you and would like to help! Please send me the Brochure and News-Letter. FREE Let's do something! BROCHURE and the latest News-Letter about our purposes