3: From Racist South Africa to Zambia
'I don't know whether you could or would accept someone from racist South Africa as you have.' But we were warmly welcomed when we arrived in Zambia in 1968. I was surprised.
'It's what you do, not who you are that matters,' he had said.
Years later, the person who had welcomed and accepted us found it necessary to agitate against a leader, whose attitude and actions proved unacceptable. It proved to be a sad sequence of events. I learned much from the wisdom of trusted Zambian colleagues, teacher, Ken Maguswi being one.
The local people were adamant the application for a liquor licence just outside the mission should be refused. Our solicitor would not get involved. Ken was one of those urging me to join them in opposing the application. I eventually agreed to act on behalf of the people. In the hearing the applicant's solicitor branded me as nothing but a racist. But we won.
It's what you do. But those actions are determined by our attitudes.
The South African label lingered and must've been significant in the suspicions, house searching, detention and questioning by the military in 1979. Several hours later I was released, having been told there was no case to answer.
'I want to explain why we are in Zambia.' I offered my explanation to the commander. When our departure was announced a few months later, the District Governor, who had been associated with the arrest, pleaded with me for the decision to be reversed.
Continuing unease about World Council of Churches support for the liberation movement in Rhodesia, and then the killing of two white Salvation Army workers precipitated the action: The Salvation Army suspended its membership of the World Council of Churches.
'I don't accept your knee-jerk reaction of withdrawing us from the World Council of Churches,' I wrote to the General, 'and hope you find a way to maintain links.'