What follows is a statement by the Primate of Southern Africa, the Most Revd Njongonkulu Ndungane, regarding Mozambique and the highly indebted poor country initiative - issued in support of representations to be made to the IMF and World Bank during meetings next week.

The foreign debt retarding progress in developing countries has become untenable. This is particularly the case in those countries in which there has been steady progress in addressing issues that affect economic growth.

In line with many other developing countries, Mozambique has made dramatic progress in the recent past in stabilising its economy and creating new potential for real growth. Recent reports by financial journalists who have investigated the situation in Mozambique have spoken of a pending economic boom as new investors enter both the urban and rural areas. There is reason to believe that this will also result in an improvement in the quality of life of all the people of Mozambique.

This is underscored by the experience of the Church of the Province of Southern Africa (Anglican), which has two diocese in Mozambique - the Diocese of Lebombo and the Diocese of Niassa. While extreme poverty still exists, there is evidence to suggest that a steady improvement is taking place in the wellbeing of the people of what has been regarded as the poorest country in the world.

I am on record as having called for the repudiation of foreign debt of developing countries, so that they can be left unfettered to build on the new foundations that are being laid for economic growth. I have no doubt that such a step, in terms of the Highly Indebted Poor Country Initiative (HIPC), would have a dramatic, positive impact on the economy of Mozambique and on the lives of its people. Indeed, such a step would also have a positive effect on the economies of other countries in the region, as Mozambique is poised to play an influential role in the development of the sub-continent as a whole.

A renaissance is taking place in many African countries, not least in Mozambique. The time is now ripe for the debts of countries involved in this period of economic rejuvenation to be released from the stifling effects of international debt by having them cancelled and declared odious. In this way Africa will be able to take its destiny into its own hands and contribute still further to the socio-economic empowerment of people and nations as we enter the new millennium.