NOV-A-9
MEMORIES OF MOZAMBIQUE
RECALLED IN A MEETING OF
MEDICC
From: Glenn Geelhoed
To: Internet:adennis@upeace.ch; Internet:cbellamy@upeace.org; Internet:maryking@igc.org
Date: 11/12/02 9:14AM
Subject: It was good to meet you with the MEDICC group, and to talk about Mozambique!
Dear Mary:
I had not forgotten my promise to send you the two notes I had promised about experiences I had described from my time in Mozambique as the Senior Fulbright Scholar for the African Regional Research Program in 1996. I had been in Maputo on several occasions before the Treaty of Rome and later in volunteering at the Hospital Central de Maputo, hosted by then Chairman Professor Fernando Vaz and my own very good friend Ivo Paulo Garrido, his successor. (Hospital Central de Maputo, Caixa Postal 1164, Maputo, MZ‑‑and at the email address attached in the "CC")
I had suggested that you might try to make contact with Dr. Garrido, who had been close to the events of Mozambique's birth and its subsequent problems and potentials. He had been close to Samora Machel, and also had introduced me to Janet Mondlane, widow of the "George Washington" of Mozambique, Eduardo Mondlane, the first (US‑graduate) African PhD who was martyred in the independence struggle with Portugal.
I continue to be eager to assist in the developmment of the programs that are being planned by Ivo and his wife Elisa‑‑a trained economist‑‑and their colleagues, each of whom are working hard in a difficult struggle as further problems have besieged their country‑‑from drought to floods and continuing political instability. I would also particularly note Dr. Albertino Damescene, cardiologist, and classmate and close colleague of Ivo Garrido, and I include his email address as well in the CC.
I had discussed with you the "Reconciliation Rituals in Southern Africa." I will forward this [iece under a second emailing.
I had also promised the story of an eventful survey trip that Ivo and I had done to the capital Lichinga of the Northern Province Nyasa, and a highly eventful ride we had across this province on the "Zorro" the railroad inspection car, carrying a newborn baby and its mother to the hospital in Nampula. I had entitled this piece "Bastante para Commencar"
I had also mentioned the idea that I had picked up from Ivo Garrido from his frequent private conversations with Samora Machel‑‑"In a Dew Drop You Can See Reflections of the Sun."
I added "Two Slow Motion Instants" in my first impressions on arrival in Maputo to begin my stay there, to show the ambivalence of some aid agenices and the ambiguities of the messages sent or received.
Thank you again for the opportunity to help support the very rewarding struggle for the people of Mozambique through their own precious few and superb leadership.
Glenn W. Geelhoed MD
202/994‑4428
msdgwg@gwumc.edu
http://home.gwu.edu/~gwg
CC: Ivo Paulo Garrido; tino damascene