iifi BOOK REVIEWS11bMy more general observations concern the limitations of what thev )lume has to say about the study of Christianity in Africa. Differentauthors express a necessary criticism of claims to interpret Africantraditional religions from Christian starting points in an attempt to developan African Christian Theology. In his contribution, Verstraelen advances ahealthy but very general argument in favour of the study of Church Historyfrom an African perspective. In his survey of "The Religions of Africa intheir Historical Order" (pp 46-102), Platvoet limits himself to subscribe tothe distinction between "Ethiopian Christianity" (sic!), "Modern MissionaryChristianity" and "Indigenous Christianity" (pp 58-64). This classificationmay serve some purpose at a very general level. It is limited, however, asit does not take very far the study from within of Christianity in its varietyin different African contexts.In his keynote address (pp 37-45), the Secretary-General of theInternational Association for the History of Religions, Dr Michael Pye,challenged the conference to consider "what is the deep-seated frame ofreference .. which informs cultural insider's reflection on African religion";we may add in its plurality (cf. p 45). It seems to me that Olupona'scomprehensive contribution on the study of religions in Nigeria is closestto an answer to that question.Institute of Development Studies CARL F. HALLENCREUTZEmpowerment or Repression? ESAP and Children in Zimbabwe ByRodreck Mupedziswa. Silveira House Social Series No. 13, Gweru, MamboPress, 57pp.This welcome book brings together many of the issues concerning childrenin Zimbabwe today that give rise to grave concern. These include:deteriorating educational opportunities and attendance at school,deteriorating nutritional levels, deteriorating health and health facilities,increasing shortage of housing, child labour and child sexual abuse. It isuseful to have this data brought together in an accessible form.One problem I have with the book is the precise relationship betweenthe Economic Structural Adjustment Programme (ESAP) and the problemsdescribed. Some of the problems are directly related to the policies ofESAP, such as the introduction of fees for education and health services.However, the social development fund was introduced with ESAP toalleviate these problems, and poor administration of the fund is not thefault of the programme. Other causes of problems, such as the decline inemployment opportunities, the lack of funds in government and the declineof the value of the Zimbabwean currency, are assumed in this book toBOOK REVIEWS 117result from the Programme, without consideration of prior trends and thegeneral economic administration of the country. The author cites popularderogatory perceptions of ESAP and appears to accept them uncritically.Sometimes the blame placed on ESAP seems extreme: "Rape within marriagehas reportedly increased largely because men can no longer affordprostitutes" (p. 42).The author does not always make clear the origin and status of thedata he cites. "It is thought that the number of working children hasescalated to over 50 000 ..." (p. 39). "There are estimated to be between10 000 and 12 000 children living on the streets of Zimbabwe today" (p. 41).Who has these thoughts and estimates, and on what basis? My informationis that the number of children living on the streets is perhaps a tenth ofthe figure given. Even when 1 have no reason to doubt the author'sstatements, I should like more information. I should like, for example, toknow more about the information from which the author concludes thatvarious forms of child abuse are increasing. Statements about familydisintegration need more careful analysis than the author gives them,both on its nature and on its causes.Some of the tables could be more helpful. What are we to concludefrom Table 1, which shows that in 1976, 11.5% of Whites and 13,1% ofBlacks were in primary school? Table 2 gives absolute figures for patternsof disease between Whites and Blacks, and no percentages.It is useful to have the issues concerning children expressed conciselyin one short booklet. But it provides little in the way of new insight or newinformation.University of Zimbabwe M. F. C. BOURDILLONThe Economic Structural Adjustment Programme: The Case of Zimbabwe,1991-1995 By A. S. Mlambo. Harare, University of Zimbabwe Publications,1997, 105 pp, ISBN 0-908307-72-1, $75.Dr. Mlambo's book has explored factors leading to the inception, andimpact of the Economic Structural Adjustment Programme (ESAP) inZimbabwe. The study contains an immense amount of material obviouslybased on months of earnest investigation.An analysis of a typical International Monetary Fund/World Bank 0MF/WB) reform package is presented in the opening chapter. The chapterevaluates the effectiveness of Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs).Indeed all the evidence points to the fact that SAPs are to blame for thesituations in which developing countries find themselves. The chaptercontains an interesting debate on whom to blame for the failure of SAPs[pg. 19]. IMF and WB officials argue that"... they are merely advisors ...