Echoing a common misperception, (letter writers) Bill and Marilyn Voorhies reported (BDN, June 4) that the South African government opposes the African Growth and Opportunity Act, now pending before the Senate (S.778). Although it is true that President Mandela voiced some concerns about the bill, specifically about conditionalities which have been part of a much larger debate, the South African government has in fact warmly embraced the Africa trade bill.

A curious new paternalism surrounds much of the criticism of the Africa bill, arguing that African economies work somehow diffferently from those in the rest of the world, and that Africa must be shielded from the trade and investment opportunities that have helped lead other parts of the developing world out of poverty. The Africa bill, far from imposing harsh conditionalities or other punishments upon African governments, is a finely crafted foreign policy tool which only seeks to offer rewards to those countries that have already made the tough policy choices to move their nations toward democratic and market reform.

That is why, in addition to being supported by South Africa, the bill has been endorsed by the African Diplomatic Corps in Washington, which in fact was consulted in the drafting of the bill and incorporated many of their ideas. The Senate would do well to listen to the new, dynamic voices coming from the emerging Africa, and should pass the African Growth and Opportunity Act. Peter Mamacos Assistant director U.S. Program Overseas Development Council Washington, D.C.