South African union stops PRC weapons load for Zimbabwe

A South African union has refused to unload arms from a Chinese ship destined for Zimbabwe, in a politically charged move challenging South African President Thabo Mbeki’s handling of relations with the neighboring state.

The vessel, An Yue Jiang, is believed to be carrying 77 tonnes of small arms, including more than 3 million rounds of ammunition, AK-47 assault rifles, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades.

Copies of the documentation for the Chinese ship show that the weapons were to be delivered from Beijing to the Ministry of Defense in Harare.

Headed “Dangerous goods description and container packing certificate,” the document was issued on April 1 — three days after Zimbabwe’s election.

CONSIGNMENT

It lists the consignment as including 3.5 million rounds of ammunition for AK-47 assault rifles and for small arms; 1,500 40mm rockets; 2,500 mortar shells of 60mm and 81mm caliber; and 93 cases of mortar tubes.

The carrier is listed as the Cosco shipping company in China.

South African unions have been highly critical of Mbeki for not taking a tougher line against Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who is locked in an election stalemate with the opposition over the delay of results from a March 29 election that has raised fears of violence.

The 300,000-strong South African Transport and Allied Workers Union said it would not unload the weapons in the port city of Durban because Mugabe’s government might use them to crack down on opponents in the disputed election.

“We are concerned that the current standoff could mean the arms would fall into the hands of those who want to use military force against the people of Zimbabwe,” union general secretary Randall Howard said yesterday.

“The South African government cannot be seen as propping up a military regime,” he said.

Howard said the union refused to handle four containers on the vessel which contain arms and ammunition.

NO INTERFERENCE

A South African government spokesman has confirmed there are weapons on the ship, but said his country would not interfere in a trade matter between China and Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwean Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga said yesterday that no party had the right to stop the shipment.

“Every country has got a right to acquire arms. There is nothing wrong with that. If they are for Zimbabwe, they will definitely come to Zimbabwe,” he told South Africa’s SAfm radio.

“How they are used, when they are going to be used is none of anybody’s business,” he said.

The An Yue Jiang has been cleared to dock and unload its cargo in Durban, transport officials said.

China is under an international spotlight over its human rights record and rule in Tibet ahead of hosting the Olympics in August. Violent protests have followed the Olympic torch across the globe.

Mugabe is under heavy international pressure to release the result of the presidential election, which the opposition Movement for Democratic Change says it won, ending the veteran leader’s long rule.

Also see: Mugabe accuses opposition of plotting with Britain