|
Back to Index
No
arms to Zimbabwe: ACTSA
Action for Southern Africa
April 22, 2008
A massive shipment
of arms aboard the Chinese ship, the 'An Yue Jiang',
has been met by a united African front to prevent the arms reaching
Zimbabwe, which were reportedly ordered three days after the elections.
On Friday, members
of the South African Transport and Allied workers union refused
to offload the weapons from the ship in Durban. A legal challenge
was made and accepted by the South African High Court which ruled
that the cargo could not be transported overland through South Africa.
Zimbabwean trade
union leader Lovemore Matombo stated, "The Zimbabwe
Congress of Trade Unions has been greatly alarmed at the discovery
of the arms cache and says no to the delivery of the arms of war
as the country is not at war."
On Monday, trade
unions representing dock workers in Mozambique, Angola, Tanzania
and Namibia have followed the South African lead by stating that
they will not unload the arms should the ship attempt to dock in
their territory.
The International
Transport Workers Federation (ITF) is mobilizing its affiliate unions
in southern Africa to stop the arms transfer. ITF General Secretary
David Cockroft said: "The ITF, our member trade unions and
the ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation) are doing everything
we consider necessary to stop this dangerous and destabilizing shipment
reaching Zimbabwe. We will continue to do so, we hope with the support
of the regions' governments, but without them if necessary.
This material must not reach Zimbabwe, a country whose people are
crying out for food and freedom, not bullets."
Tony Dykes,
Director of Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA) said, "Ordering
such a large quantity of arms immediately after the elections increases
fear. If these arms arrive they could contribute to greater violence
and intimidation. The solidarity being shown by workers in southern
African countries with their colleagues in Zimbabwe is admirable
and we congratulate them on their stand. We are calling on China
and indeed all countries not to supply nor facilitate arms to Zimbabwe
at this time.
There have been
numerous credible reports of increased state sponsored violence
since the election. The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human
Rights had recorded 242 cases of organized violence and torture
by 17th April.
ACTSA today
launched a campaign calling on the Chinese government to stop the
shipment of arms to Zimbabwe and adhere to the South African court
ruling which will prevent any transfer of arms through its territory.
ACTSA is also supporting a petition by the International Action
Network on Small Arms to call on southern African governments to
stop the consignment and to impound the arms in order that they
do not find another way into Zimbabwe.
Note
to editors:
- Lovemore
Matombo, ZCTU President, is available for telephone interview
upon request
- Action for
Southern Africa (ACTSA) is the successor organization to the Anti-Apartheid
Movement. Since 1994 ACTSA has been campaigning with the people
of southern Africa as they strive to build a better future, working
for peace, democracy and development across the region. www.actsa.org
- For further
information please contact ACTSA on 020 3263 2001 or campaigns@actsa.org
*Find out more
on the ACTSA website
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
TOP
|
