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STOP the 77 ton shipload of Chinese weapons in the Durban Harbour destined for Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwe Election:
There is nothing “normal” about the “recount” due to take place in 23 constituencies tomorrow, when the results of the original count have not been released. Does anybody in their right mind believe that the “recount” will not be used as an opportunity to stuff ballot boxes with votes for Mugabe in the names of some of the estimated 3 million “ghost names” on the voters roll?
At the UN Security Council on Wednesday, Mbeki dodged the Zimbabwe question until he was pressed on the issue. He then simply repeated his assurance that the situation was manageable.
Yesterday, instead of moving swiftly to halt the transport of the Chinese arms through South Africa en route to Zimbabwe, Mbeki’s Cabinet did nothing. This was because, in the words of Cabinet Secretary Themba Maseko, we have to “tread very carefully” in relations with our neighbour.
Why? For fear of upsetting Robert Mugabe, who is no doubt preparing for the next phase of the intimidation campaign he is already waging against opposition supporters as he tries to force a presidential run-off election?
Transporting the arms across South African territory to Zimbabwe is illegal under certain circumstances. In terms of the National Conventional Arms Control Act, anyone who conveys, freights or transfers weapons is required to apply for a conveyance permit that can only be granted only by the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) after consideration of how those weapons will be used.
The law clearly states that the NCACC must not allow the transfer of arms to governments that suppress human rights. It prohibits the conveyance of weapons to countries where the weapons are likely to escalate conflict and endanger peace. Zimbabwe fits the bill on both counts.
It is encouraging that the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union is reportedly refusing to off-load or transport the weapons cargo. The DA has today called on the Chairperson of the NCACC, Sydney Mufamadi, to immediately suspend the permit and to explain how it was granted in the first place.
If neither Mufamadi nor Mbeki intervene, they could be complicit in state-sponsored terror of genocidal proportions. It is worth remembering that it was a consignment of Chinese machetes that prefaced the killing of 800,000 people in Rwanda in 1994.
It is ironic that Mbeki’s actions – or lack of action – feed the negative stereotype of Africa that he has sought to dispel. The damage done to South Africa’s international image as an emerging viable democracy will take years to reverse.
If this ship load of arms reaches Zimbabwe and is used in a coup, President Thabo Mbeki will have BLOOD on his hands, if only one life will be lost - just as a result of his ‘do-nothingism’ !!
But then it is high time that he goes ..., as he is a very big disgrace to our country and to all it's citizens.
There is nothing “normal” about the “recount” due to take place in 23 constituencies tomorrow, when the results of the original count have not been released. Does anybody in their right mind believe that the “recount” will not be used as an opportunity to stuff ballot boxes with votes for Mugabe in the names of some of the estimated 3 million “ghost names” on the voters roll?
At the UN Security Council on Wednesday, Mbeki dodged the Zimbabwe question until he was pressed on the issue. He then simply repeated his assurance that the situation was manageable.
Yesterday, instead of moving swiftly to halt the transport of the Chinese arms through South Africa en route to Zimbabwe, Mbeki’s Cabinet did nothing. This was because, in the words of Cabinet Secretary Themba Maseko, we have to “tread very carefully” in relations with our neighbour.
Why? For fear of upsetting Robert Mugabe, who is no doubt preparing for the next phase of the intimidation campaign he is already waging against opposition supporters as he tries to force a presidential run-off election?
Transporting the arms across South African territory to Zimbabwe is illegal under certain circumstances. In terms of the National Conventional Arms Control Act, anyone who conveys, freights or transfers weapons is required to apply for a conveyance permit that can only be granted only by the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) after consideration of how those weapons will be used.
The law clearly states that the NCACC must not allow the transfer of arms to governments that suppress human rights. It prohibits the conveyance of weapons to countries where the weapons are likely to escalate conflict and endanger peace. Zimbabwe fits the bill on both counts.
It is encouraging that the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union is reportedly refusing to off-load or transport the weapons cargo. The DA has today called on the Chairperson of the NCACC, Sydney Mufamadi, to immediately suspend the permit and to explain how it was granted in the first place.
If neither Mufamadi nor Mbeki intervene, they could be complicit in state-sponsored terror of genocidal proportions. It is worth remembering that it was a consignment of Chinese machetes that prefaced the killing of 800,000 people in Rwanda in 1994.
It is ironic that Mbeki’s actions – or lack of action – feed the negative stereotype of Africa that he has sought to dispel. The damage done to South Africa’s international image as an emerging viable democracy will take years to reverse.
If this ship load of arms reaches Zimbabwe and is used in a coup, President Thabo Mbeki will have BLOOD on his hands, if only one life will be lost - just as a result of his ‘do-nothingism’ !!
But then it is high time that he goes ..., as he is a very big disgrace to our country and to all it's citizens.
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