Dispatch online - South Africa

2008/06/06

http://www.dispatch.co.za/article.aspx?id=210185

Civil bodies petition against arms for Zim 
 

CIVIL bodies yesterday urged the Southern African Development Community governments to impose a moratorium on the supply of arms to Zimbabwe.

At a briefing in Johannesburg, Obby Chibuluma of the Coalition for Peace in Africa said: “We are asking for the moratorium on Zimbabwe to make sure security is guaranteed before and after the June 27 runoff elections.”

More than 110000 people globally had signed a petition on the moratorium so far, he said.

Minister in the Presidency Aziz Pahad is expected to receive the petition .

“We are confident the moratorium will go through. A moratorium is critical to stabilise Zimbabwe,” said Joseph Dube, Africa co-ordinator for the International Action Network on Small Arms.

The NGOs criticised South Africa for authorising the transportation of dangerous arms in a Chinese ship.

The An Yue Jiang was carrying six containers of ammunition for AK-47 assault rifles, mortars and grenades to landlocked Zimbabwe in May.

Dube said Zambian President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa had urged other African leaders not to allow the ship carrying arms for Zimbabwe to enter their territorial waters.

Arnold Tsunga, director of the African Programme at the International Commission of Jurists, said: “Small arms have been used to overturn the rule of law in Zimbabwe. Zanu-PF attempts to do away with effective checks and balances.

“As bad as he is, President Robert Mugabe has been held hostage by military generals,” he said.

Dube said South Africa had a committee that oversaw the implementation of the National Conventional Arms Control Act.

“That committee is made up of the Cabinet ministers, chaired by Minister of Provincial and Local Government Sydney Mufamadi, who is also a facilitator in Zimbabwe.

“Mufamadi knew about the arms transportation and should have briefed the president. He should not have authorised the transfer of arms through our country,” said Dube.

Tsunga expressed concern that President Thabo Mbeki authorised the transportation of the arms to Zimbabwe.

“As president he should have first- hand knowledge of information. The court papers were filed because there had been authorisation from Mbeki,” he said. — Sapa