SA court case to block shipment of arms to Zimbabwe

By Gerry Jackson
18 April 2008

The South African government has said that it is determined to allow the export of a consignment of Chinese weapons and ammunition to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.

AB Logistics is the state owned transport section of the South African Defence Forces, and they have been approached to handle this large shipment of weapons and ammunition to Zimbabwe. A number of private companies backed out of the contract. Not necessarily because of moral considerations, but because of concerns about the Zimbabwe government’s ability to pay the costs. South African dock workers have refused to unload the cargo as their union says it does not agree with the government’s position.

The Mail and Guardian newspaper reports that the weapons consignment was a rushed delivery, leaving China on March 15th and arriving in Durban on April 10th. The Chinese ship did not have the documents required to allow its entry into port.

There is a growing campaign to prevent this shipment reaching Zimbabwe as there is clear evidence that Mugabe is involved in a violent crackdown against the opposition. There are now so many injured that the hospitals are failing to cope. The Zanu PF militias are careful not to kill as that creates too much publicity globally, but there are many reports of people not recovering from the severe beatings. But as they die quietly in rural areas it is difficult to ascertain the numbers.

The International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) has taken an urgent case to the High Court in Durban, South Africa, to try to block the arms shipment. Their coordinator in Johannesburg Joseph Dube said; ‘The law states that the South African government must avoid authorising arms transfers that would contribute to internal repression or the systematic violation or suppression of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Permitting transport of these weapons over South African territory without a valid permit issued in accordance with South African law would be a serious breach of the law.’

South African Defence Secretary January Masilela said he had issued a permit on Monday, allowing the weapons to transit through South Africa. Such permits are supposed to be sought well in advance of any shipment of weapons.