Solidarity movement aims to send Zimbabwean arms back to China
A few days ago Nandor reported on a shipment of arms that Zimbabwe was attempting to import from China but that had been blocked from unloading in South Africa because of a solidarity movement led by a South African dock workers’ union. Well as the US and UK have also stepped in to apply pressure the story has reached the wider media. Avaaz is now leading a global campaign to put pressure on other African countries not to allow the ship to dock, as well as to put more generic pressure on Zimbabwe to cease violence and respect human rights. Zimbabwe is landlocked country so needs a neighbouring African country’s tacit support to import the arms.
The joint diplomatic offensive appeared to have succeeded last night as the An Yue Jiang was reported to be on the high seas off the south-western tip of Africa, having been unable to unload its cargo in South Africa and Mozambique.
Namibia and Angola, both allies of Zimbabwe, denied having been asked to allow the boat to dock, and China’s foreign ministry conceded that the vessel might sail home if it had nowhere to unload.
Unfortunately reports from Zimbabwe continue to tell the story of an unfolding crisis.
