/ 5 June 2008

Civil society petitions SA govt over Zim arms

Civil society bodies on Thursday 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 run-off elections.”

More than 110 000 people globally had signed a petition on the moratorium thus far, he said.

Aziz Pahad, Minister in the Presidency, is expected to receive the petition from the civil society organisations on Thursday.

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

He said Zambian President Patrick Mwanawasa refused the ship permission to dock in his country. Mozambique also denied the ship entry, and it did not offload its cargo in Angola.

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.

”The judicial system is undermined and is now subordinated to a military that violates human rights. Small arms are used to torment and torture people and must not be provided to Zimbabwe,” said Tsunga.

”As bad as he is, President Robert Mugabe has been held hostage by military generals — who are driving the systems of military executions,” he said.

The NGOs criticised South Africa for authorising the transportation of dangerous arms in the An Yue Jiang ship, carrying six containers of ammunition for AK-47 assault rifles, mortars and grenades to landlocked Zimbabwe in May.

Dube said the South Africa had a committee that oversaw the implementation of this 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 his 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.

”Lawyers would not have sought the Durban High Court’s intervention if there had been no authorisation,” said Tsunga. – Sapa