|
|
Zimbabwe: Minister Claims Controversial Chinese Arms Now in Country
 |
|
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
SW Radio Africa (London)
6 May 2008
Posted to the web 6 May 2008
Lance Guma
Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga on Sunday claimed that the controversial shipment of arms from China, initially blocked by South Africa, Mozambique and Zambia, was now in Zimbabwe.
Responding to criticism of the shipment during a panel discussion on Iranian sponsored 'Press TV' Matonga is said to have derisively retorted, 'in any case that shipment is already in Zimbabwe.'
Press TV's 'Four Corners' programme hosted a debate between Matonga, Briggs Bomba from Africa Action, Zanu PF apologist George Shire and an unnamed journalist. Bomba spoke to Newsreel Tuesday and expressed his disappointment at how Angola, contrary to its official position, might have helped Mugabe's regime get their hands on the deadly cargo.
The Chinese ship 'An Yue Jiang' was carrying 3 million rounds of ammunition for AK-47's, 1500 rocket propelled grenades and 3000 mortar rounds and tubes. Pressure from trade unions and civil society groups in the SADC region ensured the ship spent weeks failing to get permission to offload. Emerson Mnangagwa, the man in charge of Zimbabwe's terror campaign through the Joint Operations Command, is said to have travelled to Angola and met President Eduardo dos Santos last week, in an effort to have the shipment allowed through.
|
Angola officially declined to authorise the offloading of the Zimbabwean arms shipment, but no one knows if they kept their word. The picture continues to get to murkier with other reports suggesting the Angolan President's jet, a Falcon 900, was sighted in Zimbabwe Tuesday evening. No further details were available. Malawi's Nyasa Times newspaper added to the speculation by claiming intelligence agents from Malawi had travelled to Angola to help clear the shipment on behalf of the Zimbabwean regime.
With all due respect, I ask the Angolan people what we have done wrong to them. Why have you allowed innocent Zimbabwean blood on your hands and conscience. Remember that what goes around comes around. You will need our help one day soon and you will not have anyone to turn to from Zimbabwe becaus of the agrevious act of allowing weapons of destruction to be supplied to a defeated regime... that makes you accomplices of terroristic activities since Mugabe and his cronies are no longer in power.
Mugabe might kill thousands more this time around, maybe more than the... [Read Full Text]
Thank goodness! It appears common sense has prevailed.
I’m saddened to hear people applaud when weapons that can be used against people that stand up against their government in an election are allowed in. Zimbabwe has no enemies in the region so why the weapons. The only reason for the weapons is to suppress the popular people support. Iran & China don’t have democracy they have a sham. Look what China is doing in Tibet – They use force to stay in power. People are starving, but billions are spent on weapons. Zimbabwe used to be a great country. The people still are, but the government and the... [Read Full Text]
According to ISANA and ITUF the ship did dock and off loaded some construction equipment and was not allowed to off load it's weapons......This new article reminds so of the demise of Sadam when his Minister Ali I think he was the one on trial now kept going on the TV to say Sadam was alive etc etc Bright Matonga could tell the truth if he tried......My only concerns are when Mugabe and his men are gone will the Western World give them safe haven because I would not like to unleash them into any society.....
Do not be fooled, I have good reason to believe the Zimbabwean economy was sabotaged effectively to discredit and destroy Mugabe's regime by people who lost out when Zimbabwe won and people who stand to gain if Mugabe loses (their capitalist allies) and this is the case because Mugabe turned complacent thus his failure. There is a cold war and its not between Mugabe and the puppet. I mourn the people that will die for they will not be enemies of Zimbabwe. Thanks to Dos's loyalty to 1 man a genocide locks.
The Zimbabwean crisis is complex. While I agree with the view that external forces have contributed to the crisis, I wouldn't want to blame them entirely. For those who view the West as the sole cause of Zimbabwe's crisis should investigate when the crisis started. Was it not in the late 90s (targeted sanctions) that Mugabe sent troops to the DRC? How much was used to sponsor the war? What impact did this have on the country's economy? Mugabe's government awarded hefty gratuities to the veterans of the liberation which alone cost more than twice total government funding on land... [Read Full Text]
Nice post Ranga: We all know where ZANU PF gets it's political ideas from based on their demonising of the west and everything which goes wrong being someone elses fault. I'd like to share with you a quotation, “If we are attacked we can only defend ourselves with guns not with butter.” that was said by Joseph Goebbels who was Hitlers Minister of propoganda. Another quote is, “The victor will never be asked if he told the truth.” His boss said that.
glyph, You are just being a wisecraker on this website, since most people have stopped participating on BBC surveys on Zimbabwe. Most Africans do not even believe BBC can be objective about Zimbabwe, so you have turned to this website. Your opinions are those of defeated white anglo Britons, whose job is to promote anglo white failed policies in Africa. You are going nowhere with comments about Hitler. Nobody in Zimbabwe (except your like) compare Mugabe to Hitler. Your comments are completely misplaced. Even Mugabe's enamies have respect for him. Your comments are better suited to the BBC or "Rhodesia... [Read Full Text]
Yes Phiri I agree. Glyph does not belong here with idiots like you.
Yes Phiri you are right.Glyph does not belong here with idiots like you.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Copyright © 2008 SW Radio Africa. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Make allAfrica.com your home page | RSS Feed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Top | Site Guide | Who We Are | Advertising | Search | Subscribe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Questions or Comments? Contact us. Read our Privacy Statement. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
