China supplying arms to Zimbabwe

[lumukanda]

Police: Vessel is carrying arms

Durban - The SA Police Explosives Unit confirmed on Wednesday that an uncleared Chinese vessel docked at the outer anchorage of the Port of Durban is carrying arms.

Customs revealed that the shipment was destined for Zimbabwe.

Inspector Nicholas Gunther of the SA Explosives Unit in Durban told Sapa the vessel - called 'An Yue Jiang' - was carrying a shipment of arms.

"We went there just now and they are not being allowed in," he said. "There was a problem with the documents they submitted and we have directed the matter to the Chief Inspector of Explosives in Pretoria, Senior Superintendent van Sittert and it may take days for them to get clearance," said Gunther.

And if the vessel does not get clearance, it would have to leave.

Gunther explained that if, for example, the ship was carrying 500 containers and only one container had not been cleared, the vessel would sill be allowed to enter the port.

Shipment headed for Zimbabawe

"They would be allowed to enter, offload those containers that have been cleared by the South African government and leave with those that had not been cleared."

The inspector added that a lot of the cargo onboard was destined for companies in South Africa.

Asked if he knew whether any was destined for Zimbabwe, he said he was not sure. "But if it was trans-shipment then it gets imported here and is sent by road or rail to neighbouring countries. We are not sure if that's what they are doing," he said.

Leonard Hadebe, head of Durban Customs told Sapa: "We have confirmed that the shipment was headed for Zimbabawe. It arrived at the Durban Harbour on April 14.

"Right now the ship is awaiting clearance. If they are carrying any prohibited or illegal goods, they will be detained by customs," said Hadebe.

National Ports Authority spokesperson Ricky Bhikraj confirmed that a vessel called 'An Yue Jiang' had entered the Port of Durban.

"We can confirm that there is an uncleared vessel (not cleared to enter port) by that name currently at the outer anchorage. The allegations are being handled by the various national security authorities," he said.

Noseweek editor Martin Welz earlier told Sapa: "The cargo ship was openly delivering a containment of arms for Zimbabwe."

Asked where he had obtained the information from, Welz said it was his own business.

Dennis Abrio of the national branch of the SA Police Service said he would comment on the matter once he had details.

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Superintendent Vincent Mdunge said he could not comment.

interesting....

[truthseeker1980]

Britain probably is too.

[lumukanda]

you're probably right.
M16 pretty much ran the 'intelligence' in southern africa officially until the 70's, i have no doubt they still are. i know botswana has a couple of american airforce bases, there could be british ones too.

[lumukanda]

an update :

SA 'can't stop arms shipment'

Cape Town - South Africa will not interfere with a shipment of weapons aboard a Chinese ship that is destined for Zimbabwe, government communications head Themba Maseko said on Thursday.

"We are not in a position to act unilaterally and interfere in a trade deal between two countries," he told a media briefing.

All South African authorities could do was to make sure that "all proper administrative processes" were followed.

He said the country had to be seen to be "treading very carefully" in its relations with Zimbabwe, given the complexity of facilitating talks between the Movement for Democratic Change and Zanu-PF.

"South Africa is not at all involved in the arrangement, it's a matter between the two countries. It would be possible, but very difficult for SA to start intervening and saying that we will not allow the shipment through."

Maseko said the shipment would be allowed through this country's borders since there was currently no trade embargo against Zimbabwe or regulation to the contrary.

Maseko however added that South Africa was not actively encouraging the purchase of weapons by Zimbabwe.

Die Burger reported on Thursday that the Chinese ship, the An Yue Jiang, was carrying three million rounds of ammunition, 3 500 mortars and mortar tubes as well as 1 500 rocket propelled grenades.

On reports that Chinese troops had been spotted in Mutare, Maseko said: "People spot a lot of things. I haven't heard anything about that".
http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2307529,00.html


that last bit is such bullshit, it is an established fact that the chinese conduct military maneuvres in zimbabwe on a regular basis.

[cheesedanish]

You were Right Lumukanda !!! Here's opening a big can of worms!!!

What's going to happen now? Is Chinese presence going to cause
conflict with the West? Are they going to call in the UN 'peace-keeping'
force?

They never intended there to be election results ... almost 3 weeks down
the line or for BoB Mugarbie to ever be out of power? What is going on?

Surely if they want arms - they can get is from SA? Or is this just a ploy to
scare the already scared citizens?




Armed Chinese soliders police Mutare streets (http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com/story.php?art_id=3944&cat=2)

By David Baxter


HARARE - A general strike called by the MDC to pressure the Zimbabweans government and the Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC) to release presidential results appeared to have faltered in all major cities despite the despair within the majority over the lack of results, almost three weeks on.

People were seen going about their usual business, maybe due to fear the weight of the state security officers deployed ahead of the strike could descend on them or because the economic crisis does not allow people to drop earnings at all.

Soldiers and police fanned out across Zimbabwe early in the day with army trucks, some equipped with water cannon, moving through opposition strongholds around the cities. The riot police and other officers even set up checkpoints.

zimbabwejournalists' correspondent, David Baxter, reports from Mutare that it is calm in the city as the MDC stayaway failed to attract many people.

"Residents are going about their normal business despite a call by the opposition to stay at home. Businesses were operating as usual but there was a heavy police presence in the city centre and in all the high density suburbs," he said.

The police are armed with AK rifles, teargas canisters and baton sticks. Water cannons were being driven throughout the suburbs. There were no incidents of violence as of mid-morning. However, says Baxter, there was a surprise presence of Chinese soldiers armed with revolvers in the city.

The Chinese, together with about 70 Zimbabwean senior army officers are staying at the Holiday Inn, in the city's central business district.

There are about 10 Chinese soldiers. "We were shocked to see Chinese soldiers in their full military regalia and armed with pistols checking at the hotel," said one worker.

"When they signed checking-in forms they did not indicate the nature of the business that they are doing and even their addresses."

No official comment could be obtained from the authorities here on this issue.

[lumukanda]

i'm beginning to think that is all staged to inflame the situation.
the usual root for goods entering landlocked zimbabwe is by rail via beira in mozambique, so why is this very controversial shipment coming through the extremely busy durban harbour?

and those chinese soldiers, i read somewhere today that they are not just regular soldiers, some of them are chinese generals who were spotted meeting with high level zimbabwean generals. something is afoot, and i fear it will be quite dramatic.

[mynameis]

Nah, this is Dafur/Rwanda part three. China and Israel have their hands in Zimbabwe's mix and they've been caught red handed. Please excuse the Communist pun.

[lumukanda]

YES!! the israeli connection is one if completely forgot about, it was a mossad agent who gave mugabe's govt a videotape of a secret MDC meeting, it was after that that tsvangerai was arrested and beaten up by ZANU-PF police.
i don't think that them being 'discovered' is an accident, it's exactly according to plan.
don't forget that southern zimbabwe, northern south africa and western mozambique was the location of ENKI's ABSU, the area has been important to them for centuries.

In 2002, one Ari Ben Menashe – employed by Israeli military intelligence from 1977 to at least 1987, in spite of the Israeli government's denials of any connection – shot what was purported to be covertly filmed videotape of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai supposedly discussing a plot to assassinate Mugabe. This was triumphantly broadcast on Zimbabwe state television on the eve of elections, followed by a fresh wave of repression aimed at pro-democracy activists. The tape turned out to have been doctored, but the broadcast accomplished its task: providing a momentary rationale for Mugabe's reign of terror, which continues to this day.

So well-known is Israel's unstinting support for Mugabe that the democratic opposition has accused the government of bringing in computer "consultants" from the Mossad to manipulate voter rolls. (Which certainly surprised at least one Israeli software producer.)
http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=12675

[turquoisefyre]

man, what the fcuk's with China and all the ammo to Zim:confused:

it's probably not rocket science to figure out this is definately no good...

[steevo]

That propaganda kills two birds with one stone. TPTB are trying to make us hate China and Zimbabwe so this story is perfect for them.

[lumukanda]

well, i hate neither, the story is of particular interest to me because it's basically on my doorstep, and this may be the beginning of something bigger happening here.
anyway, here's the latest, at least someone's thinking! :

Union refuses to touch Zim arms

Durban - Opposition to a shipment of arms being offloaded in Durban and transported to Zimbabwe increased on Thursday when South Africa's biggest transport workers' union announced that its members would not unload the ship.

SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) general secretary Randall Howard said: "Satawu does not agree with the position of the South African government not to intervene with this shipment of weapons.

"Our members employed at Durban container terminal will not unload this cargo neither will any of our members in the truck-driving sector move this cargo by road."

He said the ship, the An Yue Jiang, should not dock in Durban and should return to China.

"South Africa cannot be seen to be facilitating the flow of weapons into Zimbabwe at a time where there is a political dispute and a volatile situation between the Zanu-PF and the MDC."

"The view of our members is that nobody should ask us to unload these weapons," he said.

Satawu said it planned to ask for support from the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu).

Defence secretary January Masilela told Sapa on Thursday that the National Conventional Arms Control Committee's (NCACC) scrutiny committee, which he chairs, had approved the conveyance permit on Monday.

He said an inspection team from the NCACC still would have to ensure the cargo met the requirements of the permit before the cargo could begin its trip to Zimbabwe.

The permit would be endorsed by the NCACC when it met next month.

SA 'can't stop the shipment'

Asked about the controversy surrounding the shipment, Masilela said: "This is a normal transaction between two sovereign states. We are doing our legal part and we don't have to interfere."

In Cape Town, government communications head Themba Maseko said the country could not stop the shipment from getting to its destination as it had to be seen to be "treading very carefully" in its relations with Zimbabwe, given the complexity of facilitating talks between the Movement for Democratic Change and Zanu-PF.

Chris de Vos, the secretary-general for the United Transport and Allied Trade Union, said the union was "not happy" about the arms shipment being transported through South Africa.

"We are going to ask for an urgent meeting with the management. We are aware that members are uncomfortable with the situation," he said.

'Government has lost the plot'

He said that while no decision had been taken by the union on offloading the weapons and arms, the union leadership was not in favour of the weapons being transported.

Democratic Alliance defence spokesperson Rafeek Shah said the government's approval to allow the arms to be shipped was "the surest sign yet that government has completely lost the plot on the Zimbabwe issue".

Shah said: "The world's astonishment at President (Thabo) Mbeki's political defence of Robert Mugabe will likely turn into outright anger as we are now not only denying the existence of a crisis in Zimbabwe, but also actively facilitating the arming of an increasingly despotic and desperate regime."

Kallie Kriel, AfriForum chief executive, said the organisation intended organising "an extensive campaign of peaceful demonstrations in an effort to prevent a consignment of Chinese arms from being transported from Durban across South African territory to Zimbabwe".

The SA Institute of Race Relations said on Thursday: "It would be unconscionable for South Africa to allow an arms consignment through its borders en route to Zimbabwe."

Has copies of all documentation

Spokesperson Frans Cronjé said that if the shipment went ahead, "South Africa's culpability in the Zimbabwe crisis would then be without question".

noseweek editor Martin Welz told Sapa on Wednesday that "the cargo ship was openly delivering a containment of arms for Zimbabwe".

He said he had copies of all the documents, including the bill of lading and a packing list.

The controversial cargo packed into 3 080 cases included three million rounds of 7.62mm bullets (used with the AK-47 assault rifle), 69 rocket propelled grenades, as well as mortar bombs and tubes.

The cargo is, according to the documentation, valued at R9.88m.

Welz said: "It's very detailed and even has the phone numbers."

Increased media interest around the shipment prompted both the SA Police Service and the SA Revenue Service to send their top public relations officers to Durban to deal with media enquiries.

Adriao said he would only comment on the ship once it had docked in port while Lackay said that the work of the SARS "is guided by the SARS Act and the confidentiality provisions in the act".

Not imported yet

Lackay said: "SARS customs does not release cargo until the customs declaration has been processed and the requirements of any other legislation have been adhered to.

"On the basis of the documents submitted by the shipping line - the company operating the vessel - SARS customs decides whether there is a potential risk, whether cargo must be inspected and whether or not goods will be detained.

"These are standard customs procedures that apply daily to any cargo vessel entering a South African port of entry. At this time the vessel, An Yue Jiang, is at outer anchorage or off-port limits and therefore the cargo is not deemed to have been imported into South Africa yet," he said.

http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2307888,00.html

[turquoisefyre]

maybe China just got sick and tired of Mugabe's corruption, and the gunz 'n gear are for the freedom fighters who's going to blow Mugabe into another dimention...

[lumukanda]

maybe China just got sick and tired of Mugabe's corruption, and the gunz 'n gear are for the freedom fighters who's going to blow Mugabe into another dimention...
nope, i think the british are arming those guys, if china can handle the corrpution in darfur, zim's hardly worth worrying about.

[turquoisefyre]

nope, i think the british are arming those guys, if china can handle the corrpution in darfur, zim's hardly worth worrying about.

the Royal Navy was given the "freedom of the city" of Ladysmith, KZN just the other day...

[lumukanda]

that's odd, ladysmith as quite a way inland. i'll have to look into that.

Siege of Ladysmith commemorated

Hundreds of international guests and media converged on KwaZulu-Natal on Friday at the start of the Ladysmith Siege Weekend to commemorate historic events that took place during the Anglo-Boer War.

Organised by the Emnambithi/Ladysmith municipality, the event is in its fourth year and is expected to attract a crowd of about 5 000.

The Zulu Kingdom online tourist guide describes the siege weekend as "countless stories of heroism, tragedy and suffering, not only for South Africans involved, but also for British citizens who fought and died on South African soil".

It reads: "The South African War of 1899 to 1902 has had far-reaching effects on various aspects of our country's history. The most dramatic of these is the fact that KwaZulu-Natal now has the highest concentration of battle sites in South Africa.

"The 118-day Siege of Ladysmith was a dramatic turning point in the war and made Ladysmith a household name in Britain. With nearly 500 000 British troops involved in action during this war, it has had an equally dramatic impact on British history."

Ladysmith tourism spokesperson Fifi Meyer said: "Today the town is preparing to be besieged again, but this time the tables are turned -- Ladysmith is being besieged by the British!

"Today, April 4 2008, the Emnambithi/Ladysmith municipality will bestow the highest honour -- the Freedom of the Town -- upon the Royal Navy in recognition of its contribution to the town's heritage," she said.

Earlier on Friday, visiting regiments marched through the town's streets during a "glorious" welcoming ceremony.

At least 48-men from the Irish Guard Regiment were given the same welcome on Tuesday.

Ladysmith acting police spokesperson Captain Tracey Mey said the most exciting part of the siege weekend was the Extreme Swartkop Challenge where military teams challenge each other with artillery guns (a type of canon) on Wagon Hill.

Each team, she said, would physically push a 1 500kg artillery gun up a 130m hill (a slope that is almost at a 45-degree angle) and the first team to reach the top and fire the canon would declare victory.

Only human power could be used to push the artillery gun.

Mey said the Royal Navy from England and military teams from Scotland, Ireland and other parts of the world would be participating in the gun race -- which has been scheduled for Sunday.

A team from Ladysmith's local municipality would also be participating.

This race, according to the online guide, was based on the protagonists repeatedly mounting heavy artillery guns on the hills surrounding Ladysmith.

"The slopes were often impossible for animals to negotiate, so manpower was the only resource," it said.

Meyer said during the battles, the Royal Navy managed to deploy their long-range 12-pounder guns in the nick of time to save Ladysmith from being captured by the Boers.

"Compelling events might have taken place 108 years ago but is frequently recalled by the descendants of those involved. Up until 1999, the Naval Field Gun Display was a popular annual event for the Royal Navy. Spectators were reminded that the event had its origins in Ladysmith where the Royal Navy valiantly managed 'to save Ladysmith' in the Boer War.

"And today, we honour them," she said.

Other demonstrations and activities over the weekend include the 17th Lancers re-enactment group on horseback, demonstrations by the South African Miniature Canon Club, tug-of-war events and Zulu dances. -- Sapa
http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__national/&articleid=336259&referrer=RSS

that whole thing did confuse the hell out of me, honouring the enemies of old...

[turquoisefyre]

that's odd, ladysmith as quite a way inland. i'll have to look into that.


http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__national/&articleid=336259&referrer=RSS

that whole thing did confuse the hell out of me, honouring the enemies of old...

if this scenario was some sort of friendly gesture between today's South Africa and Brittian, then i couldn't really give a sh1t. A certain %%% of SA's population obviously has British ancestry. maybe thats why?

[lumukanda]

roughly half of the south african whites are of british ancestry, here's the bit that confuses me, the british burned down the boer (afrikaner) farms and put their wives and children in concentration camps, thousands died, and we all know how the british treated the zulus (after the zulus handed them their asses!), so the only thing i can think is that it's a modern gesture, so the next time you see some south african politician talk about neo colonialism, think about this gesture, and see how hollow their words really are.

[turquoisefyre]

the article almost makes it sounds like the town just loved being "saved" from those evil boers or something:rolleyes:

[lumukanda]

the dynamic at the time was very interesting, the war is often toted as being british against boer, the bit that's seldom told is that several black tribes sided with both sides, after all, it was fought on what used to be their tribal land, and they fought tooth and nail, side by side. of course both sides made grand promises to the tribes, none of which were upheld.
today, because of afrikaner apartheid, it's almost like the british are absolved of their colonialism (even though they started the racial segregation with the native land act of 1910), so we have a ceremony with the 'good guys', the british and the blacks celebrating the deafeat of their common enemy, the boers.

[lightgiver]

CHINA as got one of the worlds worst human rights record going,their just like any other country who have weapons of mass(distraction)destruction,oh they have still not found any wmds in iraq,maybe they will find some soon,they have had enough time now to plant some.We told(BRAINWASH)you so.anyway the Chinese regime are not arsed who gets them as long as their not used against themselves.mugabes people starve but they can afford wmds.wot a joke.chinas not arsed whos starving as long as they get their dollars.all i can say FREE TIBET.i must say though i don't know if mugabe is fully responsible,caus the world is that corrupted to the core,who do you believe?but what i do know is that china is all over Africa like a bad rash.THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH.

[steevo]

I say Free Tibet so that Britain and America can have an air base there.:D;)

[lightgiver]

I say Free Tibet so that Britain and America can have an air base there.:D;)

i know what you mean man the whole world is corrupted.:(who do you trust?apart from yourself.life as become cheap:(

[turquoisefyre]

the dynamic at the time was very interesting, the war is often toted as being british against boer, the bit that's seldom told is that several black tribes sided with both sides, after all, it was fought on what used to be their tribal land, and they fought tooth and nail, side by side. of course both sides made grand promises to the tribes, none of which were upheld.
today, because of afrikaner apartheid, it's almost like the british are absolved of their colonialism (even though they started the racial segregation with the native land act of 1910), so we have a ceremony with the 'good guys', the british and the blacks celebrating the deafeat of their common enemy, the boers.

sooooo, the Zulus ganged up with them foreign men that layeth with menkind on thee shippies.

and so, the real inspiration behind The Village People was formed, it seems...

http://www.associatedentertainment.com/aec/images/main/Village-People.jpg

[turquoisefyre]

...the whole world is corrupted.:(who do you trust?apart from yourself.life as become cheap:(

thing is, we can't just sit here behind computer screens as spectators. it is us who would have to go into the organisations and bring forth the change ourselves, otherwhise how is change going to happen?

[lumukanda]

Zim arms ship flees Durban

Durban - A ship that was carrying weapons and ammunition destined for Zimbabwe lifted anchor and sailed from Durban less than an hour after the Durban High Court ordered that its controversial cargo cannot be transported across South Africa to that country.

The An Yue Jiang lifted anchor between 18:00 and 19:00 on Friday evening.

Several sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the ship had set sail from the outer anchorage off the port of Durban.

The ship's master, who earlier this week identified himself as captain Sunaijun, could not be connected by radio phone. Operators in Cape Town reported that calls to the ship were left unanswered.

It was not immediately known where the vessel, owned by Chinese state owned company Cosco Group, was headed.

Nicole Fritz, the director of the Southern African Litigation Centre, said she had been informed that as the sheriff of the Durban High Court approached the vessel, it lifted anchor and began sailing.

She said that if the ship went to Mozambique, the SALC would seek to implement similar legal action as implemented in Durban.

Durban Port Captain Ricky Bhikraj referred all comment to Transnet spokesperson John Dludlu, who could not be reached for comment.
http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2308655,00.html


so one has to wonder what the hell that was all about, were they carrying more than what they declared? if that was the case, why did they decalre it at all? i mean there's a pretty good chance they would have got the stuff past customs anyway.
combined with the fact that the chinese usually bring stuff destined for zimbabwe via mozambique and not south africa, going to re-affirm that was all a big setup designed to inflame emotions on a subject beyond just zimbabwe.

[danielg]

Scorll down and listen to the 12th April show to hear what is really going on in, and with, Zimbabwe.
http://www.larouchepub.com/radio/archive_2008.html
Audio
http://wlym.com/mp3/20080405-la-rory-briefing.mp3

[lumukanda]

thanks for that link, bookmarked for later.

[lightgiver]

thing is, we can't just sit here behind computer screens as spectators. it is us who would have to go into the organisations and bring forth the change ourselves, otherwhise how is change going to happen?
but we have to get clued up 1st,INFO WAR then take to the streets?but its going to take time these swines have been in control since year dot.they assassinated their own president jfk and his family these are DARK BEINGS we are dealing with?they are on this site man?check it out?WOLVES IN SHEEPS CLOTHING:eek:WHOOOA:D:D:D:D:D

[cheeb]

Disinformation Alert!!!

When Chinese whispers are unnerving
Red Army officers have checked into a hotel in Mutare. Why?
ASH Smyth looks for an answer

Reports that a score of Chinese soldiers have been seen in Mutare, eastern Zimbabwe ­ based, largely, on the testimony of hotel chambermaids ­ might yet prove false. Chinese officials have denied that their troops are there, and the 'soldiers' in question could conceivably be private security for some Chinese business interest.

But in the context of recent civil unrest, reports of bi-hourly patrols alongside Zimbabwean security forces make that interpretation look rather optimistic. Security guards don't normally patrol the streets ­ - even less so in 'regalia' ­ - and they don't stay at the Holiday Inn.

One squad of Chinese officers ('pistols' are officer issue) doth not an invasion make. A detachment of special-operations advisers, though, could represent a rather bigger problem.

And the presence of the Red Army on the streets of any African nation would constitute one of the biggest crises of the decade, uniting the twin headaches of African bad-governance and Chinese foreign policy.

So what are the Chinese up to? Is the West being sent a message?

Hopefully not. To parry scrutiny of their own domestic problems, China's entire foreign policy ­ in Africa especially ­ is founded on principles of non-interference. Most Western diplomats don't like it, and many don't really believe it; hitherto, however, it has been unflinching and predictable.

But if the West decides to push China off the fence, there's no knowing which side they'll land. Zimbabwe is emphatically not the place to put this to the test.

It is too much to hope that the Olympic torch party have got lost on their lap of Africa. Instead we should take comfort in the fact that the Chinese presence in Mutare is so ostentatious. If they decide they mean business, the Red Army won't arrive in their No. 1's, nor walk down the main street.
FIRST POSTED APRIL 17, 2008