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17 April 2008
Durban – An uncleared Chinese cargo ship, believed to be carrying arms destined for crisis-torn Zimbabwe, has docked in Durban, South Africa’s National Ports authority said on Wednesday.
National Ports spokesman Ricky Bhikraj confirmed that the vessel called “An Yue Jiang” entered the port on April 14 without clearance.
The vessel is believed to be carrying arms rumoured to be destined for Zimbabwe.
"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.
Bhikraj, however, said the vessel had to follow procedures and if it was not cleared, it would not be allowed to enter a South African port.
"There is a normal process for all ISPS (International Ship and Ports Security) vessels to be cleared to enter the port.”
He said this vessel would now have to go through that process and that it could take quite some time before it is cleared.
The National Ports Authority however refused to comment on whether there had been arms on the ship.
Zimbabwe, also grappling with an acute economic recession and food shortages, plunged deeper into political crisis after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) withheld results of the March 29 presidential ballot that President Robert Mugabe is believed to have lost to Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party.
Since last month’s election politically motivated violence has resurfaced in parts of Zimbabwe. War veterans and ZANU PF militia have also stepped up farm invasions, with at least 60 white farmers said to have been evicted from the properties over the past few weeks.
Analysts see new farm invasions and resurgent political violence as part of a well-orchestrated plan by Mugabe to regain the upper hand in rural and farming areas, where ZANU PF surprisingly lost several seats to the MDC.
There are fears that an anticipated re-run of the presidential election between Mugabe and Tsvangirai could spark serious violence between militant supporters of the Zimbabwean leader on one side and opposition supporters on the other.
Authoritative military sources say the commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Constantine Chiwenga has taken personal charge of President Robert Mugabe’s re-election bid.
They said provincial joint committees manned by senior military, police and intelligence officers loyal to Mugabe will spearhead the campaign that they said will see unprecedented violence unleashed on Tsvangirai’s supporters. – ZimOnline
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