Zim ship 'must be stopped'

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Johannesburg - The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) said on Monday it is mobilising against a ship carrying arms from China destined for Zimbabwe from offloading in any African harbour.

"Our objective is to mobilise and organise unions in Africa to take a firm stand and try to stop the ship from offloading these dangerous weapons which could be used to kill Zimbabweans," ITF spokesman in Durban, Sprite Zungu told AFP.

The South African Transport Workers' Union is affiliated to the London-based ITF, a federation of more than 650 unions representing 4.5 million transport workers in 148 countries across the world.

Human rights issue

"I am not sure of exactly where the ship is headed. I am still seeking tangible information on the destination of the ship. As soon as I get the exact information today or tomorrow, I will travel to the country and ensure I mobilise workers not to offload it," Zungu said.

The Chinese ship, An Yue Jiang, left South Africa on Friday after a court barred its cargo from being transported to the border.

The vessel, anchored off the South African port of Durban, sailed to an unknown destination.

"We have heard some information that the ship might berth either in Mozambique or Angola. We are following up, even up to Nigeria," Zungu said.

The high court in Durban had ruled earlier on Friday that the ship could be offloaded in Durban but barred its cargo from being transported to the border with landlocked Zimbabwe.

The court ruling came after the South African Litigation Centre, a legal group focusing on human rights issues, filed an urgent application to block a conveyance permit allowing the arms to be offloaded and transported.

Three million rounds of AK-47 ammunition, 1 500 rocket-propelled grenades and more than 3 000 mortar rounds and mortar tubes are among the cargo on the Chinese ship, according to copies of the inventory published by a South African newspaper.

- AFP