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Thabo Mbeki wanted Arms shipped to Zimbabwe
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South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki ’s senior Cabinet ministers and government officials worked to prevent the Chinese arms ship from offloading its cargo, despite his insistence that the mortar bombs, rocket-propelled grenades and assault rifles be allowed to reach Robert Mugabe’s military.
South Africa’s Finance Minister Trevor Manuel played an active voice in preventing the Chinese arms carrier from docking in South Africa.
Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, South African Revenue Service Commissioner Pravin Gordhan, director general in the Department of Transport Mpumi Mpofu and officials of the South African Police Service were among the key players in a plan to delay the docking of the ship. They hoped to seize the six containers of weapons on the pretext of customs and shipping technicalities.
The goal appears to have been to ensure the cargo could not be transported to Zimbabwe.
This strategy flew directly in the face of instructions from Mbeki to the ministry of defence and the national conventional arms control committee that the arms transfer should be permitted, according to government officials who were close to the process.
“He gave a direct order that they have to let it through,” one close observer told a South African paper.
The seizure ultimately did not take place, because the ship failed to dock to avoid a court order to attach the weapons against debts owed by the Zimbabwean government. But the delays created by Sars and the transport department opened a window for court action, civil society protest and a declaration by dock workers that they would not unload the containers.
According to sources news of the shipment began to break on Tuesday April 15, the day after the An Yue Jiang arrived just off Durban. On April 16 Mbeki was in New York addressing the United Nations on improving cooperation between the African Union and the world body. The Cabinet met in his absence.
“Trevor Manuel was determined to discuss it with his Cabinet colleagues,” said one official. The finance minister declared that he would “put his head on a block” over the issue.
But the ship was not discussed during the formal proceedings of the Cabinet, according to sources who were present, despite the urgency of the issue, mushrooming media coverage throughout the day and the fact that several ministers had known about it for two days.
It is not clear if Manuel raised the shipment with colleagues such as transport minister Jeff Radebe on the sidelines of the Cabinet meeting. But by the end of that day a team of customs officials had already been assembled to go over the vessel and its cargo with a fine-toothed comb.
Meanwhile in New York Mbeki told journalists that South Africa would not interfere in a legitimate transaction between Zim-babwe and China.
There was initially confusion over whether the vessel would be granted permission to dock. On April 15 the National Ports Authority said the ship would have to go through a complex clearance procedure, but 24 hours later NPA parent company, Transnet, said there was effectively nothing they could do to stop the ship from tying up. But that situation changed when the department of transport weighed in, with Mpofu sending a letter to the ship’s captain making it clear that permission to dock had been revoked and that he would have to reapply for clearance. By April 17 officials from Sars’s Pretoria headquarters arrived in Durban to help coordinate the effort.
While the bureaucrats attempted to stall the docking of the An Yue Jiang, Sars officials worked with the police on a plan to secure the containers on landing. They were then to be escorted to a secure military site, where they would be held.
Mbeki’s insistence on letting the weapons through is seen by many who were formerly among his closest allies in government and the ANC as “bizarre” and “embarrassing”.
“It was a real revolt,” said one. “Every-one is asking what has happened to him. It is very hard to explain.”
Contact the writer of this story, Gerald Harper at : southafrica@zimbabwemetro.com
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I just wonder where the writer is getting this from.Does he want us to hate Mbeki or these are facts.Why are they coming out now weeks after the ship left Durban.Mr/Mrs writer please dont comfuse people that ship never reached Zim i assume, so lets close the chapter and concentrate on ways and means of removing Mugabe for the sack of the peace loving people of Zim. we dont want to make more enermies than friends at this moment of time. We all know where Thabo seem to stand let him do what he thinks is right for him and for us to defeat his actions lets ignore him and act as if he does not exist in our problems as he has said before Zim’s problems should be solved by the Zim. Yes we must guard him.But he has no support withing his own party. From what i have been reading.
Dube you are right. Some of this headlines dubious.l wonder if MDC gets in power they will be worse than the Herald
let me just start by saying we are not suprised by Mbekis actions toward zimbabwe.Zimbabweans are not responsible for his defeat from his party.Since he lost to Zuma he has been sticking two fingers to anything that has to do with trade unions namely MDC.Mbeki and Mugabe are the same luckily cosatu were quick to take note of the dictator in making.
I honestly have a problem with the above interview posted by Phidza. His responses are positive indeed but dont make sense now,What we want to hear is what is his position now.Is he going to go for re-run or not? That is what i think people would like to know.Is he still in SA?What does he expect from us as his suppoters?Please update your site in time.Thanks
Mbeki is a bigger fool than Mugabe. History will not forgive him.
I am fed up of morgan!!!!!!!!!!! I cant stand his face anymore…we need a new leader.
Scarface dont say we say ‘i need’. We ‘you and who’? You like people to help you
The MDC leadership should come out of their hiding holes, affirm their united position and clear the current confusion, so people know what the score is. The common supporter is being butchered for his/her vote and the leadership should be ashamed to be hiding in comfortable foreign holes when the very people who voted for them are being butchered. My own take on the whole thing is that it is very likely Robert Mugabe lost, by how much, we may never really know the truth. I think the MDC should not waste time but start a wave of effective campaigns by all peaceful means necessary for the re-run. Mugabe’a days are numbered, his time is up, he is a shaken man and so are his team of geriatrics in ZANU, he is desperate, he is sinking and will hold on to the nearest available reed in this fast flowing river of change. He can buy time with asking for re-runs but he CANT stop the winds of change anymore. He knows he MUST go but he wants everything to be on his terms, hence the suspicious delay in announcing the results and the subsequent complaints of rigging by the opposition and now the desperate request for a re-run. I look forward to a day in Zim when people will be brought before a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, there, they must be ashamed of their actions of commisiion or ommission and then forgiven, and thereafter, our country should never again be held to ransom by despotic regimes. A country with so much human resources, natural wealth and a patriotic populace must be allowed to prosper, and indeed we shall prosper.
Mbeki - Mugabes lapdog are we surprised. Mind you he has the right idea the only way to instigate change will be by force
Thabo Mbeki / the ANC has been aiding and abetting the Mugabe terror regime since at least 2000 after which he has consistently legitimized several fraudulent election processes. His regime earlier sold or gave spares for Alouette helicopters to Mugabe even though he knew of existing arms sales bans in effect as instituted by certain civilized nations.
His government has provided extensive free health care for leading Zanu PF cadres and militia personnel at the South African taxpayers expense.
Other arms shipments to Mugabe have transited unhindered through South Africa before.
There is yet another story to tell about how Mbeki has in many ways aided and abetted Mugabe’s reign of evil.
Mbeki and his government has emulated Mugabe’s regime in many fashions.
His governments “successes” include:- unabated or state sponsored crime; grand corruption; patronage; cover-ups, self-service; abuse and looting of state assets; nepotism; widespread incompetence throughout the government and public services; a useless or corrupt police force; fueling the gravy train, rewarding stalwarts; an incapable or biased judiciary, and institutionalised racism.
Infrastructure and services that are collapsing or are overloaded include health care, airports, fuel refineries power, roads, water, and education.
Mbeki hallucinates a lot about his real relevance in the global community. The reality is that he has gone beyond being the latest biggest tragic joke on the continent.
Some views suggest that he is a deluded totem buffoon who has been emasculated by the newly emerged Zuma component of the ANC.
His mis-governance has put the Soccer World Cup in jeopardy.
Mbeki’s future is bleak.
At last the emerged world has realised that he is a retrogressive influence with regards to proper democracy, and is held to be contemptuous on human rights matters.
Based on his track record, his aspirations to see his country as a permanent member on the UN security council will inevitably be blocked.
Investor confidence in South Africa is rapidly waning because of its bizarre AIDS and foreign policies; his failures on the Zimbabwe issue, and now because of growing local political instability.
In the future, Mbeki may have some accountabilities to deal with - be it in the International Criminal Court or elsewhere, for in effect aiding and abetting, or declaring a de facto war against the sane, murdered, robbed and abused people of Zimbabwe.
The matter of why Mbeki is so bonded to the depraved Mugabe regime is a matter for further and later in-depth revelations.
i just need morgan to win and change zimbabwe.
SCARFACE…
YOU SAID YOU ARE FED UP WITH MORGAN! FUNNY ISN’T IT? WHEN DID MORGAN TURN OUT TO BE YOUR LEADER!!! WHAT A JOKE. YOU ARE ALWAYS DENOUNCING HIM AND SAYING THAT HE WILL NEVER RULE ZIMBABWE, IRONICALLY YOU ARE ACKNOWLEDGING HIS LEADERSHIP. WELCOME ABOARD!! HA-HA-HA. CHINJA MAITIRO
Scarface, you are a real joke, ain’t it? a pure Zanoid calling for new leadership?
Scarface you right! me too can’t stand this puppet’s face I’m scared to death.
In Shona the saying ” kuzvara kunorwadza” is nomarlly used where a person shows inhuman treatment of children. I wonder whether Thabo Mbeki has children. The people of Zimbabwe want food, protection, jobs, etc yet Mbeki wants to help his friend, Robert Mugabe, secure AK47s, grenades and mortar bombs to maime and kill the children of Zimbabwe.
History will not judge you kindly old man!
Scarface na Mogidza murimhata dzevanhu, ezvozvi hamuna chekudya manheru asi munoramba muchida Jongwe rave pedyo nerufu.
vapfana chinjai maitiro. You will be those together with us enjoying the benefits of electing Matama.
Wake up u Zombies.
S Dube the above info can be obtained from the mail and guardian that is were I first read about the revolt by Manuel
scar face should not be misunderstood-i said i am fed up of morgan because his shit face is all over the news putting the country down at every given opportunity…so dont get me wrong otherwise i will grab my M16.
THAT IDIOT is so confused he thinks Botswana is home. He hides while his supporters die of starvation through the sanctions he supported. As for him and his kids they are amazingly healthy.He has even put on weight…chematama.
Whilst everyone else is fighting to serve the enviroment-he must have the worst carbon footprint on earth…glob trotting on a daily basis.Who pays for all that?
Morgan and biti belong to the ZOO- I am sure they can draw quite a few crouds there..it might put our tourism back on the map again-since they have destroyed it with their negative retoric on zimbabwe.
ALL MDC IS ON STANDBY WHILE HE DECIDES -RUN OFF OR NOT? HE WANTS PEOPLE TO BEG HIM AND THEN –OK I WILL DO IT UNDER PROTEST…AND EHHH THE RESULTS ARE ALREADY RIGGED .WE KNOW DUM ASS THAT YOU WILL TAKE PART - COME CLEAN OR YOU ARE HISTORY.
YOU WONDER WHY SUPPORTERS DONT TRUST YOU WITH YOUR CALLS FOR STAY AWAYS—THEY KNOW YOU GOT NO LOGIC..BRAIN HAPANA BABA!!!!!!!!!
HAPPY RE RUN OR RUN OFF BACK TO BOTSWANA.
ONCE A COWARD ALWAYS A COWARD..FIRST IT WAS THE WAR NOW THIS…DEAR OH DEAR..YOU CANT BE THE LEADER OF THE BRAVE ZIMBABWE ARMY…NO WAY.
ITS DECISION TIME BOY—ZANU IS READY…NO FICTION
morgidza u r very dull. Idont think u should be found in the planet where right thinking pple are. U deserve to be in Venus or whereva bt not under the sun coz u think like a dog fool.
Kana usingadi Morgan better get out of this nation becoz u cant block the God’s call and pple”s response.
Get out nw.
Tsvakwi
Which call are talking about is it from God oh No No NO bodo mwanawe, its from Satan the devil! Morgan kuita seyi muno kwete! Do you remember the real call from God was in 1980 when His Execellency Cde R G Mugabe was voted in. That was real not now! In 1980 there wasn’t any run-off. Izvi ndozvinoratidza kuedza kwaSatan chaiko. chematema kwete bodo taramba isu vana veZimbabwe!
scarface,we all need a change.what is this u are talking about.morgan wants to change zimbabwe.mugabe has failed.look at our money.where is this going.dont be selfish.if you cn change zimba be a president then than just talkin rubbish.on top of that why are you killing others.why violence.kusadzidza.kufa muri marombe.
Scarface or scared face,wateva u may call urself u are perfectly equal to those pple who deny their sex, seeing that u r male not being told, bt u still insist u a female.Old horse rules for 28 years and u r not tired of his mess,aah unless u r 1 year old coz even the 5 year old knows hw painful it is to be sent to creche without food in lunch tin.
Its either u go and die or u join
the losings song of Zanoids.
Its
Morgidza
Do u by any stretch of imagination ,equate the gukurahundi genocide,murambavanhu(yamunoti tsvina),and the present day torture..to works related to God’s call. Musadziirwa Mwari anoona,this time we have spoken outrightly and u failed to suppress us 4 a whole month. Haasi mabasa aSatan here iwaya. Muchaenda musingadi muchida.
mabasa aSatan, vahanzvadzi guess you are a born free! thats why you are saying that tosh! get lost naChematema chako ichocho. Uri mwana mudoko pfungwa dzichiri mbwete, chingwa mama, ndinoda chingwa: n’eeeeeh n’eeeehe, ipayi mwana chingwa uyo! vanodaro amayi.
Pindura zvawabvunzwa mface wangu. mabasa kwayo here. Zvingada munhu akazvarwa Nato ichibarika kuti uzive kuti zvakaitwa zvakipisisa.
If we fail yo judge you here ,there is one judgement that u wont escape like it or not!
Saka iwe unoti mhomho yevanhu yakatindimuka ichinovhotera chamatama mapenzi iyemi 20 % ndimi kwavo. Bva zvamaOpposition muParliament!
all mdc supporters are living in denial like gay people who have not come out to tell the world what they stand for .You know very well that Morgidza will not win you anything….or are you in denial?
This dictator is bad news for the MDC period..the sooner you realise that the better.Soon the western boys will demand new leadership and you will be left in the cold.They have spent fortunes on morgan and still no result…pay back soon.
chinjai maitiro—-morgan ngafambe may be things will work in your favour then. He is the reason mdc will not move forward because he is dull and carries a lot of baggage.
viva zimbabwe
ps..i am still waiting for decision-run off or not? Let the dictator take his time- you have no say anyway.
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