Ship carrying Zimbabwe weapons sails to Mozambique

Ship carrying Zimbabwe weapons sails to Mozambique

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• Chinese vessel carrying Zim arms docks in Durban

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A SOUTH African human rights group says a Chinese ship carrying weapons destined for Zimbabwe is now on its way to neighboring Mozambique.

The Southern Africa Litigation Center says the ship left South Africa on Friday after a High Court ordered that the cargo and the ship not be moved.

The ship had anchored just outside Durban harbour after receiving permission late Wednesday to dock. The human rights group asked the court to intervene to keep the arms from being taken to politically troubled Zimbabwe.

The group says the vessel was already sailing away when officials tried to serve the order on the ship.

China is one of Zimbabwe's main trade partners and allies. Zimbabwe's ruling party and opposition party are locked in a dispute over the presidential election, whose results are still unknown almost four weeks on.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions says the ship needs to return to China, as South Africa can't be seen as helping weapons reach Zimbabwe in a time of "political dispute."

The Chinese vessel, An Yue Jiang, anchored off the port of Durban, lifted anchor between 6:00 pm (1600 GMT) and 7:00 pm (1700 GMT) and sailed out to an unknown destination, Sapa news agency reported, quoting several unnamed sources.

The ship's master, who earlier this week identified himself simply as captain Sunaijun, told Sapa by telephone late Friday: "I am awaiting orders from my owner."

He declined to answer further questions, the agency said.

Durban port police Captain Ricky Bhikraj and Transnet spokesman, John Dludlu, declined to comment on the vessel, it also said.

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.

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