Madam, - On Wednesday there were alarming reports that an uncleared Chinese vessel called An Yue Jiang, docked at the outer anchorage of the port of Durban carrying arms destined for Zimbabwe. This was confirmed by the South African Police Service's Explosives Unit and by South African customs.
Ironically, on the same day a UN Security Council meeting was being chaired by South African president Thabo Mbeki to debate the continent's conflicts, including Somalia and Darfur. Other council members reminded the chairman of the crisis brewing in Zimbabwe, but in vain.
According to the South African government, South Africa could not stop the arms shipment from reaching 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.
Talk about adding fuel to an already volatile situation! The arms shipments, as well as sightings of Chinese soldiers in full military regalia in the city of Mutare, clearly show President Mugabe's intention to punish his fellow Zimbabweans for using their democratic right to vote him out of power. At this rate, Zimbabwe will soon be mentioned in the same breath as Somalia, Darfur and other crisis spots in Africa where developments were ignored until it was too late. - Yours, etc,
VINCENT HIBBERT, Camac Close, Inchicore, Dublin 8.