One Million Bucks to the Zimbabwean Govt. via DRC ?
Well, the pot indeed gets sweeter. Not too much more to ponder over why Mugabe has not yet stepped down (Ala Mobutu anyone ?) :wry:
DRC Leading Copper, Cobalt Producer Eyes Zim
Quote:
Democratic Republic of Congo's leading copper and cobalt producer, Central African Mining and Exploration Company Plc (Camec) intends to develop a US$200 million platinum mine on the Bougai and Kironde claims, 60 kilometres southwest of Gweru within the next 18 months.
This came after Camec agreed to acquire British firm, Lefever Finance Ltd, a British Virgin Islands company which owns 60 percent of Todal Mining (Private) Limited, a Zimbabwean company, which in turn has rights to the two claims.
Camec added that Todal has the right to export platinum from Zimbabwe and has also secured an agreement to allow it to expatriate the profits generated by its mining operations in the country. In addition, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has extended to Todal the same fiscal incentives as had been granted to Unki Mines (Private) Limited under the Special Mining Lease Agreement for the development of their Unki project.
Chinese Ship in Durban 'Carrying Arms for Harare'
A Chinese ship allegedly carrying armaments for the Zimbabwean army was cleared to dock in Durban yesterday afternoon, following a long wait for clearance outside the harbour.
Quote:
The Democratic Alliance 's spokesperson on defence, Rafeek Shah, said the vessel was alleged to be carrying several container-loads of weapons for the Zimbabwe Defence Force, including mortars, more than 3000 mortar bombs and 1500 rocket-propelled grenades.
However, the vessel's captain, in a radio phone interview with Sapa, denied that it was carrying "dangerous cargo".
Shah's information is that the ship is carrying 3800 cases of weaponry and ammunition in six containers, that the delivery address is the Zimbabwe Defence Force, Causeway, Harare, and the point of origin on the cargo manifest is Beijing.
Mugabe attacks opposition and UK
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has denounced the opposition and former colonial power Britain in his first speech since the disputed elections.
Quote:
"Down with thieves who want to steal our country," he told crowds marking 28 years of independence.
Meanwhile, South African dock workers are refusing to unload a shipment of arms from China destined for Zimbabwe.
The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union said it did "not agree with the position of the government not to intervene".
Ship with arms for Zimbabwe leaves South Africa
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) — A Chinese ship carrying weapons destined for Zimbabwe's government left the South African harbor where workers refused to unload it Friday and headed for neighboring Mozambique, an independent human rights group said.
Quote:
The ship sailed from Durban on Friday evening soon after a high court ordered that the cargo not be moved, said Nicole Fritz, director of the Southern Africa Litigation Center, which asked the court to intervene to stop the arms from being transported to politically troubled Zimbabwe.
The ship An Yue Jiang had anchored just outside Durban harbor after receiving permission late Wednesday to dock. Its arrival earlier this week increased concern about tensions in Zimbabwe, where the ruling party and the opposition are locked in a dispute over who won the presidential election.
A South African government official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, had confirmed weapons were on board but gave no further details.
Fritz said the Durban High Court granted an order suspending the ship's conveyance permit and saying there should be "no movement of the containers in which the arms kept and no movement of the ship."
However, she said, lawyers were told by the court's sheriff that when an attempt was made to serve the order on the ship, the vessel was already sailing away, she said. She said other sources had confirmed the ship was headed for Mozambique, which lies on landlocked Zimbabwe's eastern border.
Port workers in Durban and truck drivers had said earlier in the day that they would not unload the weapons or transport them to Zimbabwe.
Africa urged to boycott arms ship
This will certainly be a first on the continent, if all the African leaders (sans Mugabe) manage to send this Chinese ship home without docking. Perhaps some ship-side bargain sales along the horn :cool:
Quote:
Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has urged other African leaders not to allow a ship carrying arms for Zimbabwe to enter their territorial waters.
Zimbabwe's Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa said it was their right to defend themselves and buy weapons from any legitimate source.
"I don't understand all this hullabaloo about a lone ship," he told reporters.
Recount again delayed
A recount in 23 out of 210 parliamentary seats, which had been due to end on Monday, was delayed for an unknown period.
China may recall Zimbabwe weapons
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said the weapons were ordered last year and were "perfectly normal".
Quote:
The International Transport Workers Federation says it has asked its members across Africa not to help unload the An Yue Jiang, which is reportedly carrying three million rounds of ammunition, 1,500 rocket-propelled grenades and 2,500 mortar rounds.