The new Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town asked the UN to impose an arms embargo on Zimbabwe, prompted by Chinese shipments of weapons to the country and fear that they will be used to oppress civilians. A growing international chorus supports the proposition, including British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. (South African ANC President Jacob Zuma, however, does not think “we have reached a stage where we have to call for an arms embargo.”) The “ship of shame,” whichinitiated the controversy after trying to unload 77 tons of weapons and transport them overland through South Africa, has reportedly also been denied port by Namibia and Angola (traditionally an ally of Mugabe), and its whereabouts are currently unknown. (Let’s hope the report is true.) SABC reports that the U.S. Undersecretary of State for Africa arrived in South Africa today for talks on the growing crisis. The U.S. is also urging southern African states to block transport of the Chinese weapons to land-locked Zimbabwe.
Reports of state-sponsored violence and torture against supposed-opposition supporters continue to surface, and an independent candidate who won a parliamentary seat is predicting civil war should Mugabe announce he won the presidential elections.
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