[allAfrica.com] Mugabe Allies Show Signs of New Stance The Nation (Nairobi) NEWS 23 April 2008 Posted to the web 22 April 2008 By Kitsepile Nyathi Harare The controversy surrounding a Chinese shipment of arms to troubled Zimbabwe has exposed growing regional anger over the way President Robert Mugabe has tried to cling to power despite his electoral defeat last month. The ship, which is laden with large amounts of weapons and ammunition, has already been turned away from South Africa and Mozambique, and is now believed to be headed for Angola, possibly with a refuelling stop in Namibia. Mounting international pressure might force to the two countries to also follow the example set by South Africa and Mozambique. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), which beat Mr Mugabe's ruling Zanu PF in last month's parliamentary elections accuses the ageing leader of planning a violent fight back and is lobbying for regional support to stop him. "Those weapons were not going to be used on mosquitoes, but (were) clearly meant to butcher innocent civilians whose only crime is rejecting dictatorship and voting for change, and change they can trust," the MDC said in a statement on Tuesday. Analysts say Mr Mugabe, who has been accused of stealing two previous elections had managed to remain in power largely because of southern African leaders who revere him for the role he played in the fight against colonialism throughout Africa. Had refused The Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders had refused to criticise the 84 year old leader in public, despite evidence that their own countries were threatened by a spill over of Zimbabwe's long running political crisis. Mr Mugabe reportedly ordered the country's electoral body to withhold results of the presidential elections after indications that he had lost to opposition MDC leader, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai. A partial recount of votes has now been ordered in 23 constituencies amid a worsening political climate marred by escalating politically motivated violence. Meanwhile, China said today the shipment of weapons bound for Zimbabwe may return home after the vessel was unable to unload in South Africa, but it defended the cargo as "perfectly normal trade", adds Reuters. Zambia, which chairs the Southern African Development Community grouping, has urged regional states to bar the An Yue Jiang from entering their waters, saying the weapons could deepen Zimbabwe's election crisis. The ship was barred from unloading in the South African port of Durban, prompting it to set sail again. Mozambique and Angola have since denied it access to their ports. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said the contract for the shipment was signed last year and was "unrelated to recent developments" in Zimbabwe. Ms Jiang said the arms shipment was "perfectly normal trade in military goods between China and Zimbabwe", but because it was impossible for Zimbabwe to receive the goods, the company involved is now considering shipping the cargo back to China. The ship left South Africa on Friday. Mozambique said on Saturday the vessel would not be allowed into its waters. with Reuters ======================================================================================== Copyright © 2008 The Nation. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). ======================================================================================== [images//media.fastclick.net/w/ get.media?sid=7943&m=1&tp=1&d=s&c=1&f=b&v=1.4]