Zambia Urges China to Play Useful Role in Zimbabwe

Zambian President Mwanawasa said on Monday that China could play a more useful role in the Zimbabwean crisis without resorting to peddling firearms in the Southern African state which is embroiled in economic and political crises following the delayed results of the 29 March general elections.

Mwanawasa, who is also the Southern African Development Community’s chairperson, said he was glad that South Africa and Mozambique had refused to have the weapons from China off-loaded in the two countries.

“I hope this will be the case with all the countries because we don’t want a situation which will escalate the situation in Zimbabwe more than what it is,” he said. Mwanawasa said that, in his view, dialogue was the answer to the problems being faced in Zimbabwe.

The Chinese ship carrying arms bound for Zimbabwe may be heading to Angola, according to the latest reports here. It left South Africa last week after dock workers there refused to unload its cargo, amid fears that President Mugabe had ordered the weapons to crush the opposition.

Source African Press Agency

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