Namibians say NO to arms
April 25, 2008
Tanja Bause
The NamibianABOUT 200 Namibians of all races and ages yesterday demonstrated against the Chinese ship An Yue Jiang carrying weapons for Zimbabwe.
People marched from Zoo Park in central Windhoek to the Chinese embassy, where they were met only by Police officers.
Bishop Zephania Kameeta told the crowd that Zimbabwe needed peace and development and that Africa needed tools of development and not of destruction.
"We condemn the ship and its cargo and no weapons should reach Zimbabwe by air, road or rail," Kameeta said.
He added that the shipment was destroying the good relations between China and Africa.
The protesters placed their posters in a pile, which was then handed over to an official sent out by the embassy.
"We are leaving these here for you to read," said Norman Tjombe of the Legal Assistance Centre.
"Here in Africa we stick together and we as people will no longer be pushed around."
He added that Africa should stand together and not allow the ship to dock so that the weapons could not reach Zimbabwe.
"The boat must go back and the weapons of mass destruction must go back.
We can make it unwelcome and unable to dock anywhere, this is the people's power," Tjombe said.
Read an LAC press release on the "ship of shame"
Learn more about the ship's destinationRead other articles
