UN Must Impose Arms Embargo on Zimbabwe

Commenting on China’s continued attempts to ship arms to Zimbabwe, Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary, Edward Davey said:

There is now a compelling case for the international community to take action and prevent any further transfer of arms to Zimbabwe. The regime is unstable and the risk of conflict represents a clear threat to the region.

Arms embargoes have been justified on similar grounds in other countries and there is no reason why Zimbabwe should be considered an exception.

The world should not have to rely on the valiant efforts of the South African dock-workers union to prevent arms flowing into Zimbabwe. For China to claim that the shipment is ‘perfectly normal trade’ is absurd.

China has the opportunity now, in the light of its commitments to human rights in the year of the Beijing Olympics, to recall the ship and take part in Security Council discussions over an arms embargo.