Interesting article in the Dom-Post this morning about South African trade unions refusing to kow-tow to their government - http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominionpost/4500223a26342.html
The Unions got wind of an arms shipment to Mugabe and his rotten-to-the-core cronies being off-loaded in Durban, with the approval of the South African government. Instead of blindly following the mealy-mouthed government line, the workers refused to unload the ship, and the drivers' union quickly followed suit, refusing to transport the cargo to Zimbabwe, which is of course land-locked. When the ship headed to other southern African ports, it got the same message. End result - 3 million rounds of AK47 ammo and 69 rocket-propelled grenades, as well as mortar bombs and tubes are on their way back to China.
So well done! It's not often that I commend a trade union, but these guys deserve a wrap. If only Thabo Mbeke and his mates in the South African government had the guts to stand up to Mugabe..........
5 comments:
I thought that there had been an injucture issued by a court of law to bond the ship but it sailed before it was served. The justice department is part of the government, so the unions did not stop the shipment on their own, but it is conveniant for the Dom-Post to support the unions but rubbish another government - especially South Africa.
You may well be right mawm - but even if the Dom-Post is taking a cheap shot at the Saffers, on the small matter of Zimbabwe, it is well merited. Mugabe could have been "enticed" away from Zimbabwe some time ago had South Africa been prepared to take the lead. Instead, their silence and inaction legitimised his regime.
After reading a few Zim blogs it appears that only the "cheap stuff" went by boat. It appears there is more to this order than this and the "expensive stuff" is being air freighted in direct from China. That and Chinese troops being spotted around town have the locals nervous.
Wonder if the EMUs union will call a strike when Li Ka-shing has a few of his troops parading round Wellington protecting his new "non-strategic asset".
inv2 - there can be no doubt what so ever that Mbeki could have prevented this human tragedy.
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