Mutharika petitioned on weapon moratorium against Zimbabwe

Bingu: Attempted to help Zimbabwe clear Chinese arms

Malawi President Bingu Mutharika whose government pursed to help Zimbabwe clear its weapons from China has been amongst SADC heads of state petitioned by the region’s civil society as part of the Global Week of Action against Gun Violence from June 2 to -8 this year.

This petition has been singed by over 110,000 people world-wide, a high proportion of them within the SADC sub-region.

Malawi’s Center for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) on behalf of the Southern African Small Arms Network (SANASA) and the International Network against Small Arms (IANSA) congratulate leaders and civil society groups in the SADC for their role in preventing the Chinese ship "An Yue Jiang" from delivering cargo of Arms to Zimbabwe.

The statement said the ammunitions would have fuelled human rights abuses and worsened an already volatile situation.

"We are aware that the crisis in Zimbabwe is deepening and the political violence in on the increase. And we strongly believe that the government of Zimbabwe would have used those weapons against its citizens and that arms transfers to Zimbabwe would make the situation there even more volatile," said the statement issued by CHRR chairperson Undule Mwakasungula on behalf of Sanasa and Iansa

"We call upon our government to commit support for a SADC Moratorium on Arms Transfers to Zimbabwe for the sake of human rights, governance and rule of law in Zimbabwe," said the statement.

SANASA and IANSA regional and global movements against gun violence and consists of 800 civil society organisations working in 120 countries to stop the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons.

The organisations seek to make people safer from gun violence by reducing demand for weapons, improving firearm regulation and strengthening controls on arms transfers.

It represents the voices of civil society on the international stage, for example in the UN process on small arms, and draws on the practical experience of its members to campaign for policies that will protect human security.

The civil society said that since the ship has been turned back, SADC should declare an immediate moratorium on arms transfers to Zimbabwe.

"We urge SADC to take lead by declaring an immediate moratorium on the transfer of all military, paramilitary and security equipment destined for Zimbabwe that is potentially lethal and could be used in internal repression, and calling on the international community to do the same.

"Weapons and munitions must not be allowed to reach Zimbabwe, be it via air, sea, rail or road, as long as there is a clear risk that they will be used for state sponsored violence," reads the statement.

It called for SADC countries to monitor their airspace closely to prevent attempts to fly in weapons into Zimbabwe.

" Only this will guarantee that arms will not reach Zimbabwe and be used to exacerbate the current violence. The international community led by SADC countries must continue to ensure that others ships are not allowed to dock in any port in order to transfer these weapons to Zimbabwe," said the statement.

"As Civil Society we remind SADC governments of the SADC Firearms Protocol, adopted in 2004, which explicitly recognizes the harmful effects of poorly regulated arms transfers and the dangers they pose to the well being of people in the Region, their social and economic development and their rights to live in peace."

This SADC Protocol commits the community to promote and facilitate regional cooperation to prevent the excessive and destabilising possession and use of firearms and ammunition, including the development of robust legislation to control the transfer and transit of these weapons through SADC territory.

The campaign to stop the arms ship reaching Zimbabwe has been lead by African citizens and trade unionists backed by their counterparts worldwide; in particular the Durban and Angola dockworkers that refused to unload it.

This was with support from some SADC regional leaders and all governments must act immediately to protect human rights in Zimbabwe. Church leaders and human rights activists also supported the campaign, including Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu

Between 2nd and 8th June, 2008 Malawi joins governments and activists in this year Global Week of action against illicit use of small arms and light weapon, campaigning for national and international action to prevent gun violence under the theme "Global Week of Action in the campaign for an Arms Trade Treaty."

The primary objective of the week is to raise awareness about the problem of armed violence using local and international media.

CHRR said in Malawi, the problem of Small Arms is manifested through the increase in armed crime and car jacking.

"Many Malawians have been intimidated, terrorised and even killed by

guns within their homes. Gun violence disrupts Social and Economic development," said CHRR.

The rights campaigners said in partnership with stakeholders such as the Malawi police they are striving to build awareness on small arms control.

"A gun you fail to report may terminate your life or your beloved, lets create a safe and secure Malawi by making Malawi a gun free zone," said CHRR.