AfriForum takes legal action to stop supply of military helicopters to Mugabe regime
AfriForum will be taking urgent legal steps to prevent the imminent delivery Alouette III South African Air Force helicopters, donated by the SANDF to the Zimbabwean Defence Force (see Mail & Guardian report).
Last week, AfriForum's legal representatives wrote to the Minister of Defence, Mrs Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula as well Justice Minister Jeff Radebe, who chairs the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) about speculation that the SANDF has decided to donate its entire fleet of Alouette helicopters to Zimbabwe.
The ministers were given seven days to respond to the letter, but by close of business yesterday, no response was received.
Although the Ministers did not bother to respond to the formal letters delivered by Afriforum's legal representatives at their respective offices on 17 January 2013, their spokespersons just confirmed to Mail & Guardian that the donation has been finalised and that delivery is imminent.
According to AfriForum's legal representative, Willie Spies, AfriForum will use all legal avenues at its disposal to prevent the despatch and delivery of the aircraft to Zimbabwe.
"We are also writing to the French Ambassador to South Africa, to inform him about a potential risk of his country being in contravention of the European Union arms embargo against Zimbabwe, as a result of the South African government's disposal of French imported spare parts to Zimbabwe", Spies said.
In terms of the National Conventional Arms Control Act, 41 of 2002, the NCACC must consider certain principles before a transaction for the disposal of military equipment to another country is authorised. These principles include, amongst others, the human rights-record of the country in question.
The Pretoria High Court recently ordered the National Director of Public Prosecutions to investigate certain crimes against humanity committed by Zimbabwean military officials in accordance with South Africa's commitments in terms of the Statute of Rome.
In the 1970's to 1980's Alouette helicopters have been used by the South African Defence Force in the Angolan war to carry out air-to-ground attacks on insurgents.
Indications are that the Zimbabwean Defence Force is increasing its visibility, mobility and presence all over Zimbabwe in the wake of the national elections scheduled for later this year.
The Zimbabwean Defence Force stepped in to back President Robert Mugabe in the 2008 presidential run-off after the MDC beat Zanu-PF in parliamentary elections.
Operation waVhotera Papi (For whom did you vote?) as the military operation became known then, involved a systematic, brutal crackdown on MDC supporters.
Statement issued by Willie Spies, Legal representative: AfriForum, January 25 2013
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