I applaud the stand of the South African Transoprt Workers Union in refusing to unload the Arms Shipment to Zimbabwe.

I hope that if the ship attempts to unload its arms in Beira, or elsewhere in Africa, The British Foreign Office track the ship's course and will lobby the appropriate government to prevent offloading there, too.

If China persists, we should not attend the Olympics.

Terence Compton, northampton, England

Wow... a few people taking a stand and saying "no" are having a positive effect on an entire country if not a whole region.

It won't end the conflict but still...

Hero's in my book.

Mike, Plano, TX, U.S.A.

This could start a whole new revolution of the people. If we as citizens of the world refuse to participate in arms shipments, or refuse to participate in anything to do with weapons and war, then there would be no war. The Governments of the world that rely on war for profit (like my own Mr. Bush) would stop profiting and be defeated. Then maybe we can finally have some Peace.

HL, Los Angeles, Ca.

The ship load before recent crisis and contract signed in last year, please note before you scold China

luo, zs,

The silence of Nelson Mandela on Mugabe has been deafening.

Kay, London, UK

I and I liberate Zimbabwe

Rasta, Zion,

Adelaide, London, England

Hello, Mr.Adelaide. At first I thought you are an Australian city.
Africa has been colonised by the West and it now has ground not to trust the west that much anymore. Can you tell me which Western country had not had a hand in one part of Africa or the other. Britain? Germany? France?

You people has still not wash your hands off Africa, have you?
The destiny of Africans lies in the hands of the Africans. They will solve their own problems without any advice from you. Why are you Westerns so eager to see who does what and who does this? Is it because of its natural resources?

If Africa does come down to the crunch, the world expects the UN to do its part to resolve the problem, Not any of you former colonial powers.

True Africans, unite and get rid of the black days. Peace to the world.

190408

Lim, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

The Last time I checked, the Zimbabwean Police Force are not armed with AK47s and RPGs. If those are indeed what are aboard the An Yue Jiang then there is every reason to be concerned, especially if the order was placed after the (still unreleased) elections.

My thanks go out to the South African dock workers, I just hope that your counter-parts in Mozambique have as much courage and integrety

Tristan, London, UK

the biggest weapons exporters in the world are the US, Russia, UK, and France. Most go to their allies such as saudi arabia, south america, etc. and former allies such as iraq, afganistan, etc. could we say all their allies are democratic and good government?

peter, jakarta, indonesia

My Western friends

Don't be so grumpy. What ever the West writes, I have to think twice. You show me a cargo ship and you say it has arms consignment.

If it is true, it is right to complain. But do distinguish the types and use of the arms. Could it be small arms for police and internal security needs? Is it a crime for a state to buys such weapons? Is it a crime to sell such weapons?

You west like to complain whenever China is involved. But what about the American Arms sales to Taiwan and other countries? These weapons are even more destructive. If used, thousands if not millions will die. Why the h... don't you people protest? To you it is okay if Chinese kill Chinese. Is this so?

What about Britain, Germany and France? Don't they sell arms?

You may claim that the Zimbabwe and Taiwan issues are different but then all arms are harmful and destructive. Don't you agree?

Peace to the world.
190408

Lim, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

As far as I'm concerned the olympics is a no go. I would not give China the satisfaction of a World stage in view of their human rights or lack of it and the latest issue in Zimbabwe.

Geoff Horner , Milford Haven, Wales

Chinese Weapons to Zimbabwe - now that's what I call a torch relay - where next - North Korea, perhaps a leg through Tibet?

If China wants to be taken seriously on the world stage it needs to get off the wall and stop doing business with corrupt regimes.

Dave St Peters, London,

What are the Chinese playing at? What has Mbeki got to hide? Well done the Union - these munitions are for one thing and one thing only - internal repression end of story, its not hard to work out.

Where is our pathetic government in dealing wtih thse issues! Just weasel words and no real action, typical Brown no Balls

simon, london,

no arms to oppress the good people of zimbabwe we must help the zimbabweans and fight for them to have have freedom in zimbabwe

robert , sheffield, england

It is not surprising that Mbeki the AIDS/HIV denier should consider the situation in Zimbabwe normal.

Nick Ashworth, Castries, Saint Lucia

I don't want to buy Chinese goods anymore. What outrageous hypocrisy, nobody is allowed to criticize China but they can allow arms to be sent for a massacre.

How dare you host the Olympics! You got them because you are corrupt.

RD, Bracknell,

Day after day I read the news with despair at the seemingly limitless depths to which humanity dives. Then I read this and my heart lifts. These dockers are not taking this stand for personal gain, recognition or financial reward, unlike so many of the celebrity ‘heroes’ that so many people seem to worship these days. They are putting their livelihoods on the line because they know what is right and what is wrong, seeking only to help the poor people desperately suffering at the hands of Mugabe. In doing this, these simple everyday people are taking on two evil regimes, one of which happens to be one of the most powerful nations in the world. It is impossible to pay these dockers the respect they deserve, for they are true heroes.

Paul, Southampton, UK

well folks, so much for S Africa and mandela ,After the years of stuggle, yo uwould think that these tow incumbants of frredon, would dsatnd by the poor people across the border. The world has gone mad, lif ehas we once new it is ending, despots, will rule, China has no morals, this is the end game, beliv eme , if we tolorate this, our children will be next.

james, Cardiff, wales

This is the best piece of news I've read today. I just hope that the SATAWU and those brave dockers stand firm and manage to convince Mbeki, that he's wrong - VERY wrong to have supported such a despicable despot.

Phillip Anderton, Poole, England

"Another good reason to demonstrate against the Olympic torch relay. Repression at home and shipment of arms to support repression abroad."

We arm Saudi Arabia (another dictatorial regime) which uses the weapons to opress its own people and sponsors terrorism abroad so we haven't got the moral high groound over China on this one. China is merely doing what the west has done for years

raymond, the norf, uk

As is often the case the views and opinions of politicians are not those of the electorate. My hat goes off to the South Dockers and my comtempt continues for its leader who would have had us believe he would be different. Like Mugabe, Mbeki has fine clothes and a good table which many dockers do not have and unlike them he is slow to decide which side his bread is buttered. However lets hope this decision will soon be made for him also.

Rodney Barker, Gainsborough, England UK

The majority of people commenting here are missing the point. The arms include RPGs. RPGs are used to shoot down planes and helicopters, not to shoot civilians on the ground. I would suggest that Mugabe has calculated that Britain will at some point invade; he is preparing for war against Britain! Get it folks!!

Charan Muzaya, London, UK

"So what. still nowhere as close to how much america exports to fuel civil wars all over the world"

David, Weymouth, Dorset

Two wrongs make a right don't they David???

James Peel, Leeds,

I simply cannot understand why on Earth the neighboring African countries are so damn afraid of Robert Mugabe! I will never, for the life of me, understand how they can sit back and allow this thug to just terrorize people. The African Union, especially South Africa, are now equally responsible for the atrocities of Zimbabwe as Dictator Mugabe himself. Thank goodness for the dockers.

Haile, cleveland, usa

`Does this incident explain the apparent blindness of Mbeki to the conditions in Zimbabwe, perhaps he should have his bank account checked for chinese gold . BRAVO YOU DURBAN DOCKERS !!!

Gordon Lonsdale , Northampton, uk

This is wonderful news! It's so nice to hear of fellow South Africans who do not wear blinders!
Also, disgusting to see China's direct involvement. Funny how that country is seemingly involved with the world's current atrocities!

Candyce, Chicago,

Poor David...from Weymouth, chip both sides

Phil, Preston,

Thank God for men and women of conscience. Zimbabwe is a country which is not at war with an outside force. These weapons are intended to be used by a government (which currently has no mandate) against its own people. I am Zimbabwean and I want to thank these dock workers and their unions for their support. If the South African government allows this arsenal to be delivered to Zimbabwe, it is going to have the blood of innocent Zimbabwean children, women and men on its hands.

Connie, Boston, USA

I too applaud the SA dockers. The govn't there is abviously corrupt. But unfortunately, the bloodshed may be unstoppable.

John Squires, Nanaimo, BC,

Oh well, I guess this is an unnecessary side effect of China's "peaceful rise" foreign policy. Under that, they make friends and trade with everyone and anyone!

Alasdair, London,

In response to the question from Michael in Pueblo, it is easier logistically to transport goods from Durban to Zimbabwe via Johannesburg than from Maputo to Zimbabwe. As to the precise reason to dock in Durban rather than Maputo you will have to ask the governments of China or Zimbabwe or failing that the port authorities of Mozambique.

Rob Hicks, Johannesburg, South Africa

My western friends,
It will NEVER a willing of we ordinary Chinese people to ship weapons to a country, which is facing civil war!!!
But we can not vote to prevent this.
What I can do is to pray for the Zimbabwe sisters and brothers. God bless them.
UN should take its responsibility.

- A Chinese student in UK college

P.J.Jin, London,

Perhaps we ought to disinvest in South Africa?

Roger, Ipswich,

China and communist chinese have brought slaughtering and genocides to:

Cambodia by using Kmer Rouges

Dafur by using Zimbabwe and other African nations!

The world must boycott china in all aspects from stopping buying Made in China products to stopping sell any natural resources to China!

tom, Bikini Atoll,

Bob, I'm sure that made you feel intelligent but its a plain ridiculous response. Firstly stop living in a deconstructionist landscape where since all arms trades are bad they are all as bad as each other. Sweden selling arms to Switzerland is hardly likely to have the same direct repurcussions as giving a cornered desperate despot an extra lifeline to hold back the will of his people. Secondly the dockers have no obligations at all, if their employers felt it necessary it could sack them but that will hopefully not happen so all they have done is take a calculated risk based on the good of their humanity.

Finally while the arms trade is fantastically huge even stopping it entirely would not come close to resulting in the "developed world's financial meltdown". And Lee, Bath, don't worry plenty of people in the UK protest our own arms exports - would be novel to see some care here.

DW, Beijing, China

Go on the dockers! The world salutes you!

Kate, London,

Where are all the guys with names like "Smith" and "Brown" and "Robinson" who normally post here in broken English insisting that China can do no wrong?

jon livesey, Sunnyvale, CA/US

i am very proud of my union brothers in South Africa!!! Do not allow this dictator to murrder his own people anymore! My hat is off to you all!!

Bill Shaw, Pottsville Pennsylvania, USA

yeah, i totally support their right action, otherwise, there will be a second darfur

cty, zhejiang, china

And yet the United States trades with China for trinkets and toys, while condemning the sale of arms. Am I missing something here?

bj, micwest city, oklahoma

Trade Unionism at its best!

john merrell, London,

Oh well, I guess this is the side effect of China's "peaceful rise" foreign policy, where they will make friends and trade with everyone and anyone.

Alasdair, London,

If we look closely at China they are surrepticiously trying to break down global peace.
I really have to believe that its to do with their (future) outward march (Revelation 9:16 and 16:12/ the kings of the east).
They already want Australia to be NEW SOUTH CHINA.

G. Gibson, Sydney, Australia

SH, I couldn't agree more. Our leaders refuse to lead, so it is left to the dockworkers. Hip, hip, hooray, for the SA dockworkers!

Mark, Chicago, USA / IL

Governments can do nothing without the consent (passive or active) and complicity of the governed. I applaud the principled and moral stand of the dock workers to refuse complicity in the crimes of Mugabe. I hope that the police and army are equally moral and principled though that may be a rather too much to hope for.

Stephen Burgoyne Coulson, Vancouver, BC Canada

Boycott the games.

William D H Carey, Schoten 2900, Belgium

How refreshing to learn that someone in Africa has a conscience. When those elected finally take office in Zimbabwe they will know who their friends are.

David, Oxford,

Good on them! Now if only we had a bit more backbone...

Mary Allen, London, England

Err, what about the arms our government seems to be selling?

Farrukh, Woking, UK

Surely this arms trade is no different to any other arms trade? Workers must realise where their wages come from and get on with unloading and trucking a legal cargo. The alternative of course would be to ban global weapons sales and watch most of the developed world sink further into financial meltdown and what good would that do for anyone?

Bob, London, England

Good for the dockers.

Pity that integrity principle does not extend into the South African government.

Luis, London, UK

Well done! If NATO ain't doing it, it'll have to be done little bits at the time.

M.R., Stockport,

Congratulations to the dockworkers.

John , Chicago,

The first thing South Africans have ever done for Zimbabwe since Mugabe became demented. However, the Chinese will simply take its ship to Maputo and offload its arms there.

Gerard, Johannesburg, South Africa

I have only one word I wish to comment with here - heroes.

Richard Thrippleton, Cambridge,

doing the right thing. the humane thing. The world should take note

bonz, egham,

At last finally someone has some backbone - dockers of Durban.

dewsbry, london, uk

Just shows that the ANC and it's cronies are now just as corrupt as Mugabi - they act for their own interest rather than the interests of the people

Paul Singh, London, UK

The shipment should be withheld until the real Government of Zimbabwe is announced. It was the Zimbabawe's government which ordered the weapons, but whats in doubt is, who is actually the Government.

Martin L, Stockport,

Another example of the Unions making a stand against tyranny. Well done comrades, keep the red flag flying.

John, London,

Have we as a nation learned nothing? We have been liberated from the horrors of apartheid, but it seems now we are aiding an evil despot who is treating his people even worse then our former government treated us!

Zulu.

Roni Zulu , JHB, RSA

Today, as a resident of South Africa, and counting myself as being part of this "ranibow nation" i __Salute__ those that are at the grass-roots standing for what is RIGHT.

This is South Africa at its BEST.... it gives me hope and i rejoice in those that are standing up to be counted.

Kambiz Shahri, Langebaan, South Africa

See. The Times is trying to link Zim with China now. Again, another biased, and simply untrue story, unfortunately.

Michael H., London, UK

US is the biggest exporter of warpons

you guys so quick to forget your BAE scandal

China is not even in the top five. boycott US and the UK first.

Lee, Bath,

I hope the dock workers don't suffer as a result of their brave decision. President Mbeki is turning into the Neville Chamberlain of Southern Africa. If the line isn't drawn now, then the message to Mugabe is that any abuse will be tolerated.

Emma, Cambridge, UK

This has nothing to do with the Government of SA, this is dockers doing the right thing. Time and time again, in geopolitics, it is dockers who have made the right decisions. Rule #1, Don't mess with dockers!

Nick Ingram, Gloucester, UK

Bravo!

Paul Francis, Brisbane, Australia

Mugabe has been messing with the Zim trade unions for sometime and has blocked SA unions from coming in to observe.
I guess this is one way the unions can hit back and make their mark. Whether it is purely altruistic or politically motivated does not really matter. The net result is that someone outside of Zimbabwe has finally done something that makes a difference. Hopefully this may begin something bigger.

Peter, London,

Durban, the world is watching & applauding you.
(More than can be said for your President).
Don't let that ship sail north.

Pieter, Mansfield, Canada

Well done the dockers. If those 6 containers should accidently fall into the sea ....

Jane, Chrictchurch,

the South African government is no better than mafia gun runners... The chinese have lots al lcredabillity for their olympics.. Now the EU countries should boycott the games

mark day, chicago/london,

It's amazing to see just how disconnected the South African leaders are from their people on this issue. There is no question the dockers are doing the right thing. I applaud them for their actions.

Robert Laundon, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

I Second that - Sink that ship!

I take back everything I've ever said about COSATU. Every single damn thing. Very well done.

jane, Durban, South Africa

@Rob Hicks of Johannesburg: If I'm reading my world map correctly, Maputo is closer to Zimbabwe than Johannesburg is. If you're right about the ship just going up there after refusal at Durban, then the question has to be asked: Why didn't they go to Maputo to begin with?

Depending on the answer to that question, and your government's decision, the Chinese may not be able to rescue Mugabe from his troubles.

Michael, Pueblo, Colorado, US

Sink that ship!!

Mandaue Mactan, Mandaue City, Philippines

it is nice to see someone stand up against big money in the face of what is right. please let the world take a cue from these people

joon, santa fe, nm

I say the SA dockers are to be congratulated for making a stand! These weapons would have been used by African people to kill African people, to me this makes no sense.

Bob, Belfast, N. Ireland

At last people are standing up for Zimbabwe...this is the spirit that the rest of the world and the South African president need to show Zimbabweans. They are living in fear and in dire poverty.

KS, Limbe, Malawi

This is one dock workers union I am very proud of! Refusing to unload weapons that will kill thousands and keep a dictator in power. Hurrah for you gentlemen!

Mandaue Mactan, Mandaue City, Philippines

Sink that ship!!!!

Mandaue Mactan, Mandaue City, Philippines

Double standard all the time. I am alraedy fed up with it.

James, San Jose, US

You need to live in South Africa to appreciate how corrupt & totally inefficent the SA goverment is. People are leaving here in their droves as the future for Southern Africa is grim. Even if Mbeki steps down, the next leader Zuma is even more daunting.

Gaynor, Durban, South Africa

I simply cannot understand President Mbeki's stance on Zimbabwe at all. Does he want a blood bath over there?

I applaud these South African dockers. It seems that it needs the ordinary 'man in the street' to stand up for what is right.

SH, London, UK

Good news but there is always the possibility that the ship will dock just up the coast in Maputo and from there the arms can go by road through Mozambique to Zimbabwe so avoiding South Africa all together. There has been instances of this before. Better for the ship to be sunk in international waters!

Rob Hicks, Johannesburg, South Africa

A relief that someone has the guts to take a stand against Mugabe - three cheers for the dockers. The moral corruption of the SA government is breathtaking and there should be a trade boycott on this country until Mbeki comes to his senses, if he has any.

michael clarke, london, uk

So what. still nowhere as close to how much america exports to fuel civil wars all over the world

David, Weymouth, Dorset

Godd for them!
Standing in the way of a shipment that will clearly be used against the people of Zimbabwe is, IMO, a grand humanitarian act.

Nice to know that the people of RSA are more politically aware than their President.

Hannah, Oxford, UK

Hooray for the SA unions! At least they have more sense than their government. Ordinary South Africans are speaking up for ordinary Zimbabweans.

Charlotte, Heidelberh, Germany

Decent and well intended people have to take matters into their own hands when their governments fail to act properly. The shipworkers union have the moral high ground above the South African Government. The ANC should take much better charge of this situation when their own President and Ministers are behaving complicitly with the Mugabe regime.
South Africa could settle the Zimbabwe disaster at a stroke if it chose to do so. What has happened to you people in recent years?

Colin , Carmarthen, UK

Top stuff!!
A rare display of scruples in Africa. My respect for South Africans rises.

Phill, Wirral, England

Will stoney-faced young 'flame guardians' dressed in blue and white tracksuits escort the shipment on its way to Harare?

China's policy for Africa, eh?

Melina Jackson, Leicester, UK

Well done the dockers. They put our dissembling 'leaders' to shame.

Mark, London,

How refreshing to hear Times readers congratulating a Union and the dockers.

Liam, Glasgow, UK

heroic action by the unions (not something i normally say)....someone has finally done the moral thing here.

Vaseem , London, UK

Chinese weapons for the Mugabe Regime. Is this all part of the Peace and Harmony camapaign.

Colin , Carmarthen, UK

At least the South African workers have the guts to do what Mbeki and his cronies won't.

David Leslie, Perth, Scotland

Stay out of it China! What a disgrace.

This is a crucial time for Africa and the world. People in Zimbabwe are being tortured, raped and beaten.

Africa must stand up for its own people. The silence of Zimbabwe's neighbors show they are cronies who would rather see people die than speak out and put pressure on another black leader. Shameful - what kind of people are these?

Adelaide, London, England

Well done to those who have the guts to stand up to Mugabe and shame on the South African government for it's complicity and lack of backbone.

Lee, London,

Real courage, the kind of strength that changes the world. We should support them in any way we can.

Ed Freshwater, Aberdeen,

What a relief: for once it's not the sly opportunism of the British which is arming a despot to the teeth. It's the Chinese this time!

For once we're in the clear. Let's hope it wasn't a British arms dealer who arranged the sale to begin with. Ah, civilisation!

iain carstairs, bedford, uk

I have far more trust in the Unions than the lawyers. As an aside AfriForum is an Afrikaner working class civil rights organisation launched by the union Solidariteit and not as you describe 'a regional business lobby group'.

Wessel van Rensburg, Montreal, Canada

Cheers to the dockers!

Rui, Lisbon,

Another good reason to demonstrate against the Olympic torch relay. Repression at home and shipment of arms to support repression abroad.

R.Hirst, Tokyo, Japan

Good on these guys for standing up and being counted when their leaders are displaying craven weakness.

Claire, much hadham, herts

God Bless the dockworkers of Durban. They are courageous and full of heart.

Graham, New York,

Make or break time for Mbeki.

If the lawyers win, it will be easy for him to refuse to have those 4 containers land.

If they don't win, then we will be watching whether he uses state apparatus to make the shipment.

And whether they can stand up to their own organized criminals. Now everyone know that shipment is on its way, it is more likely to land up on the streets of Johannesburg.

Jo, Olney, UK