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Mugabe preparing for war, warns DA
War against whom?
[Mail and Globe] Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe is stockpiling arms and ammunition and preparing for war, the Democratic Alliance (DA) warned on Thursday. Briefing the media at Parliament, following a fact-finding visit to Zimbabwe last week, DA MPs Wilmot James and Kenneth Mubu said "credible sources" within the country reported Mugabe was talking to Venezuela, Cuba and Korea to fund a war chest ahead of the next election.

The ageing leader was also trying to procure 7,62mm and 9mm ammunition from South Africa.

"I think there is no doubt Mugabe is preparing for war. We spoke to very, very reliable sources," Mubu told journalists.

These included the Human Rights NGO Forum, comprising 16 local NGOs; and the Harare-based organisations Justice for Agriculture, the Legal Resources Foundation and the Research and Advocacy Unit.

Mubu said they had also spoken to Zimbabwe's Regional Integration and International Cooperation Minister, Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, and Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Moses Ndlovu. "These people are on the ground, they are in touch with the communities, in rural areas particularly, and we have no doubt what they tell us is true," he said.

Citing a Belgian research group, International Peace Information Service, James said some arms shipments had already arrived in Zimbabwe. "On August 21 2008 the first of many arms shipments, containing 32 tons of [ammunition] was flown from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Harare.
Posted by: Fred 2009-08-07
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=276008