South Africa court blocks Zimbabwe helicopter delivery

by admin
Jan 25, 2013

A South African court has halted the delivery of helicopters to the Zimbabwean military, over human rights concerns.

High Court judge N B Tuchten placed a temporary halt on the delivery, saying it would be irresponsible to provide equipment to a force that was not neutral, ahead of elections later this year. A full hearing will be held on February 19.

A lawyer for AfriForum, a South African lobby group, told the BBC's Focus on Africa radio programme that he was confident the court order would then be upheld.

"We know that Zimbabwe has got a record of human rights abuses," lawyer Willie Spies said.

"We know what happened during 2008 with the second round presidential elections. We know the Zimbabwe Defence Forces are not a neutral defence force committed to defending the Zimbabwean state,

"It's an aggressive force that's been used against the people of Zimbabwe to suppress the opposition."

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