April 28,
2008: The Chinese cargo ship that unsuccessfully tried to deliver a shipment of
ammunition to Zimbabwe last week, had its documentation gone over in several
ports where it tried, and failed, to get someone to take the ammo and deliver
it. Turns out that the ammo shipment was from Poly Technologies, a major
Chinese defense manufacturer. This
outfit has been shipping weapons, legally and otherwise, to Africa for decades.
Poly Technologies AK-47s can be found all over Africa, as well as ammo for that
weapon, and many others.
Zimbabwe
is run by a deranged tyrant, Robert Mugabe, who has ruined the economy, caused
massive starvation, and driven a quarter of his subjects into exile. Zimbabwe
is broke, and Mugabe was probably paying for the ammo shipment via barter (in
exchange for raw materials or food products).
Poly
Technologies was founded 25 years ago, by the Chinese military, to provide some
competition for Norinco, the major arms builder in the country. Poly is very
well connected in the government and military. Former generals and officers run
the company. It is feared that Poly will next try to fly the ammo shipment into
Zimbabwe. Poly Technologies has a reputation for getting the goods delivered,
no matter what.
