AN Australian newspaper has alleged that Zimbabwe has secretly used Australian air space en route to China via Singapore transporting ‘illicit’ goods.
Australia’s The Age newspaper reported on Tuesday that flights of an Air Zimbabwe Boeing 767-200 to Beijing and southern China, via Singapore, have been used to transport goods including ivory, gold and diamonds.
“Flights from Harare, also carrying tonnes of illicit goods including ivory, gold and diamonds, pass directly through Australian air space en route to Singapore before touching down in Beijing and southern China,” alleged The Age on its website.
The paper, however, fails to substantiate these claims only saying that Australian government sources refused to comment on these flights.
“But a spokesman for Foreign Minister Stephen Smith yesterday declined to say what Australia's position was on the flights,” reports the paper.
A senior official for Air Zimbabwe, speaking on condition of anonymity, said these allegations were not true and were only part of a smear campaign by Western media targetted at President Robert Mugabe and his government.
“There is no way Air Traffic Controllers in Australia would have missed these flights,” said the official adding that “If they have missed these flights for one year as they allege that means Australia’s security as a country is highly compromised.”
The official added that if this story had any credence it should have come from official government sources not some “mischievous Western media outlet”.
ARTICLE ATTACHMENTS
READER OPINIONS
Arthur Gwagwa • arthurgwagwa@yahoo.com Subject: Correction to Jojo Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:18:09 • Australians are called Australasians and are predominantly of European origin. There is nothing patently wrong in calling them Europeans just as we use the term African when desribing Afro-Carribeans and Afro Americans in certiain circumstances. Its an issue of heritage.
jojo • jojo@yahoo.com Subject: europe? Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:26:11 • since when has australia become europe nhai Omugabe, oops! Ochinotimba?
Zimbabwe massive • zimbabwelive@aol.com Subject: Please! Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:42:58 • What about your satelites that impeach on our air space while spying on us, in the past you have had valuable concerns but this, Australia, is now clutching at straws.
Omugabe • Dziva@sanandresano.com Subject: Look Inward & Look East for Self-development, Zim Patriots! Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:43:44 • It there is one lesson history has taught the world about Europeans, it is that Europeans are chronic LIARS and deceivers.
To mature humans, the truth has life-supporting values to be uphold. And lies are life-damaging and to be avoided.
To the under developed European, truths and lies are mere Tools of Expediency, a means to an end.
The European mindset is like that of the beasts, for whom lies and truths aren't seen as relevant.
Therefore, Europeans are ALWAYS to be considered as LIARS and deceivers, unless there is scientific proof to the contrary.
The European people are envious of the Chinese; and they also want to dominate Africans and plunder Africa.
The Chinese are FRIENDS of Africans.
'Look Inward' and continue to Look East, Africans.
Turn away from the wicked West for your own good!
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