Zim makes strides on peace, security

ZIMBABWE, like many countries of the world, signed treaties banning weapons of mass destruction – the chemical, biological and nuclear weapons – and is ready to meet its commitments under the treaties to prevent the creation and spread of such weapons which make war even more dreadful for non-combatants.

The Chemical Weapons Convention prohibits an entire category of weapons of mass destruction by prohibiting the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer or use of chemical weapons by the States that have signed up. The complication is that modern economies require a wide range of chemicals for expanding their industry, and some of these can be dual use.

Many chemical weapons are mixed or made from the same chemicals that are needed in normal industrial use, and so safeguards are required that industrial chemicals are not diverted. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), in collaboration with member states, is deliberating in a meeting in Harare that started on Tuesday on issues involving the safety and security of the member states. Zimbabwe is among 193 member states which signed the agreement which came into full force in 1997 and was domesticated through an Act of Parliament. Part of the concordat entails that member states have to create a verification regime for certain toxic chemicals and the raw materials used to make them in order to ensure that such chemicals are only used for purposes not prohibited under the convention.

In a speech read on his behalf during the OPCW workshop in Harare by chief director in the Ministry of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, Retired Major General Everisto Dziwema, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Ambassador Mark Grey Marongwe said the Government was prioritising capacity building for customs personnel as they were critical in facilitating and controlling the movement of chemicals across borders.

Ambassador Marongwe said the need for the upgrade followed the rapid increase of the Zimbabwean informal sector, with some of these small businesses dealing with dangerous chemicals.

This group could not be left out in safeguarding chemical safety and security as some had no capacity to put in place adequate chemical measures.

“Our country, Zimbabwe, is an emerging economy and is witnessing an increase in the use of chemicals, particularly by the informal sector and small to medium enterprises,” said Ambassador Marongwe.

“This brings to the fore new challenges in safeguarding chemical safety and security as many of these emerging enterprises do not have the capacity to put in place adequate chemical safety and security measures.

“There is need, therefore, to ensure that small to medium enterprises are not left behind when dealing with chemical safety and security issues.”

Ambassador Marongwe said given its geographical location, Zimbabwe was one of the key gateways to the region in the chemical supply chain.

“Chemicals to different parts of Africa are transported through the country,” he said.

“As such, there is a need to ensure that chemical safety and security concerns that might arise during transportation are addressed.

“Among other things, Government is prioritising capacity building for customs personnel as they are critical in facilitating the efficient movement of chemicals across the borders.”