Establish Training in Handling Chemicals, African States Urged

The Herald (Harare)

October 22, 2004
Posted to the web October 22, 2004

Harare

THERE is need for African states to establish training in handling chemicals, including in the form of weapons, as a safeguard against chemical accidents and from possible aggressors, the Minister of Defence, Cde Sydney Sekeramayi, has said.

The minister said this at the official opening of the Second Regional Meeting of African State Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention in Harare on Tuesday.

Cde Sekeramayi said in view of the strides made in the chemical industry on the continent, the danger of chemical accidents was ever present and trained manpower at any time was, thus, essential to deal with such eventualities.

"We, therefore, look upon the (Chemical Weapons Convention) not only to come to our aid in the event of use of these hideous weapons, but also to provide advice and training in the defence against such weapons.

"Training in defence against chemical weapons is, therefore, equally relevant to training for protection against other dangerous chemicals such as those found in industry, agriculture and other areas."

The minister said Zimbabwe had joined the Chemical Weapons Convention not only as a sign of international solidarity, but also because the country genuinely believed in its goals and aims.

"We have no offensive chemical materials on our soil but we, like a number of other African countries, have had cause to worry about the possibility of their use by those who possess them," Cde Sekeramayi said.

He commended the non-discriminatory policy of the convention.

"Powerful nations and weak nations alike, possessors of chemical weapons and non-possessors alike, are treated equally in the eyes of the convention," he said.

"With regard to the destruction of chemical weapons, Zimbabwe has closely followed reports by possessor states and would like to see that these plans comply with the deadlines in the convention."

The Chemical Weapons Convention is a multi-faceted disarmament treaty which deals with aspects relating to the destruction of chemical weapons and chemical weapons production facilities.

It also ensures non-proliferation through verification of the non-production of chemical weapons at industrial and other facilities.

The convention also addresses the need for assistance and protection against the use or threat of use of chemical weapons, and international co-operation in the field of peaceful uses of chemistry and chemical technology.