(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-04-22 08:02

HARARE -- The government of Zimbabwe was free to source arms from any country in the world as long as they were for the defense of its sovereignty, an official said Monday.

According to the state media New Ziana, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa told a press conference that arms sourced from China and turned away from a South African port should therefore not come as a surprise as the country has been buying such weapons in the past.

He said the arms were meant for national defense and not for use against civilians as widely reported. "As long as the need arise we will go and buy," Chinamasa said.

"It is our sovereign right to buy arms from anyone to defend ourselves. And you defend yourself from enemies and not civilians, " he said.

The Chinese arms shipment has in recent days generated a lot of interest from the international media, with allegations the government intended to use them on civilians.

South African dock workers in Durban refused to unload the ship, forcing it to leave for other African ports.