A glimmer of hope in Zimbabwe

I've been following the crisis in Zimbabwe, but not with my full attention. I'm mostly aware of the issues, but there doesn't seem to be much progress. This, however, is a great sign. A Chinese ship full of ammunition, headed for Zimbabwe, can't deliver its goods, because normal, average people have blocked it from stopping at any port (Zimbabwe is landlocked). From the LA Times (great stuff in there today):

The loudest protest, however, has come from ordinary Africans, with trade unions, human rights groups, churches and local news media banding together to track the ship's travels.

Unions whose dockhands refused last week to unload the munitions in Durban, South Africa, are asking workers in other countries to do the same. A pro-democracy group in Angola is staking out the harbors of that country for any possible clandestine arrival. And human rights workers in South Africa are using a variety of information, including insurance company data and marine rescue agency reports, to keep tabs on the boat.

This reminds me of my days as a student activist for Amnesty International, when we used the simplest tools at our disposal - writing letters - to try and stop human rights abuses. Just when you least expect it - hope shows up.