Lilongwe, Malawi, April 21 (MaraviPost) _ At least 2,000 Malawians carrying placards and chanting songs against President Jacob Zuma of South Africa and KwaZulu Natal’s King Zwelithini Tuesday held street demonstration in the capital, Lilongwe, against the on-going xenophobia attacks in South Africa.
“We, the people of Malawi, stand in solidarity with all Africans to condemn in the strongest terms the current resurgence of xenophobia in the Republic of South Africa,” read a petition delivered to South African High Commissioner to Malawi Cassandra Mbuyane-Mokone.
The demonstrators have given President Zuma 48 hours to apologise and hold accountable King Buthelezi and others or risk a boycott of South Africa goods.
“We are extremely disgusted by the reckless xenophobic utterances by senior political figures such as Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini, Small Business Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu and President Zuma’s son Edward that continue to incite violence against foreign nationals,” reads the petition.
It adds: “The South African Human Rights Commission investigates xenophobia comments reportedly made by the Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini, Edward Zuma and Small Business Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu and take appropriate action.”
The petitioners also demand the South African government to be “be proactive and protect the rights of all people living in South Africa in line with international legal obligations” and “thoroughly investigate the xenophobic attacks and hold all those responsible accountable.”
The petitioners also demand compensation for the victims of xenophobia.
“We call upon the Government of South Africa to urgently remove the structural inequalities that are rooted in apartheid and white privilege. We believe these are the main causes of worsening economic inequality and marginalisation. These inequities were not instituted by migrants, and will not automatically disappear if the migrant population decreases. The most sustainable way to address the economic frustrations felt by many South Africans is to adopt policies
that reduce the inequalities, and create programmes that empower ordinary South Africans,” reads the petition.
The petition also reminds South Africans how other countries rallied behind them during apartheid.
“We wish to remind the South African government of how other African countries, including Zimbabwe, sacrificed their socio-economic and political resources in solidarity with South African liberation movements to bring an end to evil apartheid,” concludes the petition.
Mbuyane-Mokone, receiving the petition amid tight security, thanked the demonstrators for holding a peaceful demonstration.
“I have accepted your petition and I’ll forward it to Pretoria for further action,” she said.
Before delivering the petition to the South Africa High Commission the demonstrator, most of them wearing black as a symbol of mourning and watched over by at least 50 armed police officers, carried placards some reading: “SADC SAYS NO TO XENOPHOBIA”; “SOUTH AFRICANS, WHY KILL YOUR FELLOW BLACKS?”; KING Zwelithini AND EDWARD ZUMA MUST BE REPORTED TO ICC (THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT”; AND “WHY KILL BROTHERS WHO KEPT YOU WHEN YOU FLED THE WHITEMAN?”
Many Malawian young men trek to South Africa in search of work.
The xenophobia attacks begun reportedly following remarks by King Goodwill Zwelithini of Kwazulu Natal that foreigners must pack up and go home. The influential traditional leader has since distanced himself from the remarks, saying they were ‘mis-translated’. He was expected to explain away his remarks on Monday in KwaZulu Natal.-0-maravipost