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Zambians in Durban Praise Government For Concern after attacks on Foreigners

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Zambia's Deputy High Commissioner to South Africa, Mr. Joe Kaunda (C); First Secretary for Immigration, Mrs. Joyce Chimalilo (R), and First Secretary for Political Affairs, Mr. Josephat Sakala sing the national anthem before the start of the meeting with Zambians in Durban on Saturday, 18th April, 2015
Zambia’s Deputy High Commissioner to South Africa, Mr. Joe Kaunda (C); First Secretary for Immigration, Mrs. Joyce Chimalilo (R), and First Secretary for Political Affairs, Mr. Josephat Sakala sing the national anthem before the start of the meeting with Zambians in Durban on Saturday, 18th April, 2015

ZAMBIANS living in Durban have praised Government for showing concern for its citizens in the wake of the violence against foreign nationals that has rocked some parts of the city.

It has, meanwhile, also further been established that no Zambian has, so far, been caught up in the violence which started almost two weeks ago. This came to light during meetings in Durban between Zambians resident in the city and officials from the Zambia High Commission in South Africa. Those met said they were not aware of any Zambian in Durban or other parts of South Africa that had been injured or killed in the xenophobic attacks.

Mr. Mulenga Chilufya, vice-president for Tiyende Pamodzi Zambia Association, an organisation of Zambians living in Durban, said the members were impressed with Government’s timely intervention to send its officials to Durban to assess the situation.

“It is indeed gratifying that officials from the High Commission have been brave enough to come to Durban to check on us even with these reports of violence. We are indeed grateful to our government,” Mr. Chilufya said.
The visit also established that no Zambian is in a situation that would warrant evacuation by the Government following the attacks on foreign nationals.

And a check at temporary camps where foreigners who have fled the violence are being kept by South African authorities revealed that there were no Zambians who have gone there to seek refuge. Site Manager, at Westcliff grounds camp in Chartsworth, Mr. Bheka Mbuthuma said the camp had about 1, 500 inhabitants comprising Zimbabweans, Malawians and Mozambicans.

The delegation from the Mission comprises Zambia’s Deputy High Commissioner to South Africa, Mr. Joe Kaunda; First Secretary for Political Affairs, Mr. Josephat Sakala; First Secretary for Immigration, Mrs. Joyce Chimalilo and First Secretary for Press & Public Relations, Mr. Nicky Shabolyo.

Mr. Kaunda told a group of Zambians on Saturday that President Edgar Lungu has taken personal interest in the matter and has constantly been in touch with Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, His Excellency Mr. Muyeba Chikonde, from the time the violence broke out and that the President was happy that the Mission dispatched officers to Durban.

Mr. Chikonde has also been in frequent touch with Zambia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Harry Kalaba.

Mr. Kaunda said the High Commission had to travel to Durban because of the concerns that it had about the safety and well-being of Zambians in the area.

Mr. Kaunda said the Mission has been proactive and has since held meetings with Zambians in Gauteng and taken various other steps aimed at ensuring that everyone felt safe. The High Commission issued a travel advisory which it has also placed on its website and Face Book page.

“The Government is concerned because every Zambian counts. We have been in touch with people in all corners of this country and indications are that no Zambian has been attacked or died in this violence. We are also liaising constantly with the South African authorities and I wish to assure you that they are making all necessary efforts to ensure the safety of foreigners in this country,” Mr. Kaunda said.

South Africa’s International Relations Minister, Ms. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, on Friday convened a meeting of African diplomats accredited to that country during which she assured that her government was in control of the situation.

Mr. Kaunda appealed to all Zambians in South Africa, particularly those farther from Pretoria, to take advantage of the online registration exercise launched last year so that they were properly accounted for. “We launched an online registration process last year and for you resident in places that are far from the High Commission, I urge you to utilise this facility and register because we would like to know about your presence here not only in times of trouble but also so that we can facilitate for you to go back to Zambia where you can apply your skills.”

Mr. Kaunda also told the group that President Edgar Lungu’s administration has been hard at work to ensure that the Diaspora Policy was worked on and quickly implemented. The policy is meant to facilitate and create opportunities for Zambians in the diaspora so that they can contribute to various national affairs.

He said the team was in Durban to ascertain the situation relating to the xenophobic violence and see how it could assist those who wanted to return to Zambia.

Part of the crowd of Zambians in Durban at a meeting with officials from the Zambia High Commission on Saturday, 18th April, 2015
Part of the crowd of Zambians in Durban at a meeting with officials from the Zambia High Commission on Saturday, 18th April, 2015

And Mrs. Chimalilo pointed out that, apart from facilitating the repatriation of Zambians, the team was in Durban to conduct consular clinics. She urged Zambians in South Africa to ensure that they regularised their stay by obtaining all the necessary documentation.

And Mr. Sakala emphasised the need for Zambians to be conversant with the country’s laws and culture. He urged the Zambians to ensure that they familiarised themselves with the new South African immigration laws.

During a question and answer session, the Zambians urged Government to introduce a system that will allow them to renew their drivers licences and national registration cards without having to travel back to Zambia. They also expressed displeasure over the new South African immigration laws which, among other things, required that they return to Zambia when renewing their permits.

They appealed to the Zambian government to engage their South African counterparts as the new laws did not favour Zambians.

42 COMMENTS

  1. This is likened to praising a police man for arresting a thief or a post man delivering mail…its your gov’t’s duty to be concerned!!

    • “Government says there is nothing more it can do to help end xenophobia in South Africa other than appealing to that country’s government to sort out the problem“.`says chishimba kambwili,,,
      and these Zambians in Durban thank the PF government for its hard work to help them,,,,, really??,,,, this is more shocking than seeing lungu collapsing!!!

    • So what exactly is it that the government has done to protect its citizens in South Africa to deserve this praise?

    • @Chils, the Zambian govt has not offered any protection, it’s just mere rhetoric coming from your president Kaminamisa Lungu. He’s a spineless, scared president who doesn’t want to upset the South Africans

    • Protection is not a thing to be taken for granted in a foreign country. It is only when you face direct death threat that you will appreciate even the smallest effort of concern from anyone.

      That said, what is happening in SA is nothing but a bloody shame. Africans must learn to stand together and fight together against forces that try to divide the continent.

    • So what is wrong with thanking a police officer who has arrested a thief who is a menace to your well being? What you are saying is like not thanking your God for all the blessings He has showered on you because you deserve His attention since He created you anyway.
      Simple but effective manners baba, otherwise known as civilization.

    • Zambians in Durban don’t seem to know that the Zambia Govt prevented peaceful demos in solidarity to our brothers and sisters in SA using an archaic colonial Public Order Act. The same govt being praised arrested a brave lone woman that held a placard with inscriptions of solidarity to the foreigners in SA

    • @Jay Jay, please man, that issue of burning people is sensitive. Even commenting here on this LT is damn guts.
      If a government official like a PF, leaves embassy at Milpark, to go to Durban is courageous enough. Praise a Postman for delivery mails in Durban neighborhood.

    • jay jay i empathize with your frustration. but this is what happens when citizens come to accept mediocrity as the norm, a normal action which is not even above the call of duty is considered to be an extra-ordinary effort deserving of praise. before i was so critical of this zambian mentality but i guess now older and wiser, i have come to terms with the fact that this is probably not due to a primary character flaw of zambians,,,, this is actually an adaptive, defensive mechanism developed by zambians to guard against any possible disappointment that could arise from mediocrity. so the trick is NOT to expect anything from these dimwits in government,,, actually expect the worst and lo and behold they surprise you once in a while. anyhow the danger to such a strategy is that you set your

    • bar so low that it actually becomes your norm. ever heard of the slippery slope,,,, yeah that the slippery slope to mediocrity
      you see such kind of coping strategies are only used by a passive people, a people who think that their fate is shaped by destiny, fate. THATS what zambians are! i have never come across a people who can play the V (Victim) card so effectively as a zambian!

  2. South Africans cannot attack Zambians. Never! Even in Botswana it is the same. Tswanas will complain against Zimbos, East Africans, West Africans even South Africans but never against Zambians. But over the past week Zambians have tried to immense themselves in victimhood when no one has touched a Zambian.
    Some South Africans have even rubbished claims by some African countries who are shouting on top of their voices that South Africa owes them for supporting their freedom struggle and fighters. Most South Africans claim only to know one country that supported the ANC…and it is ZAMBIA.

    • Get yourself educated. You seem to be lacking in understanding the events that underlie the history of Southern Africa. How old are you anyway and how much of your history do you know? Who are you listening to and why?

    • Their current leaders must educate the younger generation who are not aware of our sacrifices. Do they know why Mandela first visited Zambia after his release? It was high on his prioritry list for the same reasons – our sacrifices (Zambia like other countries lost lives due to bombings for supporting ANC).
      However, the important thing is they should learn to live with foreigners whether they supported their cause or not. We don’t ask for anything for free in return. Foreigners there go for business. Not all foreigners that stay in Zambia/USA supported Zambia/USA’s cause. What matters is the foreigners staying there legally. Even if their stay is illegal its barbaric to burn live pipo, why not just deport them?
      Its really nauseating to see a person set on fire or hacked severely.

    • see? this is the typical zambian delusional, fate and destiny based thinking and sense of insulation from catastrophic events that i am talking about

    • @Zedilicious

      You are a big fool!
      Some of the killers are illiterates and do not know history and who zambians are? Do not fool yourself that you are safe simply by being Zambian. Remember some of the killers were born after 1990 when Mandela was released and are therefore below 26 years old, so what is history to them? Remember some are hardcore criminals (thieves) who are taking advantage to steal and in the process kill.
      Simply try speaking Bemba now in SA and see if you are safe. In fact you have never even been to SA and you are just a local blogger! Kuti waipaisha abengi!

  3. Well done! Lets give credit where its due. But you would have allowed the public to demonstrate peacefully to show solidarity with those affected who are now in camps. No man is an island.

  4. A meeting of 7 people, poorly attended is what makes headline news in Zambia. Give us something else to read LT

  5. Why would you expect a million iimmigrants for in S.A. We are not that bad to be exporting all Labour besides government never forces to anyone to immigrate.

  6. The Zambian Mission and Government yes did well, checking on their citizens in Durban and Refugee Camps deserves praise. Gone are days for Zambia to starting rushing on other nationals first, the host nation has a responsibility of ensuring peace for all. HEEL has already engaged the necessary bodies to ensure the welfare for all is seriously considered. Jealous down – ifintu ni Lungu 2016!

  7. The solution to this problem is for african govts to get their acts right and develop their respective nations. Xenophobia is happening because everybody is trooping south in search of easier opportunities which the RSA environment provides. They should, especially the zambian leaders, abashakwata insoni, must abstain, I mean, please stop the idiocy of flocking south even for stup!id ailments like flue, coughing and hiv/aids and make use of their facilities at home. As much as we are condemning RSA, african countries actually have contributed and exacerbated the situation by never lifting a finger to improve their economies, prompting people to move elsewhere. They fought for independence without a clue how to manage an economy. The saga in RSA reflects badly on them too.

  8. “And a check at temporary camps where foreigners who
    have fled the violence are being kept by South African
    authorities revealed that there were no Zambians who
    have gone there to seek refuge. Site Manager, at
    Westcliff grounds camp in Chartsworth, Mr. Bheka
    Mbuthuma said the camp had about 1, 500 inhabitants
    comprising Zimbabweans, Malawians and Mozambicans.”
    I saw the ugly pictures but I am surprised that some Zambian think they are special than the victims from countries mentioned above. This is idiocy. Protesters did not choose apart from the catch word ‘foreigners’ which applies even to Zambians. It is just by chance and not by design that you Zambians could not be caught up in the fracas. Think twice because next time us back home we will be in an akward situation of…

  9. How ever do Zambians look different from these other Africans black Africans not white , so they could be spared by these salvages killing their fellow humans . Zambia needs to learn a lesson from that , has our nation been well managed we wouldn’t be caught up in this malaise. The resources we have in the country can easily sustain us , with out being refugees in countries like the evil south africa

  10. I saw the ugly pictures but I am surprised that some Zambian think they are special than the victims from countries mentioned above. This is idiocy. Protesters did not choose apart from the catch word ‘foreigners’ which applies even to Zambians. It is just by chance and not by design that you Zambians could not be caught up in the fracas. Think twice because next time us back home we will be in an akward situation of ‘KUSEKA na KULILA”.

  11. Yes they havent yet met them; i dont see zambians to be any different from the rest . If zambians are black like the rest they will meet the same fate . What these characters want is to kill any black foreigner in their country.

  12. When you are in South Africa at least speak lozi not bemba or nyanja. They will kill you. At least they understånd Lozi.

    • South Africans don’t give a damn about Lozi. The Zulus, Xhosas, etc don’t understand Lozi. In South Africa a Lozi is a kwere kwere just like a Bemba, Ngoni, Luvale, Tonga, etc.

  13. When people fail, they always find some one to blame for their ills. These evil South Africans, are trying to find an easy way out of this economic and social mess. They are targeting black foreigners because they are the weakest link. They exactly know who to blame and cannot face the fact it is their useless president, Zuma, who had stolen 200 millions Rand but they still went ahead and voted for him. SA is in leadership crises.

  14. ubupuba give praise where and when its due, do not just condemn the Government. Its the first time in the history of Zambia that it has shown swift concern. Even when you eat a chicken you say its chibwabwa, tukapoli iwe. Even your little education can not change you.

  15. The Govt thru the High Commission did well to check on the situation. The Govt should also pursue a more aggressive economic policy to create not only job opportunities in Zambia but get rid of corruption and partisan favouratism which makes it impossible for non-partisan but qualified Zambians to get jobs in government. Jobs in the diplomatic areas, district commissioners, SOE CEOS are exclusively reserved for party cares in the ruling party. This is not fair and only goes against meritocracy. Advertise jobs for ALL qualified Zambians to get a fair chance. Make Zambia an attractive home it ought to be, please

  16. What south africa has done is what idi amin did in uganda in 1973 , he forcefuly removed asians from his country and took away their property to give his ugandans . Now south africa has removed black africans from their land , and looted all their properties. I don’t know what zuma will get in return for this brutality to fellow africans , their lamentetions have reached to heaven : and the ealth that shallowed their blood is crying before heaven for the spilled blood .

  17. Zambians are safe because they do mediocre jobs or work for South Africans. They are employees not employers!

  18. What do you want government to do go into south africa
    with machine guns blazing? Even USA the best it does is to advise its citizens to leave

  19. Good Job Ba lungu, you have exhibited that strong sense advancing the many needs that zambia Want.
    Public safety is indeed neccessary for your people

  20. I give praise to the Bours of South Africa for having done what they did in the past. These guys knew that they were dealing with murderers. These blacks in South Africa are just a butch of Murderers, i now realise why the white were using such tactics to brutalise them. These guys have no regard for human life. I feel very guilty to the whites whom I castigated during the apartheid time, actually they were doing the right thing. These guys needed to be caged, else let loose they are deadly animals. People who can prey on their fellow BLACKS, what type of people are they? However we should also rememember that as Zambians we also have our own share of brutality from the PANGA party (PF). Lungu seem to be a good leader for he does not subscribe to such behaviour. Illiterates murder us terri

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