South Africa has condemned Nigeria’s decision to recall its ambassador over a spate of attacks against foreigners.It called the step “unfortunate and regrettable” and said it “would be curious for a sisterly country to want to exploit such a painful episode”.
At least seven people have died over a month of attacks on foreigners and foreign-owned property in South Africa.Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini has been blamed for sparking the attacks with comments about foreign workers.
“Let us pop our head lice,” he said. “We must remove ticks and place them outside in the sun. We ask foreign nationals to pack their belongings and be sent back.”He has since said those remarks were taken out of context and that he opposes violence.
Nigeria recalled its ambassador to South Africa on Saturday in the latest sign of the African countries’ discontent at Pretoria’s handling of attacks on immigrants.Acting High Commissioner Martin Cobham and Deputy High Commissioner Uche Ajulu-Okeke had been asked to return to Nigeria for consultations, a statement by the foreign affairs ministry said.
“The invitation is in connection with the on-going xenophobia in South Africa targeting foreigners, mainly African migrants,” the statement said.
Earlier this week Nigeria summoned South Africa’s high commissioner over the unrest as protesters picketed the South African embassy in Lagos. A Nigerian group has called for the International Criminal Court to investigate Zwelithini for “hate speech”.
South Africa has deployed troops to try to quell the violence, after criticism by nations including China and Zimbabwe for failing to protect their citizens against armed mobs.
South African firms such as mobile phone giant MTN and supermarket chain Shoprite have significant interests in Nigeria, which is Africa’s biggest economy.
Good move Nigeria. Next, please come and sort out RB and his son Henry.
These are criminals they thought that no one would discorver about the theft of the oil money.
SO, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT NIGERIA TO DO? WATCH IT’S PEOPLE BARBARICALLY BEING SLAUGHTERED BY YOURSELVES?
Nigerians are being childish now.TB Joshua killed 85 South Africans which took them 9 months to repatriate.Did SA recall ambassador? TB still walking free. African nations must fix their problems to stem economic refugees. Don’t make SA a scapegoat for your broken governance
Without sounding like a supporter of xenophobia, Nigerians should learn to keep quiet in other countries. They are into drugs, white collar crime, bribery and indeed any form of corruption.
Africa needs a solution to contain Nigerians. They are too corrupt and too noisy.
BUT, THAT IS NO REASON TO SLAUGHTER THEM. THEY SHOULD JUST SEND THEM BACK TO THEIR COUNTRY RATHER THAN SLAUGHTERING THEM ON STREETS. YOUR SENTIMENT IS QUITE OFFSIDE.
That how it starts. You saying there no Zambians or South Africans involved in those crimes? that should left for rule of law to deal with not vigilance. You sir just supported xenophobia
Nonsense. Arrest the criminals. Don’t target nationalities, race or tribe.
Good show of resoluteness naija. South Africans lack the sence of appreciation.We in Zambia totally support Guy Scotts observations about these chaps
you are sick and you are lazy and south Africans are criminals killing good people just for nothing in the name of xenophobia
The South African is so embarrassing because they can’t distinguish between INTENTIONAL KILLINGS and AN ACCIDENT. What happened in Nigeria was an accident while the South African issue is intentional killing meant to clean their country,so to speak.
They cant differentiate. These criminals and backward fellows. It is actually this type of thinking which makes them be like MATAKO. They wont be in front,no but always backward.
Shame on them
Let us eject nigerians
Did you see the footage where a human was being burnt alive and an SA police stood by laughing??
So send back the Nigerian envoy too.Good for SA thou very useless people.
Yes it is right to recall them as a warning to those *****s who never knew how much Nigeria wasted on them.
Nigeria is perfectly right to protest in this way. Many African countries are very docile and they lack the courage to do so and pull the plug. Even if the situation is hurting their citizens. When there is trouble in some parts of the world the USA, UK, France and other nations who love and protect their people are usually the first to put in evacuation plans. This is called self-love. For us we enjoy Self-hate and that is the reason why we do not uplift our suffering neighbours. We love it when we see our fellow African suffers. Time to work up is now. Learn to Love your people and do not expect the USA and other nations to love your people on your behalf. It is plain wishful thinking. AU is one of the most docile organisation and one wonders why it exists.
Unlike Zambia, Nigeria has balls to stand up to SA. Zambia needs to grow a pair too.
You are right. South Africa can only listen to Nigeria. Remember the yellow fever saga? Nigeria hit back by demanding yellow fever certificates from South Africans visiting Nigeria and within a week Nigerians were exempted. Zambians continued to be humiliated at South Africa’s borders and airports despite the fact that there is no yellow fever in Zambia. Difference between Nigeria and other African countries like Zambia is that Nigerians do not brook nonsense whereas Zambians are docile like Malawians. It is not long ago that Zimbabweans used to harass Zambians. Poor peaceful Zambians!
@kashiji
Sorry, you forgot that recently Malawi showed all of us that it has bigger balls (utusongole) compared to Zambia’s small, babyish ones and that shoots only blanks. No spine at all.
Good move Nigeria though I don’t like Nigerians. All African countries would have recalled their Ambassadors t express discontent at the barbaric killings of fellow Africans. S.A forget so easily what happened to them during apatheid.
Agree with this. Must be a United African response.
You don’t like Nigerians? Really? All 170 million of us? I wonder how you rationalize that. I’d be interested in an explanation that is not based on some illogically broad generalization or stereotype.
In any case, while you are busy not liking Nigerians, most Nigerians are blissfully ignorant of your existence. In the words of Tuface Idibia, “If nobody talks about you, then you are nobody. Whether na true dem talk or na lie”.
I was watching a program of a SA channel called JUDGE FOR YOURSELF where one of the panellists was an ANC Treasurer. Man you should have seen how confused the chap was when trying to explain the cause of xenophobic violence. Each time the Chief or King of Zulus was brought in the subject, the chaps eyes popped out of his confirming that this chief is worshiped like a god.
You can liberate a man from aparthied, but that will not take the ‘burning tyre necklace ‘ from his savage heart.
In Zambia we are sleepy. We pretend to be peaceful even at the point of death. Some Zambians tried to conduct a peaceful protest match but they were quickly stopped by our policy.
A lot of Zambians died during the strugle against apartheid. Some of our greatest singers like Alikc Nkhata was suspected to have been killed by South African soldiers because they suspected Zambia was keeping black freedom fighters. Thabo Mbeki was resident in Zambia where he used to coordinate ANC activities.
Our colleagues in SA do not appreciate the good gesture other African countries have done for them.
Good move Nigeria. Let all African countries take a similar move.How many South Africans are living in other countries i.e America. Let us all protest and show them we can live without them.
“A vegetarian meal served with love is better
than a big, thick steak with a plateful of animosity” Proverbs 15:17 (ISV)
Okay, maybe South Africa is not dumping ground for excess unemployed-unskilled Africans
Looks like people have overstayed their welcome and the South Africans are beginning to vent their frustrations on the hapless foreigners.
This is inevitable, the African governments should begin to clean up their “act” and provide for their own. Africa has enough resources for economic prosperity. What’s really lacking in Africa is leadership capacity. The current crop of learders is all corrupt, inept, incompetent, and clueless, including the current South African government.
Am not in favor violence, so spare the rhetoric and begin to look at the real causes and…
It is a good move pursued by wrong people. Nigerians are just wrong people, and so are Zimbabweans.
Nigerian and Zimbabwean migrants are too many.
There are half a million Zimbabweans in Botswana as we speak, which is more than one quarter of the indigenous population.
More than 80 million Nigerians leave outside Nigeria today.
Surely whom do you expect the locals to marry. These guys have married all the marrable girls in other countries, leaving the indigenous with impotent and/or ugly girls. This is unfair.
I don’t support Xeno but we need a way of managing migrants. Zambia is going the same direction. All the good pieces of land are being sold to foreigners, particularly in Lusaka and Ndola. All beautiful women are saying no in preference for foreigners. What do we do?
@cacutas stop complaining and become a man … believe in yourself, after all you are more prevalleged than a chinaman coupled with more rights.
LOL…80 million Nigerians outside Nigeria?!
I hope you don’t make any important decisions based on data from the same source you found that piece of fiction.
South Africa angered? Strange reaction I must say.
Analyse this:- First, your influential King causes a diplomatic rift by saying:-
“Let us pop our head lice,” he said. “We must remove ticks and place them outside in the sun. We ask foreign nationals to pack their belongings and be sent back.”
The king’s hate speech sparks brutal xeno attacks. But when Nigeria recalls its envoy in accordance with protocol for consultations on how best to protect its victimised citizens therein, RSA is angered? Shouldn’t RSA be apologetic and remorseful? Did I miss something here?
This is good move Nigeria! You demonstrated that you don’t give a damn s.hit about the south africans! When something is wrong, it is wrong! Our people wanted to demonstrate peacefully but these I.diots in govt stopped them on very f00lish reasons! Were they fearing that when they become sick south africans will refuse to attend to them in their country’s hospitals! Protect your citizens you f00ls! This I.diot Lungu is talking about discussing with other SADC heads but for how long! Don’t buy time so that everything dies a natural death! Being president is not about tasting the best brand and whisky, its serious business! Grow up!
How South Africa deals with its xenophobia will determine whether or not it has truly come out the shackles of apartheid. Whether it is racial apartheid, spiritual apartheid, regional apartheid, apartheid is NOT a solution. This could be a paradigm shift on how RSA will be perceived, and there are consequences to RSA.
Meanwhile Lazy Bum Lungu is busy promoting RSA shopping malls!!
Hah I agree that was the worst thing to do ba Lungu, flying to Kitwe to open SA shops in the midst of xeno. Nangu kutmwa ukwenda enda. It was shameful, when yo friends are expressing anger against SA you are busy opening their shops kwati tulifipuba
whites never wanted these thugs for a reason…… from mfecane vie apartheid to xenophobia. its not a rainball but a cursed nation
While Nigeria maybe over reacting but equally the handling of the problem by the South Africa should be criticized. Of all the speeches by the South African leaders something seems amiss, they are failing to send a strong message condemnation to King Goodwill Zwelithini that he was wrong. Only outsiders are telling him this and that is not good enough, they know where the problem is and they opt to start skirting around it for their own political.
These I’d.iots (SA) think Africa owe them something that’s why they cannot condemn their king! Deep down their hearts they are in support of what he said. These guys are used to blood and to them 7 foreign people dying is nothing! These are things they see everyday!
We will put Nigeria in its place soon. Zambia can follow the Nigerians action if want we dont give A danm.
Dear LT,
where is my post? You are holding it hostage and I didn’t even use any cuss words or nothing.
ha! anyway, I understand very well that this is your show and I’m only a guest so I’ll quit b!tching about it.
Ok, let me try to comment from a totally different angle and see if LT will allow my comment to stand.
If aliens from outer space came to visit earth and the very first scene they saw was the scene in that picture up top, I’m sure the aliens will immediately turn around and go back to their extraterrestrial home, not wanting to have anything to do with such an uncouth species.
Tribalism nepotism and corruption are as same evils as xenophobia. No zambian should point finger at south africa. The bible says dont rush to remove a speck in your friend’s eye leavling a log in your own eye
Mr Zume my dear,
You are right in saying all those are the same evil. But you didn’t see no Zambian slaughter people and leaving them to die like dogs on the street, did you?
Mr nyau sir, those who kill you are better than those who pretend are your friend and say ‘one zambia one nation’ but when it comes to jobs, contracts and other opportunities in sharing the national cake its wako ni wako, these are killing you but are living by disadvantaging you and your children who end up with no future prospects.