Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Leslie Mbula, has hailed the role the church is playing in trying to stop the xenophobic violence that has been raging in some South African townships over the past few months, claiming several lives with hundreds of foreigners being displaced.
Mr. Mbula has also thanked the South African government for coming out strongly against these xenophobic attacks on foreigners which started early this year in some Tshawane townships and informal settlements (shanties) and later spread to similar area in Johannesburg.
The High Commisioner was speaking when Pastor Thembelani Jentile of Mamelodi Baptist Church in Tshwane paid a courtesy call on him on Friday.
This is contained in a press statement made available to ZANIS by Second Secretary for Press at the Zambian mission in Pretoria Philip Chirwa.
Mamelodi is one of the areas where early this year several foreigners were killed and others had their shacks burnt by rampaging locals who accused them of stealing their jobs and being involved in crime.
The foreigners involved are mostly those from Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Somalia.
There has been no report of any Zambian being affected by these attacks.
Mr. Mbula said what was happening in South Africa created an erroneous impression that though independent politically, Africans could not live in harmony.
“Having suffered so much under the apartheid era, South Africans need to set an example by showing the world that they are able to live in harmony with others,” Mr Mbula said.
He was happy that high-profile South African leaders like ANC president, Jacob Zuma, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Minister of Home Affairs, Mrs. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, have recently come out strongly in condemning the xenophobia attacks.
The High Commissioner said it was important that both the party and govenment leadership in South Africa talked to the leaders of the communities involved in xenophobic attacks so that they (the communities) realized the importance of living in harmony with immigrants.
“Whether it’s Mamelodi, Alexandra or any othe community, the fact is that there are leaders there. We need to talk to these community leaders so that they sensitise their people about the evils of xenophobia,” he said.
And in reply, Pastor Jentile, a South African, said that the church felt sad about what was going on in the country at the moment. It was for this reason, he said, that the Mamelodi Baptist church would soon host a consultative conference involving all the stakeholders in the current conflict with a view to putting an end to xenophobic attacks.
Last Thursday, Mr. Zuma condemned the xenophobic attacks that have characterised tghe violence in Alexandra township north of Johannesburg since the beginning of the week, noting that xenophobia (hatred for foreigners) had no place in a democratic, free South Africa.
Addressing a graduation ceremony at the University of Zululand, of which he is chancellor, in Kwazulu-Natal, Mr. Zuma declared: “Our people should avoid taking out their frustrations owing to unemployment or crime on immigrants. It is Alexandra today and could be another area tomorrow, if we do not deal with the matter now.”
Menwhile, Mrs. Madikizela-Mandela, a senior member of the ANC National Executive Committee, apologised to foreigners who were recently attacked in Alexandra township, where several people were killed and hundreds others forced out of their homes.
“We are sorry. Please forgive us. It is not South African to do this, South Africans are not like this,” she sid, adding that her apology was aimed at the homeless victims and those who were killed or injured in the violent attacks in the township,” she said.
And Mrs. Mapisa-Nqukula declared that her department (ministry) will not deport foreigners just because they were being attacked.
“We will integrate the displaced people back into the comunity. We cannot deport them back to their countries just because they are vulnerable,” she told the local press after a tour of Alexandra.
come back home why go to RSA and live in this township and suffer the humiliation Zambians i know have not ventured in so many countries like Nigerians and Kenyans i see almost everywhere. Come we develop our mother country let us be proud and of ourselves.
These South African used to live in our shanty compound like Lilanda, Chunga, George in Lusaka and nobody used to harass them. Are these people normal?
#1 there is no Zambian who has been attacked by these xenophoic attacks in SA townships. And remember that every one has a right to choose wherever they want to live for the rest of their lives. immigration laws will always restrict people to move but again people like moving. I cannot be condemned to live in one place for the rest of my life. I like moving…..
For me, it’s very personal. I lived for 17 years in Zambia and was subjected to horrors I had not imagined were part of the human condition. I was discriminated against on the basis of my ethnic origins. I was subjected to insults by people I had never met before and could not have offended in my life. As soon as they heard my surname, they seemed to cringe, as if from a plague.
I travelled to Zambia for a job in 1963, not as a bricklayer or a mechanic, but as a journalist. In many ways, apart from the good fortune of starting my first family there, I had what some might call the “longest ride into hell”.
But the problem started in Zimbabwe. There are certainly no indigenous Zimbabweans wi
I left Zambia in 1980, when rumours spread that someone working for president Kenneth Kaunda’s government was hunting for me – with a gun. I had just been scolded publicly by Kaunda for an editorial in The Times of Zambia, which had focused on the law as it affected classes in society.
In short, I had questioned the discrimination against the poor, where the law was concerned. To cut a long story short, that was the clincher for me: xenophobia could kill you or could get you killed. It was time to move.
In Zimbabwe, I had a most curious encounter with this menace: a South African, the widow of a hero of the struggle, when told who I was, asked me: “Where do you come from?” It was on the ti
I am a Zambian i found the above article in the Sowetan newspaper South AFRICA
#4 anonymous, I dont believe #1 was referring to Zambians. As far as I know, they are hardly any Zambians living in such places as Alex etc. He was actually praising Zambians for not doing as Zimbos and Mozies, invading foreign countries en masse. Read it agin with a fullstop after word ‘humiliation’.
Today I went into downtown Joburg prodly wearing a Zambia headsock, my own silent one-man protest against xenophobia.
Zambians in SA: Bring out your Zambia scarves, T-shirts, even green bambas. Wear them arrogantly in the streets of Tshwane, Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Bloemfontein and Polokwane. We will not stand for xenophobia of any kind directed to any group of people!
#6The Lunatic had a political ambition no Zambia harmed him
Racsim, traibalisim and the sort exist every wrere in the world.
But These incidences in SA fall squerly at the feet of the ***** Thabo mbeki. By supproting mugabe, he has prolonged those pipos suffering and now there are millions of them in SA. The locals are of course feeling threatend. More Zimbos should pour into SA, then maybe he will see there is a problem there.
#7, #1 is calling on Zambian to come and develop Zambia this simply entails that he wants everyone back in Zambia. I don’t care about Nigerians and Kenyans moving what my concern is on every black person who likes traveling and living in other places like the whites do
its really a shame for south africa. its a pity they are world cup hosts! wish they could move it else where
its really sad that they are hosting the world cup!!!really sad!!!!
#12 you are right
I don’t understand this thing about Zambians that make them think when are you are abroad you should come back or you should not leave Zambia. What the heck, just worry about improving your lives and you can do it in any Country. If you think you can do it Z, Stay, if you think you can not access what you need there, leave. Remember a human should be able to access their basic needs. That is a right for anyone.
So just worry about your family!! Don’t worry about me.
#4,5,and 6, u r a terrible lier. But I am not going to waste time discussing ur un important issue. Because the world knows that Zambians are almost perfect humans.
Coming back to the issue worth discussing. What South African brothers (and sisters) are doing is terrible. 1 would ve thought them (SAs) having passed thru such a terribly prolonged surffering they would understand pipo coming from problem ares such as Zim, Moz, Angola, etc. How can u start killing ur brothers and sisters and yet it was only yesterday u were experiencing the same misery? SAs must take a leaf from Zambians. Zambians kept all sorts of brothers and sisters; black, white, yellow, green-you name them, they were…
…here in Zambia even living by far better than zambians themselves. While the end of aparthite was not even in sight, the independence for Namibia from aparthite South Africa was not in sight, while Zimbabwes independence was almost imposible as whites fortified themselves there, while FRELIMO in Mozambique was fighting for independence endlessly, and while there was a war in Angola, poor Zambia never relented. Up to date we still have refugees from DRC, Zimbabwe, etc. The problems in Zimbabwe are for a very foreseeable future. Why get tired so quickly? Why aren’t we Zmbians not panel-beating them to death? We know too well that they are our brothers and sisters. And anyone can…
#1 Develop Zambia! how? There are Zambians Suffering in shanties of Kapoto, Mulenga, Saint Antony – Kitwe, Poor Peoples’ Compounnd – Chililabombwe, the Kawamas, Kansuswa – Mufulira, Misisi – and the other lot in Lusaka, Shampande – Choma and so many others throughout the country. Infact on the line of rail, there are more people living in shanties than those in properly planned settlements. Those from SA, if there are any and if they will come, will just come and increase the number of shanties.
…encounter problems any time and would need help from someone. Please, be mature and stop the rotten behaviour. I will take this floor to even condemn the behaviour of Botswana who started building an electric fence between Bots and Zimbo. It is very pathetic that they should start doing that when their brothers and sisters are in trouble. Especially that they don’t even have a history of extending an helping hand even during the time of liberation struggles when help was really needed by such countries in need. Where do you guys want them to run to?
Wow!An Electric Fence??, They must be charged for crimes against humanity.
Hey diasporees, don’t be misguided about pipo telling u to come back to Zed. Frustrations are still the order of the day. Fyonse fyabukayafye! Even if you gat papers they just gather dust nga tawakwata aba kaya ba influence. Atleast uko mwaba only papers talk for you.
I’ve never liked South Africans, and I feel KK should be the first one to condernm their xenophobia even if Zambians are yet to be targeted. The old man sacrificed alot of our resources for them. Botswanans are also too of full themselves. Let’s organise bull dozers to bring down that ‘Berlin wall’ style fence. I love you Zedians, home or overseas!
Abash xenophobia!!! Shame on every xenophobic mother f$&@#*s alive!
I would have liked to write more but:
“There is no place like home.”
Enjoy and take care you all Zambians wherever you are!
This is what happens to people,you help them they turn against you,thats why nalizanda nomba,even when we are still keeping them in madevu
No u-turn on our deal with Levy, assures Sata-The Post filling
PATRIOTIC Front president Michael Sata yesterday assured that he will not U-turn on his reconciliation deal with President Levy Mwanawasa.And PF secretary general Edward Mumbi said the shift in Sata’s policy regarding his reconciliation with President Mwanawasa represented the party position.Sata said the truth shall prevail over his shift in policy. Sata said he would not be drawn into commenting on people’s panic over his new position.”Those who are panicking, that’s their problem and that’s why we don’t want to do anything,” he said.
Asked about PF spokesperson Given Lubinda’s statement that the party’s central committee would sit to review his new relationship with President Mwanawasa, Sata refused to comment saying Lubinda was his junior and that he had authorised Mumbi to comment on his behalf.And Mumbi said the PF constitution empowered Sata to make decisions and then consult the central committee later. He said apart from endorsing Sata’s position, the central committee would also come up with proposals that PF would present to government.
Mumbi said the position PF had taken was good for the country.
He said time was up for those who joined PF for the sole purpose of criticising President Mwanawasa.”Peter Machungwa joined PF to come and fight Levy, considering he remained a suspended member until he joined PF,” Mumbi said.He further said that United Liberal Party (ULP) president Sakwiba Sikota like Given Lubinda was not a credible politician to criticise Sata. He said Sikota @ Lubinda made a U-turn on the UPND after he lost elections to Hakainde Hichilema.
“Like Given Lubinda, he’s not fit. Just a few hours after losing elections, he formed ULP. Is that not a U-turn?” asked Mumbi.
COMMENTS
Given Lubinda, Sakwiba Sikota and Ba Sata’s online cadre blogging with us here Chapi are not politicians or competent cadres but disillusioned opportunists.They joined PF for the sole purpose of criticising President Mwanawasa and ridding on Ba sata’s back politically and economically.
#20
Thank you , am also tired of zambians thinking the only people that can help build the country are abroad. They think we have money back home but the only reason they think so is because we ran away to work abroad. They think if we come back then somehow we will bring our salaries with us .
You don’t say?
If these attacks, all Aficans country should pass a resolution to boycot the 2010 WC.
Levy MUST understand that his GRZ must improve the lot for the majority of Zambians if they are to live dignified lives in Zambia. The idea of living in a foreign African country and being called names even though one is fully qualified in specialized field professionally is not a good experience. Worse more, we see Whites and Indians being better treated by fellow Africans who are quick at discriminating against their fellow Africans. Shows that as a people, we do not have any sense of commitment to Africa and its people. Levy must ask himself what damage he is doing by employing his tribesmen disregarding other tribes for civil service jobs.
Let me try to correct some misguided comments by irresponsible people who claim to know Botswana’s foreign policy.
#18 Botswana is a soverign country that has harnessed its limited resources for the betterment of her people. Botswana pioneered SADC for regional corporation and unity. Botswana has been looking after Zimbabwean refugess since the days of Ian Smith. Ian Smith killed young Batswana soldiers in 1978 for good reason and yet Botswana still extended her warm open hands to Zimbabwean immigrants. There are so many Zambians, Malawians and Zimbabweans working in Botswana despite the fact that Botswana has its own problems of qualified people roaming the streets looking for jobs.
The reason why Botswana erected an electric fence between her north eastern neighbour is because at some point Botswana cattle crossed the border to Zimbabwe and contacted FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE (FMD). For your information Botswana is not only the epicenter of Diamond mining, Botswana is also the largest producer of BEEF to European markets therefore Botswana has stringent controls on livesstock diseases because beef farming forms an important part of our economy. Botswana has once again declared that she is ready to provide refuge for Zimbabwean immigrants following the election stalemate. Botswana has never refused legal entry into her shores by immigrants.
During the apartheid era in South Africa Botswana provided refuge to her brothers and sisters. The SA white regime responded to this gesture of humanity by shooting a number of households in Botswana searching for ANC activists. #18 (Peter) read more about Botswana and don’t just say things you don’t understand. Peace!
33,34, 35 . Thanks for clarifying the issues !! You Rock!!
South Africa cannot afford to have this kind of thing happening with the Worldcup around the corner. It’s hard enough to convince people that soccer fans will be safe from their rampant crime, now with this? Whats wrong with africans? they give you freedom you start abusing it against your fellow brothers. A see a worldcup with high crime statistics
Gadaffi: Europeans ‘overturning’ migrants’ boats
Libyan leader Moammar Gadaffi has accused Europe of deliberately provoking the drowning of illegal African migrants as they try to reach Europe by sea, the official Jana news agency reported on Friday.”Dozens [of migrants] die and hundreds drown or are drowned deliberately,” the official Libyan news agency quoted Gadaffi as saying during a meeting on Thursday with African Union leaders.”Europe is trying to defend itself and is doing everything to prevent the migrants from reaching its shores,” Gadaffi said without mentioning any one European nation.
He claimed that Europeans were “overturning” boats full of migrants in the Mediterranean Sea during what he alleged were fake rescue operations.”This tragedy is real. A war is being waged in the Mediterranean against the Africans,” he said.The Italian Interior Ministry recently said that 16,482 illegal immigrants landed in Italy last year, adding that they probably came from Libya.
With 1 770km of coastline, Libya is a popular jumping-off point for people seeking to reach Europe from elsewhere in Africa. Malta and the Italian island of Lampedusa are only a few hundred kilometres away.Oil-rich Libya has a native population of six million, with an estimated one million more people living there illegally. In January, Tripoli announced a massive operation to round up and repatriate illegal aliens.
Deadly clashes in Johannesburg-BBC
At least five people have been burnt or beaten to death in the South African city of Johannesburg as violence against immigrants spreads.More than 50 other people were taken to hospital in the suburb of Cleveland with stab or bullet wounds.The trouble began a week ago in the sprawling township of Alexandra.Immigrants from neighbouring African countries were set upon by men with guns and iron bars chanting “kick the foreigners out”.
Terrified Zimbabweans, Mozambicans and Malawians fled to the safety of the local police station and to another township, Diepsloot.They were then attacked there as well – shacks were burnt down and shops looted. The violence has since spread to another three areas.The attacks have prompted soul searching among South Africans.Last week Nelson Mandela expressed his concern, saying the country must not descend into what he called “destructive divisiveness”.
Since the end of apartheid, millions of African immigrants have poured into South Africa seeking jobs and sanctuary. But they have become scapegoats for many of the country’s social problems – its high rate of unemployment, a shortage of housing and one of the worst levels of crime in the world.The South African Red Cross is now providing food and blankets to hundreds of frightened immigrants forced from their homes.One Zimbabwean immigrant told the BBC he now intended to flee back into his country because, he said, it was better to die at home where at least his family could visit his grave.
University students stage violent protest in Zambia: police
Students from Zambia’s biggest university staged violent protests and stoned vehicles to press for an increment in meal allowances, police said Saturday.University of Zambia students blocked roads near their campus on Friday night before they were dispersed by riot police officers using teargas, a police statement said.
“The police officers have been deployed at the campus in order to protect public property,” the police said.
Although some students were arrested the police did not say how many.Similar protests also took place at the Copperbelt University, another state-run institution, where the government provides free bursaries to students who cannot afford to pay fees.”The ring leaders of the protest have been identified and will be made to account for their action,” said Grace Mikunga, spokesperson of the Copperbelt University in a statement.
Student riots over low government funding levels of the two state-run universities have become increasingly common.
The government has said it plans to stop free bursaries offered to poor students because it has been the source of riots and demonstrations.
#15 you call me a lier but i found the article on the sowetan website. You are very stupid. read what pipo write and don’t think you know everything *****!!!!!
These ungrateful South Africans that were sheltering here during aparthied!!!…KICK OUT SHOPRITE!!!
leave the south africans alone its their country its not ur country, if they want to attack foreigners let them attack, at least they are showing that they care about their country and dont want to have any extra problems imwe kuno, abena zimbabwe they are bringing u more aids, u, u just want to massacre the puss juice echo tulefwila
Have you heard of the Zambian in the USA who was sent to jail for deliberately infecting men with HIV?
“…where the government provides free bursaries to students who cannot afford to pay fees….” Please newswriter(s), is it students who cannot pay for themselves or is it students who deservedly have a government sponsorship for their good academic performance in the school certificate exams?
Where would a grade 12 find money to pay for his school fees in college. To begin with there are no jobs or plan for the Government to craete new jobs. Are you kidding me??Allowance or no allowance, the country is a mess. more that 65% of people are poor and have no formal employment. And that is moderate figure. Go figure!!! And these countries could be a little upset.
NiCE job MMD.( Movement for Mass Destruction)
I like you #52
Just come back home and let our grand children be the ones flashing out foreigners, they dont want you.Most of those i came across are selling nshima in Durban you can come and cook at soweto market.
At least 12 people have been killed in the South African city of Johannesburg since Friday in a wave of violence directed at immigrants, police say.
Police have used tear gas and rubber bullets to try to stop gangs of armed youths from attacking foreigners and looting and burning their property.
Five people were killed overnight in the area of Cleveland. Two of them were burned and the others beaten to death.
More than 50 were taken to hospitals with gunshot and stab wounds.
During the day, a church where about 1,000 Zimbabweans have been taking refuge was attacked.
Bishop Paul Veryn of the Central Methodist Church which was attacked told SABC radio: “We consider that the
Terrified Zimbabweans, Mozambicans and Malawians fled to the safety of the local police station and to another township, Diepsloot.
They were then attacked there as well – shacks were burnt down and shops looted. The violence has since spread to other areas.
I was in South Africa this January last and the kind of Nigerian and Zimbabwean gang starism I saw stunk to the very heavens above, it was just a matter of time before there was a backlash against foreigners in that country and rightly so. Money laundering, smuggling, prostitution etc are vices that form crundle of Nigerian barons in SA today. They come from Ibadan, Mogadishu, Accrah, Bamako etc to plunder not only South African women but also the nation’s resources. For Malawans, its worse, the Ngwazi had diplomatic ties with Botha and wanted Madiba to rot in jail, so what does hacimwenes not want in JB? As for Zambians, none was attached, therefore not our problem!
I have a feeling that if it wasnt for fear of the police, zambians would have been practising xenophobic attacks on chinese immigrants in Zed. Bottom line is that no country likes to be invaded by aliens; only difference is others like south africans are capable of taking the law into their own hands. Understand their frustrations before you rush to condemn them; they are as frustrated with alien invasions the same way some of you are frustrated with the arrival of the chinese and want sata to become president one day for the sole purpose of chasing away the chinese from zambia.
#57 U are very short sighted.This crisis is growin at the end of the day, they will not know who is zambian or zimbo, but non-south african.And it will be bad.Do not take this situation for granted, zambians are very few in RSA, hence would not be affected now but it will only get worse.Xenphobia is evil that has haunted SA for some time now and the timebomb has just let go.
#58 There is no reason to burn someone coz he is a foreigner.What are you gettin to?
The main perpetuators of Xenophobia is the RSA Govemt. During the apartheid white rule, the RSA had ‘group act’. This confine blacks to specific areas and blacks needed a pass to move from point A to B. My understanding is that this ‘group act’ is now outlawed. But RSA police now and then demand ID or Reg or Documents from suspected ‘black aliens’. Roadblocks mounted in in name of fighting crime is just targeted at fishing out African immigrants. To the police this is just multi-billion money making scheme. Govmt need to stop this trend and find a better way of managing African immigration to RSA. Illegal White people are not affected. Communities are just emulating what their Govt does.
Dear All this blogg is full of very enlighted people
Kindly assist me with answers to the following questions I have been asking for the past one week.
1. Which secondary school did SATA attend?
2. What are his academic and professional qualifications and from which institutions?
3. Kindly give any name of SATA’S former classmate?
4. How many legitemate wives has he got?
5. What Job was SATA doing before he joined politics?
Please assist
#62 I can answer 5. Policeman .Good luck wit the others …
You guys you should see the pictures of burning human bodies. Its unfortunate i couldn’t post it. This brought tears to my eyes. Surely there are better things to do than killing each other. There is definitely nothing wrong with people migrating because people have migrated from the times of the bible. Now that we have this things called “Borders” people are becoming so content with what they have in their countries that they don’t want to share. But get my word, be it 10,20 or 50 years South Africa is going to go down just like every other African country and then we will see where they will run to…..God be with them!
Xenophobia is a fear or contempt of that which is foreign or unknown, especially of strangers or foreign people. The term is typically used to describe a fear or dislike of foreigners or of people significantly different from oneself. For xenophobia there are two main objects of the phobia. The first is a population group present within a society that is not considered part of that society e.g recent immigrants. This form of xenophobia can facilitate hostile and violent reactions, such as mass expulsion of immigrants, or in the worst case, genocide. The second form of xenophobia is primarily cultural, and the objects of the phobia are cultural elements which are considered alien. There is hi
There is historical evidence of xenophobia world over e.g. in Japan, from 1641 to 1853, Japan had a policy of exclusion of virtually all foreigners, known as ‘national closure’, or sakoku. Other notable cases can be found in Dominican Republic & Switzerland. There is always an issue of fighting for economic resourses in any xenophobia and the one being witnessed in SA is not different except it has a criminal dimension and the degree of animosity is very high like killing (burning) people. What any government needs to do to avoid the occorence of xenophobia is to safe guard certain interests (jobs, business opportunities, micro finance) exclusively for its people unless otherwise. With rece
With recent events in Zim and Moz, SA people are faced with the fact that people from these countries are multiskilled and can work for anything to survive thus they can’t compete. You find maids, shop attendants are all foreigners, what can one do in your own country?
This is a true picture of a south african society. Generally, south africans are horrible to foreigners. Even at places of work, educated foreigners are a threat to eductated S Africans. An educated SA will always be xenophobic towards an educated foregner for the same job. I am speaking from experience. Its like you taking whats due to them. Its even worse if you marry a south african woman. They dont like it. So what is happening in t/ships is not surprising. I just hope it doesnt come to the surbubs. Although here in the surbubs there is a lot of hatred and a strong dislike for foreigners but no cases of what is happening in the slums.
The South African govt is to blame also as very little is done to educate the people. We looked after these people in the apartheid days and we never gave them this kind of treatment. In Zambia we have a lot foreigners especially refugee. Talk of congolese, somalis, malawians, zimbabweans, angolans, senegalese, nigerians, rwandese, burundis, name them, but there have been no cases of them being murdered and beaten. We just live along one another. Talking of congolese they just enter Zambia at will consider the length of the border we share with them. Hope something can be done in SA protect the many lives of foreigners.
RUN for your lives brothers and sisters.
Lack of leadership at the moment in SA, thegovt has no influence of the masses and the party leader (which are different by the way) have created a perception that pipo in govt have no interest in the poor’s plight.So … the party leader should have shown leadership and gone to ground and address their pipo.The govt can only provide police force to control the violence.The party under J Zuma have missed a good opportunity of show casing leadership. Thats how I see it and I condemn this Xenophobia in the strongest terms.
This thing is also happening in Europe’s Italy. There its actually the govt perpetuating it. Gaddafi has said European authorities now drown the illegal immigrants they meet at sea in the pretext of an attempt at saving them. Brothers be virgil were ever you are. Group psychology is an ugly b°*#h. Your friend today can be your enermy tommorrow just becoz his group wants him to be that to you. Zambians may not be targeted to day but tommorrow is another day.
Miyoba, I have been reading your comments on many topics on this site. I must say you’re a good debator. I’m not always in agreement with your views but I think you’re a good analyst and effective communicator. Please keep it up.
THE BIRDS HAVE TRULY COME HOME TO ROOST! Those who understand the history of SA will agree that this was a time bomb waiting to explode! Many black SAs are not as educated as those from their neighbouring countries and many may not realise how much their neighbours sacrificed for them during the struggle against apartheid. MBEKI FOR INSTANCE LIVED IN MANDEVU IN LUSAKA. Amidst the success stories in SA, the majority black population live in abject poverty! Most shanties are ideally located away from major highways so the true picture is hidden. THE BIRDS HAVE SIMPLY COME HOME TO ROOST!
Continued. Sorry I beg your pardon…MBEKI ACTUALLY LIVED IN MTENDERE.
Mbeki had no fixed abode in Zambia for obvious security reasons. These ANC guys had safe houses all over Lusaka.
I worked in South Africa for about 6 years and my personal conclusion is that most of the indigenous black South Africans aren`t hard working.They used to fill up the parks and spend most of their time getting drunk.Black empowerment messed up their minds thinking that they would get corporate positions without any formal education.Lack of education has been the achilles heel and such frustration has been misdirected on innocent immigrants.
The “bafwetu`s or Mugani`s” shouldn`t concentrate on “lokushaya or lokubulala” but gain some form of education in order to be competetive so that they can enjoy their homeland.
#73 Thanks my bro.
#4,5 and 6 what did you do for you to be followed by the Shushushu??? I am confused, can someone help out here, I do not seem to understand what this guy is saying. How many of your type were treated this way, was it as a result of xenophobia or you were a fugitive, it sounds to me like you were a spy and was a fugitive. But from what I recall zambians have never been xenophobic otherwise the chinese that have invaded this country would never have set foot before.
Xenophobia is global. You guys in the diaspora know this. Europe is terrible, the US is not far behind. Latinos, blacks from Africa etc are viewed as intruders who are burdening public social services. The US media just revealed a report that deportees are now drugged unconcious by federal agents before being bundled on long haul flights to their home countries. Zedians, look out for these things, wina azalila
Zambia and the other surrounding nations must capitalize on the behavior of South Africans towards foreigners. Let SA host the World Cup, but have people commute to watch those games as security in SA is in shumbles. How safe will the players and official be if this kind of behavior continues? Not every player, not every official have body guards. Zambia must start advertising about the security, the game parks, the walking safaris, and the great Victoria Falls around the world.
Let investers flee SA and come here.
The time has come for Zambia to make big money from tourism. Kenya has Issues, Zimbabwe and now SA has gone bonkas. Tourism Board, where are you.
This is exactly what Mbeki was warned would be the eventual outcome of his foolish wink-and-nod diplomacy he is so recklessly pursuing with dictator Mugabe. As a Zedian who knows what Zed sacrificed for our brothers and sisters in the southern African sub-region, it is so sad that Mbeki seems intent on undoing everything the real heroes of struggle fought for. Whatever it is that Mugabe has given or promised to give him, I can only hope he thinks it worth the loss of lives we are seeing today! What is it with African leaders that they can kill their own people for “another term in office”?
Yes this is a time for Zambia to make money from tourism. With the recent Sata – LPM unity, there is no ‘major’ political situation in sight. Bane this is the time for Zambia!!
Zimbabweans should wake up from slumber. I remember when they got independence, we as Zambians, were treated like rebels in Zimbabwe. They harassed our women in Livingstone just for a loaf of Bread. Yes, Zimbabweans should know that biting fingers that fed you can be costly. I also wish to warn South Africans-Zambains and Zimbabweans sacrified some of their own lives to have them-South AFricans- earn their independence. These two countries should learn to appreciate the past and the sacrifices that others made. I like Madiba because he appreciates the past. Brave.
What #83 said just doned on me now, I read papers here and just find tour adverts from botwsana and zim.Where really are these guys who call themselves “Tourism Board”.Look at it guys we are by far the safest place in SADC at the moment, i exception of Bots.Why cann’t we be very aggresive, never been to london , but pipo tell me kenya tours are adverted on flash billbords, and yet we really on agents.These attacks on foreigner here in SA will further dumpen the arrivals, of course crime does the rest.Good point #85.
You Africans can’nt rule yourselves.You can not without us whites.Look at your South Africa, if we were still holding political power this stink would not have been there.You need us to rule you.
let’s slaughter them as well!!
Why is it that a black person always reserves the worst venom for his fellow blacks? There are so many whites, chinese and indians in South Africa but they are never victimised. Blacks need serious mental emancipation. This black-on-black violence is really a black spot on the reputation of black people.
Fellow Zambians in South Africa I urge you to come back home if the savages continue to kill innocent people.
We need you to develop mother Zambia. Those chaps are arrogant and to them killing is normal.
It is not Zambian to hate foreigners and it is better you die in your country than in a foreign one.
MDC-T BEHIND THE XENOPHOBIA THAT HAS GRIPPED SA-REJECT THESE SHAMELESS PUPPETS
Empirical evidence exists that those targeted in the SA xenophobia are Zimbabweans “not foreigners” as the media are putting it. The MDC-T is channeling xenophobic funds to lumpens put together by those with incorrigible hatred for a sovereignty.Remember that just before the elections some MDC supporters living in South Africa said they would sponsor Zimbabweans living there to return and vote in the harmonized elections in order to effect regime change.
The opposition said they would provide transport from Johannesburg and Pretoria and other parts of SA to Zimbabwe, mainly Harare, Bulawayo and other major cities.Now the major obstacle they encountered was that some of the people targeted did not have proper documents to allow them to live and work in SA and could not opt to come back to vote and try to sneak into SA again across the crocodile-infested Limpopo River.
Out of desperation and pressure having mortgaged the country in advance, the MDC-T has resorted to this plan of violence to force the people to return regardless. MDC-T has paid groups of South African lumpens to beat up Zimbabweans to force them to flee SA and go back in time for the run-off. Anyone noticed the timing?Their hope, the traumatized immigrants would vote out President Mugabe.Now you Zimbabweans, why should you support an opposition that can even sacrifice other people for sake of power and pressure from debtors he mortgaged the country to?
It’s high time we Africans rejected these shameless puppets.True and patriotic leadership to take over from the old man should come from one of you true sons of Africa with our African interests not socially engineered puppets of foreign interests belaboring to appease their sources of funds.Its time Sadc should assisted SA curb xenophobia attacks on its soils engineered by puppets that by all means should be declared “Persona Non Gratta” in the regional countries. Let them go do that in their sponsors’ countries instead of our soil. We are one Bantu speaking people who need to live harmoniously if we have to overcome the injustice and disparity entrenched in for 1000 years.
These xenophobes are doing a big disservice against their government which has always had excellent relations with every other country in the region.The attackers seem to forget that their leaders took shelter in Zimbabwe during the apartheid era, including Moeletsi Mbeki, brother to the SA president, whom I understand was a reporter at The Herald in the late 1980s!And to suggest that Zimbabweans are being attacked for fuelling inflation or economic hardships is unfair because SA companies are actually after the Zimbabwean and regional countries like intellectually rich Zambian professionals.
Sadc should help President Mbeki deal with this situation because it is very sad and unacceptable opportunistic political options. Zambia is the best regional and continental example where the opposition and ruling party have reconciled for a harmonious political sustainable environment.President Mbeki has done a lot for Zimbabwe especially in this trying period in which Zimbabweans are under the attempted British siege and it’s sad to see him being forced to look back at his own country like that.
This is being caused by some irresponsible Zimbabweans masquerading as opposition leaders and activists who region-trot spreading lies, and their silence says it all especially at a time when Zimbabweans are being attacked right in the eyes of some of the leaders who have gone into self-exile.
Or maybe they are waiting for instructions from the West on how to comment on the tragic situation they have helped create. “Shame on you opposition parties of Zimbabwe and shame on your fellow stooge a fake Pastor stationed on Zambia online calling himself Robby”. Now you see a real crisis, worse than the one you lied about in Zimbabwe.
Kuuraisa vana vasina mhosva nekunyepa kuti hanzi kumusha kwaipa. Kunourawa vanhu kuno neJoni ndekupi (Where is the real crisis)?
I am now scared to ldentify myself as a Zambian here in South Africa because xenophobic violence is now on the upswing and it will be worse.’Eaten bread is soon forgotten’. Goodness always has a price tag and it doesn’t surprise me to see such violence being perpetrated.
Since 1994 5 million people have migrated to South Africa. And I think this is too much. The immigrants should be sorted out one way or another. Just imagine 5 Million Makwereres! Let us be honest even at the height of Apartheid there went more than 25 000 South Africans in Zambia.
#101, Mbulawa, I don’t know whether or not you are a Zambian, whether you have lived in Zambia before or not. For your information Zambia has been a haven for refugees and expatriate workers since the colonial times and the 1960s respectively. At one point Zambia hosted people from South Africa, Zimbabwe,Malawi, Mozambique,Angola, DRC,etc. Many of them were emloyed in Zambia and nobody harrassed them for ‘taking’ jobs of Zambians.And why are you picking on ‘Makwerekwere’ when there are many other people of other races that are in South Africa from other countries some of them are there illegaly?
Yes, the immigrants should be sorted out in a civilised manner and the way of those savages.
I meant not the way those savages are doing it.
It is very disheartening in this day and age to witness such babaric,backward and utterly uncivilsed acts of violence. From what we see and know RSA is one of the countries that give pride to the continent of Africa.
The social landscape of the whole human existence has changed over time. Knowledge has incresed,technology is improving by the second,mode and extent of transnational trade has drastically changed,inter-racial marriages,multi-culture, you name it. The world is now a global village. In as much as this concept has carried myriad negatives in its stride, this is how things now stand.Unemployment or no employment our SA friends are not justified in their shameful acts. The
very conscience will tell you!These fits of madness should be condemned in the strongest terms they duly deserve!
South Africans?We have them here lots and lots of them.No Zambian has laid a finger on anyone of them. They live,work and freely walk among us.They proudly speak their Zulu or whatever their dialect is,proving to us that they are truly at home.
The Bible says “Do unto others as you’ld like them do unto you”.Come on SA you can surely do better than setting your fellow brothers and sisters ablaze!We are not living in caves anymore.I agree there could a a real problem,but let it be sorted out maturely,amicably and with civility.CONFORT PEACE AND GRACE FROM GOD TO ALL AFFECTED.AMEN
what a shame! South Africans owe a lot to their neighbours when it came to the struggle for independence but this is part of a bigger issue- namely the flood of refugees entering South Africa as a result of the Zimbabwe crisis. As 4 the white fool at #88- we have no need 4 obnoxious white scum like yourself! do you forget that the only reason you were able to maintain good economies in your colonies was that the economies benefitted the white minorities? Try managing whole nations and distributing wealth equally for a change. Don’t come on a Zambian website and talk nonsense- this isn’t a White Power website in case you haven’t noticed
S/A Xenophobia catches Zambians
Two Zambian families have been caught up in the xenophobia of violence that has gripped South Africa and left 23 foreigners dead.
Chief government spokesperson Mike Mulongoti who is also information minister said one family had its home windows smashed and is now living in fear.
The minister said the other Zambian family is locked up in a flat too scared to come out.
The Minister told ZNBC news that Zambians living in South Africa who feel insecure should come back home.
He said there is economic and political security back home.
Mr. Mulongoti appealed to the South Africans to allow foreigners living in their country to wind up their business before they
these Xenophobians from the caves.
they still think they can sort problems by violence. The honorable Nelson Mandela hasn’t taught these Xenophobians anything.
what you do to your neighbor will come back to you. may GOD forgive these people they do not know what they are doing.
Lets start legal proceedings against the SA government for bombings and other attrocties commited by SANDF in Zed. In fact the whole region should begin a process of quantifying the cost of helping liberate SA. Our Zed history must document exactly what we did for these guys e.g someone said on this blog that Thabo used a Zambian passport, How many current SA ministers were in Zed, how many went to UNZA or got scholarhips, etc etc. One could write a book – perhaps one should!!! Only thing is that ba swine tabaishiba uku belenga so teti beshibe stumo! The illegal immigrants in SA should seek refuge in libraries. No one will find them there!!!
i think that south africa as a country should take charge
not as zambians