ZimRights, with over 700,000 members, slammed Affirmative Action Group (AAG) for its blatant threats, which the rights group warned could ignite unnecessary xenophobia against Nigerians.
Describing remarks by Charles Nyachowe, the group’s regional president, to forcefully eject all Nigerians from business centres, as “blatant alienation,” ZimRights, warned that the action could sound the death knell to an economy that was beginning to emerge from a decade of economic strife.
Nyachowe also warned locals against conniving with the foreign nationals to frustrate their efforts.
The Nigerians are using Zimbabweans as fronts because these businesses are registered in the names of Zimbabweans, but yet they are run by Nigerians, Nyachowe said.
Nyachowe told reporters Nigerians must bring machines to manufacture goods and sophisticated technical expertise not compete with locals in clothing retail, electrical shops and selling cell phone gadgets and accessories. The AAG whose members are closely linked to President Mugabes Zanu (PF) party – has over the years led harassment of private firms perceived as anti-Mugabe.
“Zimbabwean citizens and residents as well as non-nationals have a right to invest in the country whose economy is in dire need of capital injection,” ZimRights said in a statement. “The move by the AAG is no different from the South African wave of xenophobia that claimed the lives of hundreds of Zimbabweans who were working in South Africa, which was a clear violation of human rights.”
Political commentator, Ronald Shumba, accused the AAG of “sabre rattling” and urged the government to call the empowerment group to order and “ensure the protection of all who have invested in our country, whether local or so-called foreign'”.
He urged the inclusive government to immediately address the nation on this issue. It warranted a national broadcast, he added.
Describing the AAG’s plan as “xenophobic, criminal hooliganism, and ethnic hatred,” Shumba said the government of national unity needed to address the nation “to say that this kind of talk is totally unacceptable.
“We pride ourselves in being hospitable people. Is this action being planned by AAG hospitable, hounding our african brothers?” Shumba asked.
He said the action smacked of reverse xenophobia suffered by Zimbabweans in neighbouring South Africa, but said “two wrongs dont make a right.”
AAG president, Supa Mandiwanzira, a former TV journalist and now successful indigenous businessman, was not immediately available at the time of going to print to comment on the allegations.
Post published in: Politics