The moment of craziness has come and streams of blood in South Africa can be noticed now. The government is denying the attacks to the foreigners, saying it's criminals who are looting people's shops. The past incidents of xenophobia have scared foreigners, people can't focus on anything. What is always in their minds is, When will they start to attack us?"Staying with the victims in the semi-urban areas and accessing the situation, I have come to realise beyond any doubt people are not safe and the government of South Africa does not care about foreigners. Since being with the victims and receiving information that, If you are a foreigner, leave our country before we force you out or kill you, or It’s only a matter of time, we are cleaning our territory.
What also annoys me is that, there are two kinds of xenophobia practiced here: the one spearheaded against poor destitute people and then the mistreatment of Zimbabweans by Home Affairs Officials. People are victimized and their documents are confiscated. If South Africans were treated like this, the outcry would be felt and even the veterans of politics like Nelson Mandela would intervene.
People who are hit hard by this inhumanity have no-one to console them, as Robert Mugabe is on the same line with the recent leaders of ANC. This is not a hidden agenda. As Malema said, they as ANC will follow the footsteps of Mugabe. No-one can deny this. Civilized and barbaric xenophobia is practiced indeed in South Africa.
What message is it sending to other countries who believe in democracy and unity? If South Africa claims to be the role model of other states then there should be no bloodshed and no xenophobia. I have been hoping to see the army and police roaming and monitoring the situation, until then I can’t believe that the government is concerned about the foreigners.
The concept of sanctions will be a major solution to this mystery of xenophobia. The Europeans are trying to step in and have an explanation about the xenophobia issue from the leaders. The problem about the government of South Africa is that they normally act only if the damage is done.
To those who were victimised and still targets of xenophobia, stay calm and don’t fight back. There is only one who is above us who can turn the situation against South Africans and end up begging from us foreigners. Let’s not forget how Zimbabwean prosperity has descended into turmoil.
What I believe is the resolution to this traumatic scenario which has seen thousands of Zimbabweans leaving this country is that the government must not be biased. It must be firm and hard to those who commit crime. The strategy must be simple and the government must start to unite locals and foreigners not to undermine other groups.
Post published in: News