GOVERNMENT will evacuate at least 171 Zimbabweans from
South Africa following the death of two locals in ongoing xenophobic violence.
This was said by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister
Monica Mutsvangwa while presenting the 32nd Cabinet Decision Matrix yesterday.
South Africa has been experiencing an orgy of violence that
is targeting African migrants and has resulted in the death of at least 12
people.
“The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(Sibusiso Moyo) briefed Cabinet on the current xenophobic attacks on immigrants
in South Africa,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
“He indicated that a total of 171 Zimbabwean nationals had
been affected, with two of them having lost their lives.
“Government is deeply saddened by this occurrence and is
currently in the process of making arrangements to urgently repatriate the
affected citizens back home.
“Meanwhile, our Consulate in South Africa is engaging some
international organisations for support to the affected citizens. Government
continues to monitor the situation with a view to escalating the evacuation
exercise should the situation deteriorate.”
Minister Moyo said the 171 Zimbabweans had indicated their
willingness to return home.
“We don’t have an actual figure of how many Zimbabweans are
in South Africa because some say two million, some three million, but these
(the 171) have indicated their willingness to return home and as Government it
is our responsibility to protect our citizens wherever they are.”
Minister Moyo said the identities of the deceased would be
made public once their next of kin were informed.
Apart from the 12 dead, over 693 people have been arrested
in the violence that has seen the looting of foreign-owned shops and burning
of properties.
The violence has been widely condemned in many countries
across the continent, with observers saying it goes against Pan-African values
championed by the continent’s founding fathers.
The violence has resulted in some Mozambicans and Nigerians
retaliating against South African businesses in their countries.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to visit
South Africa next month where the issue of the violence will be up for
discussion.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Ms
Khusela Diko confirmed in a statement that President Buhari will make a State
visit to Pretoria.
“His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari will undertake a
State visit to South Africa in October 2019 to reinforce the strong bonds
between the two countries and jointly develop responses to challenges affecting
people and businesses in South Africa and Nigeria.
“In the wake of public violence in South Africa and
developments in Nigeria around South African businesses based in the West
African country, President Cyril Ramaphosa held discussions yesterday on Friday
2019, with Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, Special envoy of the President of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari,” said Ms Diko.
The special envoy conveyed President Buhari’s concern at
the xenophobic attacks against African citizens based in South Africa.
This saw Nigerians engaging in retaliatory violence
targeting businesses owned by South African businesspeople, including mobile
phone giant MTN.
The Nigerian senate is understood to have threatened to
expel other South African firms such as Shoprite and DStv. Herald
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