adminLoveness Bepete Chronicle Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Council of Chiefs (ZCC) is expected to meet tomorrow to deliberate on the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa, the council’s president, Chief Fortune Charumbira, said yesterday. The chiefs’boss said they have already engaged the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure that the problem is addressed.
Chief Charumbira said the recent attacks could have been ignited by Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini’s remarks calling on foreigners to pack their bags and leave South Africa.
“As traditional leaders we’re disturbed by the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa and we’re obliged to act. We’ll meet this Friday as the chief’s council and try to bring strategies and solutions on how this can be best handled,” Chief Charumbira said.
“The statements which were allegedly made by King Zwelithini could have ignited the attacks in that country and something needs to be done immediately.”
He said they were also in the process of engaging the House of Chiefs in South Africa to deal with these attacks.
“We want to engage our counterparts in South Africa so that they can try and talk to King Zwelithini to make joint statements which will curb the recent attacks,” he said.
Six people have died so far since Friday, starting with two Ethiopians who were petrol-bombed in a container they ran their business from and slept in.
South African police fought running battles with hundreds of locals armed with knobkerries, pangas and rocks in Durban.
One hundred and fifty foreign nationals had to take refuge in a building after being attacked by a crowd.
Information Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo has since said Zimbabwe was watching with concern the unfolding wave of violence in the neighbouring country that appears to be targeted at black Africans.
Prof Moyo warned that the anti-foreigner violence, which he termed Afrophobia, could easily turn into genocide if the South African government fails to act.
Online Reporter