By Simbarashe Chirimubwe
To fathom that a few weeks ago we were like one African family cheering behind the Bafana Bafana team is quite shocking. The South African flag was on almost every car, house, college, university and, for once, Africa’s hopes were revived. Indeed it is time for Africa. Where has this xenophobia come from then? To make matters worse it’s targeted at the same poor peasants who stood by you in time of need.
The Zimbabweans and other foreign nationals were there helping to make the African World Cup event a success, but I am truly astounded to hear that the foreign African nationals are scampering for safety. The most embarrassing situation is that the xenophobia is being targeted against African brothers and sisters. Where has the spirit of pan-Africanism gone to?
Africa has played a pivotal role to ensure that your independence became a reality. When Mandela was released from prison we were all mad with joy. I remember as a young man running with joy upon catching wind of the news that South Africa was free. It was indeed a sigh of relief to us because I had heard the ordeal they went through in the fight against apartheid.
Many ordinary citizens from countries like Mozambique, Botswana and Zimbabwe were persecuted by the apartheid regime because of you. However they never threw up the towel for your sake, they persevered for the sake of Africa. Is this how you are going to repay the same ordinary people who suffered for you?
Do not mock God, every creature must submit to God and respect other people. As we speak more than hundred African brothers and sisters have died at your hands, cold blooded murder of innocent people. Why South Africa Why?
The South African government though I have always respected President Jacob Zuma for his mediation efforts in Zimbabwe has played a willing accomplice in this ruthless, criminal episode. I do not need a rocket scientist to know that such a horrendous activity of murder and butchering of innocent Africans can take place in their back yard and they will not apprehend any culprit.
In 2008 African brothers were roasted alive with tires and, funny enough, no significant arrests were made. Xenophobia has reared its ugly head again, and now the perpetrators are super charged because they got away with it. It is very clear that the leadership of the country is trying hide behind a finger, but God will judge your nation harshly if you do not repent from the terror you have subjected your neighbors to.
I think what is left is a SADC and AU resolve to let South Africa to play alone because it does not play well with neighbors. I know the South African government sympathizes with the victims during the day and celebrate at night, but let it be known to you that what goes around comes around and history shall make you to account for your actions. I appeal to human rights organizations to begin legal action against the South African government on behalf of the victims. These victims should be compensated for shock, torture and death and the hands of their citizens.
Some children are now street kids and orphans because of this violence, some people have been displaced while others have their future put in limbo after their meager but hard earned acquired property was set ablaze with these heartless African citizens (South Africans).The actions of our South African brothers have created destitutes and some of the children are now orphans resulting in them dying in the streets from poverty and starvation.
I urge the human rights activists to stand up and gather all the data about all the people who were massacred so that the record can be clear to the rest of Africa. South Africans have failed to appreciate that they do not leave in an Island. It’s indeed very painful to realize that some foreign nationals who helped in making the world cup a success left the country fleeing for dear life without being paid for their hard work because of fear.
Most South African employers took advantage and delayed to pay these foreign nationals so that they would flee leaving their money behind. Worse still some South Africans have looted the property of foreign nationals which took them a lifetime to acquire. How painful is that, being injured by your own brother.
Civil society should come in urgently to help these hapless people who are struggling to put food on their table. If the government wanted to stamp this xenophobia out it would not take time. Sadly, it seems to be silently approval this callous and satanic act. South Africa should stand and unequivocally tell the continent about its position; about whether or not it is part of us. We are not ready to force them to be part us; we have played our role of emancipating them.
Simbarashe Chirimubwe is the leader of Concerned Africans Association (CAA) and Global Zimbabwe Forum Coordinator for Africa.
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