By Tendai Kamhungira
HARARE – A Zimbabwean man has been arraigned before the Chitungwiza Magistrates’ Court after he threatened to kill a South African national in a tit-for-tat attack to revenge the killing of seven foreigners in the neighbouring country.
Reason Tsoka, 28, appeared before magistrate Lazarus Murendo, who remanded him out of custody to today.
According to court papers, the complainant is Oscar Makgalane Ramathibela, a South African aged 36 that resides in Unit D Seke in Chitungwiza.
It is alleged that the incident took place last Sunday at around 2200hrs. According to State papers, the parties were at Bigman Night Club, where Ramathibela was drinking beer together with his wife.
The court heard that Tsoka and his friends approached Ramathibela and said that he must be killed because he is a South African.
According to State papers, the group said their relatives were being murdered in South Africa in xenophobic attacks and as such Ramathibela must suffer the same fate.
According to State papers, Tsoka and his friends threatened to kill Ramathibela. They reportedly advanced towards Ramathibela intending to assault him.
Ramathibela was only saved by his wife’s relative, who managed to stop Tsoka and his friends from attacking him.
His wife’s relative had to escort him from the place before advising him to report the matter to the police, leading to Tsoka’s arrest.
Xenophobia was inflamed by a pronouncement by Zulu king Goodwill Zwelithini that all foreigners must leave the country and go back to their homes.
What followed were unabated attacks on foreigners.
The attacks saw at least seven people killed, while several thousands were left homeless. People were burnt alive, while others would be stoned or assaulted to death. Several foreign-owned shops were burnt in a move described as “barbaric”.
Zimbabwe and Malawi has since begun repatriating their citizens from South Africa. Daily News
