Xenophobia: Malema heads to Zimbabwe
An advert circulating in the Zimbabwean media suggests that EFF leader Julius Malema will visit the neighbouring country on May 6 to talk about the recent xenophobic attacks that engulfed parts of South Africa.
Organisers Alpha Media Holdings (AMH), chaired by Trevor Ncube who owns a string of newspapers in Zimbabwe and the Mail & Guardian in South Africa confirmed his trip on Wednesday where Malema is expected to be the key speaker at an exclusive Breakfast briefing event .
Although the EFF leader was invited earlier in the year to talk about his life story including the beginning of his political career with the ANC at age 9, the rise of the Xenophobic attacks in South Africa are expected to be the highlight of his presentation.
The AMH advert published in the News Day newspaper repeats some of his past quotes on xenophobia such as: “Don’t blame foreigners for SA problems.” and “We need each other South Africans. Let us not kill fellow Africans.”
AMH, have positioned the EFF leader as South Africa’s power broker for briefings known as the “Game Changer series”. Malema is expected to present his talk at the Harare International Conference Center (HICC) at a pricey $100 (R1200) each for the 250 to 300 people expected to attend.
AMH established the Game Changer Debate series where prominent individuals are invited to speak on their respective fields. They have since hosted Africa’s youngest billionaire Ashish Thakkar in 2014.
The organisers said Malema’s rise to power in South African politics fits the criteria for their Game Changer series.
“Some will say this is not a good time for him to come to Zimbabwe because of the tension (xenophobia), while some want to hear what he has to say because people have been following him on social media,” said AMH Events Manager Mbuso Harvey.
“Julius Malema is changing the political sphere in South Africa and Africa and we see him as the youngest political power builder,” said Harvey.
EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi confirmed Malema’s trip and reluctantly said that the leader will be travelling “in and out” of Zimbabwe for his visit. “We are all Africans,” said Ndlozi. – The New Age (South Africa)
