Remind SA of our shared history – Zim parliament

…as xenophobic attacks rage on

Leroy Dzenga

ZIMBABWEAN Members of Parliament have called on their Government to remind South Africans not to forget history, as xenophobic attacks rage on in different parts of that country.

Zimbabwe gave moral and material support to South African liberation movements, the ANC and PAC in their fight for independence from apartheid. Today the two countries’ economies are closely connected, with South Africa being Zimbabwe’s biggest trading partner.

On Tuesday Zimbabwe’s lawmakers discussed the violence in South Africa, where scores of foreign Africans have been killed and their shops plundered by looters. Mbizo Member of Parliament, Settlement Chikwinya, said there is need for Zimbabwe to remind South Africa of the two countries’ shared history from the days of their struggles against colonialism and apartheid.

“I would be glad if the Minister of Foreign Affairs comes to Parliament so that Honourable Members are afforded time to debate this motion of public importance,” Chikwinya said.

Norton legislator, Temba Mliswa, called on Government to continually give updates on the events in Zimbabwe’s southern neighbour.

“With the xenophobic attacks in South Africa, I think it is important for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to issue a statement on the situation in that country.

“There is now a state of emergency and we are as a nation supposed to look out for our people there,” Mliswa said.

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa is in touch with his South African counter-part, President Cyril Ramaphosa over the matter.

In a tweet, President Mnangagwa said, “We strongly condemn all forms of hate driven violence and applaud the South African Authorities for the swift way they have responded. We are closely following the situation and are in regular contact with our South African counterparts and HE Cde Cyril Ramaphosa.”

The current xenophobic attacks have drawn widespread condemnation from prominent figures including Nigerian musicians Burna Boy and Tiwa Savage, who have declared that they will not be doing business with South African brands.