A GROUP of MPs led by the MDC-T’s Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Secretary Jessie Majome on Wednesday descended onto the South African embassy in Harare demanding answers from the South African government on the ongoing xenophobic killings which have seen 800 Zimbabweans displaced, and one citizen killed.
And answers they surely received with the South African ambassador breaking away from his office to met them. He pleaded with them saying at present the South African police cannot guarantee the safety of Zimbabweans as the the cops’s resources are exhausted.
Majome who led the delegation of six MPs from across Zimbabwe’s political divide, said South Africans “can’t have their cake and eat it”.“Here in Zimbabwe we support South African businesses, which sell goods and conduct trade. The South African people can’t have their cake and eat it,” she said
Below was was her full statement just after the meeting:
MPs PETITION SOUTH AFRICAN AMBASSADOR TO ZIMBABWE ABOUT XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS AGAINST ZIMBABWEANS AND OTHER AFRICANS
Dear Harare Westerners and Friends
Myself and my fellow Members of Parliament representing our constituents and indeed fellow Zimbabweans in South Africa, yesterday presented a Petition to the South African Government to stop the xenophobic lynching of our nationals and other foreigners to the South African Ambassador to Zimbabwe to His Excellency Mr. W. Mavimbela. Please click here for the petition https://www.scribd.com/…/Petition-to-the-South-African-Gove…
The Ambassador met us without notice upon acknowledging the urgency of the problem, and will transmit our petition to Pretoria. He said that while he and the SA government acknowledge the enormity of the problem his government:
1. cannot guarantee the safety of Zimbabweans because police are stretched, failing to control the violence.
2. beyond enforcing the law against the perpetrators, will need a comprehensive solution that addresses immigration & refugee settlement policies.
3. realises that this is a problem for all of Africa to solve.
4. has long forecast these problems that is why its foreign policy prioritises promoting democracy and economic prosperity in the rest of Africa, which would prevent mass migrations to SA that put pressure on it.
Our delegation made it clear that this rabid wave of xenophobia is possibly the biggest threat to African unity and indeed the AU itself. I said if South Africa cannot stop this xenophobes its national Nkosazana Zuma must step down from being Chairperson of the A U Commission and the A U’s Pan African Parliament must move from Midrand South Africa and relocate to a hospitable country in Africa.
Zimbabweans are not safe in South ave Africa.
I am stunned by blacks being racist to fellow Africans, especially when Zimbabweans and South Africans share the same struggle against colonialism. We are South Africa’s major trade partner; almost everything in our homes from Mzansi. The amount of money we spend on sending our children to universities, and support the SA economy in numerous ways. If across the continent Africans were to withdraw support from SA business SA would feel it.
In Harare West constituency in Ashdown Park a house that belonged to PAC members in Eves Crescent was bombed during their fight against Apartheid. The Limpopo border was an invisible curtain and tribes such as the Makoni people originated from South Africa.
It is my prayer that the violence both physical and verbal is stopped! Already Malawi is sending buses to rescue their nationals, what is the Zimbabwean government doing to help our brother and sisters?
MPs who were with me at the South Embassy where:
Hon. Tongesai Mudambu M.P. Harare North Constituency
Hon. James Maridadi M.P. Mabvuku-Tafara Constituency
Hon. Shadreck Mashayamombe M.P. Harare South Constituency
Hon. Margaret Matienga M.P. Sunningdale Constituency
Hon. Paurina Mpariwa M.P. Mufakose Constituency
Hon. John Makore Sen Harare
Hon. Josephine Chitembwe M.P. Proportional Representation
Your MP
Jessie Fungayi Majome