Zambian radio station stops playing S. African music over xenophobic attacks

A radio station in Zambia on Friday canceled the playing of South African music following attacks on foreign nationals living in that country.

QFM Radio, one of the popular privately-owned radio stations situated in Lusaka, the Zambian capital, said it decided to black out the playing of South African music in protest against xenophobic attacks on immigrants currently taking place in that country.

"The move to black out South African music indefinitely starting at 06:00 hours on Friday is in solidarity with Africans who have fallen victims to xenophobic attacks in Durban and Kwazulu-Natal provinces," Asan Nyama, the station's managing director said in a statement emailed to Xinhua.

"As the biggest private music radio station in Zambia, with a listenership not only in our country, but across the globe via live internet streaming and satellite platforms, we feel duty bound to voice out in protest at the attacks on foreign nationals by South Africans by stopping the air play of South African music, " he added.

He said there was need to send a clear message to South Africans that violence on fellow Africans negates African unity which the continent's forefathers fought for.

At least five foreigners, including a 14-year-old boy, have been killed in attacks in South Africa's coastal city of Durban.

In 2008, at least 62 people died in xenophobic attacks that swept through South Africa.

Many jobless South Africans accuse immigrants of taking jobs in their country. Endi