Roundup: Zimbabweans angry over xenophobic violence in South Africa

Zimbabweans took to streets Friday in the capital Harare to express their anger over the xenophobic attacks in South Africa which have so far claimed the lives of five foreign nationals, including at least one Zimbabwean.

South Africa, where about 3 million Zimbabwean diaspora live, has been grappling with the resurgence of xenophobic violence since last week after residents of the port city of Durban started attacking foreigners, their homes and businesses. The anti- foreigner violence has since spread to the city of Johannesburg, amid calls by that country's leadership for calm and immediate end to the violence.

The Zimbabwe government this week condemned the attacks and warned that the xenophobia could turn into genocide if not urgently controlled.

"Xenophobia today can easily mutate into genocide tomorrow. Stop It," Information Minister Jonathan Moyo said.

Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi said about 800 Zimbabweans had been displaced by the violence and that government would set up an inter-ministerial team to facilitate evacuation of the affected Zimbabweans.

Zimbabwe's ambassador to South Africa Isaac Moyo was quoted by the state-run Chronicle newspaper Friday saying that over 1,000 Zimbabweans will be repatriated from South Africa this Sunday in the wake of the escalating xenophobic attacks.

The ruling Zanu-PF party has also denounced the attacks, saying the violence makes a mockery of the persistent calls for unity in the Southern African Development Community region.

Party national spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said the attacks were an anti-thesis of the current good relations existing between Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe was recently in South Africa where he signed several cooperation agreements with his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma.

Khaya-Moyo said South Africa had an obligation according to the Vienna Declaration to ensure that it protects the lives of all foreign nationals.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change led by ex-Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has also added its voice in condemning the attacks.

"It is quite disheartening that the brutal attacks on fellow Africans by their African brothers and sisters are happening at a time we are calling for a United Africa.

"This uncanny behavior by some of our brothers and sisters in South Africa clearly contradicts the ethos and principles guiding the African Union and flies in the face of the aspirations of the founding values for a United Africa," the party said.

As anger mounts among Zimbabweans, many have taken to social media to vent their frustration over the violence while a group of Zimbabwean legislators this week filed a petition at the South African Embassy demanding an end of the xenophobic attacks on foreigners.

In their petition, the legislators urged South Africa to respect the African Union Charter which calls for the promotion of understating among people and cooperation among states.

On Friday, civic society groups demonstrated at the South African Embassy in Harare against the attacks, and handed over a petition to the country's deputy ambassador Phumla Andy Makwabe, calling on their government to quickly act, restore order and protect foreigners, according to private-run NewsDay newspaper.

Fears of retaliation by Zimbabweans were also mounting in the wake of media reports that a farmer and musician in Karoi, about 200 km north west of Harare, was arrested Thursday for barricading part of the Harare-Chirundu Road in protest against xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

The farmer was targeting South African registered trucks and telling their drivers to return. The road is part of the north- south highway that links South Africa to Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and other northern parts of Africa.

Analysts say the xenophobic violence has also dampened the spirit of celebration among Zimbabweans who will mark their 35th independence anniversary on Saturday. Endi