The Sunday News
ZIMBABWEANS deserve freedom in South Africa as that country’s citizens are entitled to the same here without being attacked, an official has said.
Speaking during the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Cultural Festival at Davhata Primary School under Chief Sengwe in Chiredzi on Saturday, South Africa’s Vhembe district municipality economic development manager, Mr Mukundi Mushaphi, deplored xenophobic attacks taking place in his country where Zimbabweans are attacked by that country’s nationals.
He said the two countries were inseparable and enjoyed a cordial relationship.
Sometime in 2011 and this year, some areas in South Africa were characterised by a spate of xenophobic attacks where foreigners, including Zimbabweans, were burnt to death with some being struck by machetes and axes.
“I wonder why some of our nationals attack foreigners, especially Zimbabweans. Zimbabwe is our kind neighbour and we have many things in common. During apartheid, our forces used to be housed here and assisted by the Zipra forces until we won the war.
“That shows that we are brothers and sisters who should live in harmony together as opposed to the xenophobic madness,” Mr Mushaphi said.
“As a municipality of Vhembe, we have come up with a number of initiatives to promote synergies between our country and Zimbabwe. Some of them are cultural festivals like Vhembe Cultural Festival and Great Limpopo Transfrontier Cultural Fair which has brought us here.”
Mr Mushaphi urged people from Africa to embrace each other with love and care, adding that violence begets violence and retards development.
“There is no reason why we should fight our Zimbabwean counterparts who helped us a lot during the war of liberation.
“The Zipra cadres joined hands with South African fighters to fight whites. Zimbabweans are good and very receptive people such that we should always reciprocate the same gesture,” he said.
