According to BBC NEWS, up to 5,000 people have taken part in a
rally against Xenophobia in South Africa’s coastal city of Durban following
attacks on foreigners.
SAY NO TO XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS has been the week’s motion. Protesters lead by the City mayor and the premier of KwaZulu-Natal marched through Durban chanting “Down with Xenophobia and A united Africa.”
South Africans alleged to be behind the violence have accused
foreigners of taking jobs in their country where the unemployment rate is reported
to be 20% plus.
The escalating violence has claimed at least five (5) lives.
According to an interview with the South Africa’s leader, President Jacob Zuma,
he has condemned the violence and has called for calmness to be restored.
“No amount of frustration or anger can justify the attacks on
foreign nationals and the looting of their shops,” President Zuma told
parliament on Thursday, 16th April 2015.
It is obvious, South Africa’s action has saddened many. More to
it, the people affected have even expressed mixed thoughts about the President’s
statement and have since accused him of fueling the attacks on foreigners.
Meanwhile, the tension in Zambia has worsened following several rumors
on social media-facebook and twitter-stating that two Zambians have
been killed in the Xenophobic attacks. Speaking of this, Zambians are now
considering chanting ‘Say No to South African Products!’ This is said to be a campaign to discourage undertaking
shopping from stores like: Shoprite, Pick ‘n’ Pay, Game Store or any renowned
South African store.
Will
this be the stance Zambians take in attempts of airing out their displeasure of
the xenophobia attacks to the South Africans? We’ll see soon.
In my opinion, its ‘No to Xenophobia attacks’ that I am in full support
of. But, I am totally against the new motion of discouraging the citizens from shopping
the South African products. After all, despite our differences we’ll forever remain
OneAfrica. Just think deeply about it.
