Zimbabwe government has cautioned its citizens from travelling to South Africa following a xenophobic attack on foreigners in the second-largest economy on the African continent.
South Africans, who blame foreigners of taking their jobs, have been attacking immigrants into their country looting foreign-owned businesses and threatening death to any black incomer on their soil.
African countries whose immigrants to South Africa are the main targets to the xenophobic attack have been reacting to the treatment of the foreigners with Nigerian singers and Zambia’s football team boycotting their travels to Africa’s southernmost country.
Zimbabwe, with an estimated population of around 1-5 million citizens living in South Africa, is likely to face a massive casualty in the latest xenophobic attack.
In a press release by Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa condemned the attacks.
“We extend our heartfelt sympathies to all Zimbabweans and other African nationals who suffered from the senseless orgy of violence in South Africa,” Mutsvangwa said.
“The government and people of Zimbabwe condemn the barbaric acts, which clearly offends the spirit of African unity and solidarity as espoused by the African Union Founding fathers in Addis Ababa in 1963.”
“All Zimbabweans living in South Africa and those travelling to the country are urged to take necessary precaution to ensure their safety,” Mutsvangwa said.
Zimbabwean authorities are however not aggressive to the South African administration for the xenophobic attacks as trade between the two countries weighs over US$2 billion.
“We applaud the South African Government for their swift intervention to end the violence and bring the perpetrators to book,” Mutsvangwa said.
“The despicable attacks come at an inopportune time when African leaders have just launched a Continental wide Africa Free Trade Area, which has opened exciting economic opportunities that facilitate free movement of capital, labour, goods and services.”