Apostle Paul in Galatians wondered the characters of the Galatians. He queried their intelligence in doing things and how they understood the Gospel of Jesus Christ. At one time Apostle Paul screamed “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?”
This is what can be said of South Africans. They are so thoughtless that they cannot remember their past and how far they have come. They are so unwise not even to appreciate what people of Africa had done for them. They are so ungrateful that they cannot even remember the lives that were lost in an effort to get their freedom. They are so hasty that they cannot even remember how much Nelson Mandela and their forefathers laboured to ensure that other countries in Africa joined the fight against apartheid.
As Malawian Watchdog.com has said the madness that is happening in South Africa needs to come to an end quickly. Xenophobia has dented the beauty of South Africa. The increasing emergence of xenophobia as social policy and practice in the face of presumed state acquiescence will only lead South Africa backwards and demotivate its continental integration and development.”
It is sad to see how South Africans were cutting other Africans in pieces like an animal. It was also sad to see how South Africans were burning fellow African like refuse bin on an Africa street. It is unbelievable to see South Africans chasing fellow African from South Africa.
According to Washington post the recent attacks on foreign national mostly from Africa are as of the speech given by the Zulu King. King Goodwill Zwelithini, whose role is largely symbolic, told that foreign migrants in the country were taking South African jobs and that they should pack their belongings and go.
Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini said: “We are requesting those who come from outside to please go back to their countries. The fact that there were countries that played a role in the country’s struggle for liberation should not be used as an excuse to create a situation where foreigners are allowed to inconvenience locals. I know you were in their countries during the struggle for liberation. But the fact of the matter is you did not set up businesses in their countries”.
Of course some South Africans may plead innocence unfortunately the acts done by their brothers have tarnished the image of the country. In Zambia we say in the middist of many groundnuts swallowed if one groundnut is rotten, then all groundnuts are rotten.
South African should remember that Mandela and his comrades labored to have freedom they enjoy today. In his on word Nelson Mandela preached peace at every forum he featured. In accepting the Nobel Peace Prize Nelson Mandela Said “I am here today as a representative of the millions of people across the globe, the anti-apartheid movement, the governments and organizations that joined with us, not to fight against South Africa as a country or any of its peoples, but to oppose an inhuman system. These countless human beings, both inside and outside our country, had the nobility of spirit to stand in the path of tyranny and injustice, without seeking selfish gain. They recognized that an injury to one is an injury to all and therefore acted together in defense of justice and a common human decency.”
In his Inauguration speech as President of South Africa Mandela said “Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another and suffer the indignity of being the skunk of the world. Let freedom reign"
So what is wrong with the South Africans? Xenophobia must be stopped. This black demon in South Africa should be removed before the country collapses. it is so unfortunate that South African consider African to be enemy of progress.
In conclusion I end by appealing to all African governments to stand up and condemn Xenophobia.