News / Africa
Namibians instigate xenophobic attack on Zimbabweans
21 Apr 2015 at 11:09hrs | Views
Some Namibian artists in the town of Oshakati in the Oshana region are said to have planned to instigate Xenophobic attacks against Zimbabwean street vendors throughout the country.
According to Media Reports from inside the country, police in the region interrogated a famous local actor Jekonia Akuunda, known as Ndjeke ya Malimba, for allegedly instigating xenophobic attacks.
The plan would have involved the seizure of pirated music CDs and videos produced by Namibian artistes which are aid to be sold on the streets at five times lower than the normal price.
The surprise xenophobic attacks which were planned for today in the Oshakati in the hope that it would spread thought out the country were however, halted after police were notified.
"This was going to be breaking news, but after a thorough discussion with the police we have decided to cancel the plan. But we want government to do the right thing so that we can reach an amicable solution so that we enjoy the market," said Ndjeke ya Malimba.
Ndjeke reportedly confessed before the Oshana police and senior police officials in the region that he and his people were going to seize and burn the items of the Zimbabwean nationals.
There are close to 15,000 Zimbabweans living in Namibia with most of them trading on the informal market as they try to escape a deepening economic and political crisis in Zimbabwe.
This come after the attacks on foreigners in South Africa over the past weeks which has claimed 7 lives and left scores injured and also displaced of over 1,500 foreigners.
This is not the first time tension has arisen between Zimbabwean vendors and Namibians.
In 2013 Namibian authorities launched a crackdown on illegal Zimbabweans the majority working as vendors
One vendor caught selling cigarettes, air time and other items was sentenced to pay a fine of $1,100 or 12 months imprisonment for overstaying his welcome in that country.
In 2006 Zimbabweans living in Namibia became a source of ridicule and scorn from native Namibians due to a wave of criminal activities in which many Zimbabweans had been involved.
The xenophobia attacks heightened when a group of four Zimbabweans kidnapped and demanded N$2 million dollars from a Chinese businessman as ransom.
According to Media Reports from inside the country, police in the region interrogated a famous local actor Jekonia Akuunda, known as Ndjeke ya Malimba, for allegedly instigating xenophobic attacks.
The plan would have involved the seizure of pirated music CDs and videos produced by Namibian artistes which are aid to be sold on the streets at five times lower than the normal price.
The surprise xenophobic attacks which were planned for today in the Oshakati in the hope that it would spread thought out the country were however, halted after police were notified.
"This was going to be breaking news, but after a thorough discussion with the police we have decided to cancel the plan. But we want government to do the right thing so that we can reach an amicable solution so that we enjoy the market," said Ndjeke ya Malimba.
Ndjeke reportedly confessed before the Oshana police and senior police officials in the region that he and his people were going to seize and burn the items of the Zimbabwean nationals.
This come after the attacks on foreigners in South Africa over the past weeks which has claimed 7 lives and left scores injured and also displaced of over 1,500 foreigners.
This is not the first time tension has arisen between Zimbabwean vendors and Namibians.
In 2013 Namibian authorities launched a crackdown on illegal Zimbabweans the majority working as vendors
One vendor caught selling cigarettes, air time and other items was sentenced to pay a fine of $1,100 or 12 months imprisonment for overstaying his welcome in that country.
In 2006 Zimbabweans living in Namibia became a source of ridicule and scorn from native Namibians due to a wave of criminal activities in which many Zimbabweans had been involved.
The xenophobia attacks heightened when a group of four Zimbabweans kidnapped and demanded N$2 million dollars from a Chinese businessman as ransom.
Source - Mandlenkosi Chinula
