News / National
'Zuma's speech appears to justify xenophobia,' says Jonathan Moyo
28 Apr 2015 at 16:23hrs | Views
Zimbabwe's information tsar Professor Jonathan Moyo said on Tuesday that President Jacob Zuma's comments on xenophobia during a Freedom Day speech could be interpreted as "an unfortunate justification" of the recent attacks that left at least seven dead, News24 reported.
Moyo said in tweets that it was "sad" that Zuma made no outright condemnation of the violence. He accused the South African leader of "Afrophobia".
"If SA wants an argument on how its economy was built & by whom it will get it!" wrote the minister on social media.
Moyo took issue with Zuma's call on Monday for improvements in trade and regional integration so that "brothers and sisters will eventually no longer need to leave their countries in search of a better life".
Moyo minister tweeted: "It comes across as an unfortunate justification of the gruesome xenophobic attacks even if unintentionally so!"
Critics of Mugabe say his controversial policies led to a surge in often-illegal migration to South Africa after 2000.
Media entrepreneur Nigel Mugamu asked Moyo in a tweet on Tuesday if he was worried his comments "could create a diplomatic storm".
But Moyo replied: "Freedom Day speech is public & some of us represent constituencies that have been profoundly affected by xenophobic attacks in SA."
Moyo said in tweets that it was "sad" that Zuma made no outright condemnation of the violence. He accused the South African leader of "Afrophobia".
"If SA wants an argument on how its economy was built & by whom it will get it!" wrote the minister on social media.
Moyo took issue with Zuma's call on Monday for improvements in trade and regional integration so that "brothers and sisters will eventually no longer need to leave their countries in search of a better life".
Critics of Mugabe say his controversial policies led to a surge in often-illegal migration to South Africa after 2000.
Media entrepreneur Nigel Mugamu asked Moyo in a tweet on Tuesday if he was worried his comments "could create a diplomatic storm".
But Moyo replied: "Freedom Day speech is public & some of us represent constituencies that have been profoundly affected by xenophobic attacks in SA."
Source - News24
