Xenophobia should not be tolerated

The outbreak of anti-immigrant violence in South Africa recently has prompted a set of theoretical questions and reappraisals of theoretical suppositions. What is termed as xenophobia is exclusion practiced by people of the same race, which has characterised post apartheid South African black social relations.

The looting of foreign-owned shops in Soweto, South Africa, indicates that the country needs robust economic empowerment policies that benefit the black majority. It is real that the actions by black South Africans posed and is continuing posing a big threat to African unity.

The recent incident has raised fears of the return of the xenophobic attacks in the same country where more than 63 foreigners were killed, while thousands others were displaced in 2008. The latest looting is an indication that the majority of blacks are in need of economic empowerment.

The looting is all about social exclusion of blacks in the economic matrix of South Africa. At the end, the locals in that country target immigrants whom they perceive as taking away economic opportunities. They have to borrow from Zimbabwe's policy of indigenisation. If we give an analysis of the looting we would be tempted to think that the shooting and looting will recur unless there is a robust policy in terms of black empowerment.

It is prudent that there is need to address the African National Congress struggle thrust, that is, empowering blacks. That is why Julius Malema is becoming popular. Even President Jacob Zuma has seen the light on land reform and noticed that the willing buyer willing seller policy on land does not work. The economy is skewed in favour of the minority whites and there is simmering tensions on the part of blacks.

This has manifested itself in the formation of the Economic Freedom Fighters. The shooting, that triggered the looting, has also provoked tensions that have been lying low. Black people, in turn, direct their energies at fellow Africans and other foreigners. The South Africans feel that their economic space has been invaded by foreigners. It is a reality that economic refugees in that country run businesses that take the space of locals.

South African blacks believe that their opportunities are being taken away by people who do not belong there. We might feel that the South Africans are being unfair, but it remains a fact that an empowerment programme is needed for the less privileged  in that country. The black South Africans need to have entrepreneurial skills in order for them to be empowered.

For Pan Africanism and unity to prevail we should seek to understand the shameful saga of the xenophobic looting of shops owned by foreign nationals and the violence that followed. We should shun away xenophobia as it retards development.
Every progressive minded person should call upon all those involved in inciting, maiming and the brutal murder of fellow Africans to stop forthwith; equally many people are disgusted and want to explore non-violence means to communicate feelings to the South African government and the global community. We should call upon the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to act swiftly before this escalates into genocide or destabilizes the region.

We call on all countries with victims in South Africa to review their internal policies and take corrective measures to reduce migration to South Africa. The idea that people are stealing jobs for locals in South Africa and that they do not have to be there needs to be corrected.  A lot of what has been said and reproduced is based on hearsay and anecdotal evidence or myths.

Some South Africans empowered themselves, hence, they have no problems with immigrants. However, the majority of South African men are lazy, hence, they resort to crime for survival.Some team up with immigrants to do business together and even learn from one another. At this juncture African leaders should come together with a common agenda, speaking out strongly against violence.

In Zimbabwe opposition parties and their handlers are using the xenophobic attacks as a focal point to attack the government and claim that President Robert Mugabe and ZANU PF are indirectly responsible. It should be noted that the opposition parties are so desperate to the extent of being opportunistic and trying to use every tragic event for their own selfish political gains.

It is pathetic that an African turns on another African as we forget the long journey we have travelled together against similar injustice and persecution from others who sought to subjugate us perpetually.