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AmaZulu king to meet Mnangagwa over tensions
2 hrs ago |
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Misuzulu ka Zwelithini and King Ndamase Ndamase are set to travel to Zimbabwe for talks with President Emmerson Mnangagwa amid rising anti-immigrant tensions in South Africa.
According to reports, Ndamase, leader of the AmaMpondo aseNyandeni in the Eastern Cape, wrote to South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, on July 3 informing him of the planned visit.
Lamola's spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri, confirmed that the department had received the correspondence and would engage the traditional leaders regarding their proposal.
Ndamase said the decision followed a high-level meeting on June 27 at which South African President Cyril Ramaphosa met traditional leaders to discuss growing anti-immigrant sentiment and the government's response.
The meeting came three days before nationwide demonstrations organised by anti-immigration groups on June 30, which had set an ultimatum for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa.
According to Ndamase, he and Misuzulu also met Ramaphosa separately on June 28, where they agreed on the need to engage regional leaders on migration and xenophobia.
The two kings intend to discuss regional migration, xenophobia and the role of minority communities within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area. They have also proposed hosting a Southern African Development Community regional minority summit in Victoria Falls to explore ways of transforming migration into what they described as a strategic asset for regional investment.
In a separate letter dated July 3, Ndamase requested a meeting with Mnangagwa, describing the Zimbabwean leader as a Pan-Africanist well placed to guide dialogue on regional migration challenges.
Chris Mutsvangwa confirmed on Monday that Mnangagwa would meet the traditional leaders, saying the discussions would form part of efforts to address what he termed the "weaponisation of poverty."
Mutsvangwa said Mnangagwa had been communicating through intermediaries linked to traditional leaders in KwaZulu-Natal, as well as the amaXhosa and amaMpondo kingdoms. He added that correspondence had been received from the Kingdom of Zululand, the king of amaMpondo and the Xhosa paramount king, with discussions expected to focus on regional responses to migration-related challenges.
Misuzulu is also reported to have played a role in easing tensions ahead of the June 30 demonstrations in KwaZulu-Natal by urging his subjects to refrain from violence, avoid damaging property and protect foreign nationals during the protests.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's Information Minister Zhemu Soda said on Tuesday that 21,291 Zimbabwean nationals had been repatriated by the government since May, while a further 56,832 had returned independently amid fears of violence in South Africa.
Soda said the government had established an inter-ministerial committee to oversee the reception, registration, transportation and reintegration of returning citizens.
According to reports, Ndamase, leader of the AmaMpondo aseNyandeni in the Eastern Cape, wrote to South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, on July 3 informing him of the planned visit.
Lamola's spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri, confirmed that the department had received the correspondence and would engage the traditional leaders regarding their proposal.
Ndamase said the decision followed a high-level meeting on June 27 at which South African President Cyril Ramaphosa met traditional leaders to discuss growing anti-immigrant sentiment and the government's response.
The meeting came three days before nationwide demonstrations organised by anti-immigration groups on June 30, which had set an ultimatum for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa.
According to Ndamase, he and Misuzulu also met Ramaphosa separately on June 28, where they agreed on the need to engage regional leaders on migration and xenophobia.
The two kings intend to discuss regional migration, xenophobia and the role of minority communities within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area. They have also proposed hosting a Southern African Development Community regional minority summit in Victoria Falls to explore ways of transforming migration into what they described as a strategic asset for regional investment.
In a separate letter dated July 3, Ndamase requested a meeting with Mnangagwa, describing the Zimbabwean leader as a Pan-Africanist well placed to guide dialogue on regional migration challenges.
Chris Mutsvangwa confirmed on Monday that Mnangagwa would meet the traditional leaders, saying the discussions would form part of efforts to address what he termed the "weaponisation of poverty."
Mutsvangwa said Mnangagwa had been communicating through intermediaries linked to traditional leaders in KwaZulu-Natal, as well as the amaXhosa and amaMpondo kingdoms. He added that correspondence had been received from the Kingdom of Zululand, the king of amaMpondo and the Xhosa paramount king, with discussions expected to focus on regional responses to migration-related challenges.
Misuzulu is also reported to have played a role in easing tensions ahead of the June 30 demonstrations in KwaZulu-Natal by urging his subjects to refrain from violence, avoid damaging property and protect foreign nationals during the protests.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's Information Minister Zhemu Soda said on Tuesday that 21,291 Zimbabwean nationals had been repatriated by the government since May, while a further 56,832 had returned independently amid fears of violence in South Africa.
Soda said the government had established an inter-ministerial committee to oversee the reception, registration, transportation and reintegration of returning citizens.
Source - zimmlive
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