SA spent its resources trying to solve Zim problems but Zim turned all dowm - Analyst

Social and political commentators have said in the advent of xenophobic attacks which gripped South Africa and affected some Zimbabweans, Zimbabwe's government must bear in mind that South Africa spent a lot of its resources trying to solve its political and economic crisis but President Robert Mugabe's government rejected the suggested measures to curb its problems.

They attacked information, Media and Broadcasting minister Jonathan Moyo for attacking South African President Jacob Zuma over the xenophobic attacks.

Black Sibasa said, "Listen to this sinile trying to determine and dictate how a Savoreign State should address its domestic issues. XENOPHOBIA is wrong but Jonathan Moyo should understand that South Africa spent their own resources trying to resolve Zimbabwe's political, economic and social problems which are basical a creation of Robert Mugabe Government."

Sibasa said ZANU PF Government refused to implement reforms which if honoured would have resolved most the political and economic problems that led to sky rocketing inflation.

"Why did 20 000 teachers immigrate to South Africa just in 2007 -2008? It is your POSA, AIPPA and controversial policies that led to the total destruction of the economy," said Sibasa. "ZUMA was 100% correct to blame foreign Governments for the surge in often illegal immigration to South Africa."

 Moyo on Tuesday  said South African President  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.

He 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, who is one of only a handful of top officials in President Robert Mugabe's government who is active on social media.

Zimbabwe has repatriated around 900 of its citizens from Durban in the wake of the attacks, which have left many Zimbabweans back home feeling angry and betrayed.

Returnees have spoken of sleeping out in the bush to escape mobs intent on attacking non-South Africans and of seeing neighbours — and in at least one case a relative – butchered.

One Zimbabwean man told NewsDay on Monday that he hid in a fridge in Verulam, north of Durban, two weeks ago as a mob ransacked his home and stole his savings.

Zuma is expected to address the xenophobia issue at today's extraordinary Sadc summit in Harare, even though the violence is not officially on the agenda of the meeting.

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".

The Zimbabwean 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.

Former Education minister David Coltart says that 20 000 teachers left Zimbabwe between 2007-2008 alone, when hyperinflation and food shortages were at their peak. But others point out that Zimbabweans have been travelling to South Africa in search of work for decades, going as far back as the 1920s.

Popular media entrepreneur Nigel Mugamu asked Moyo in a tweet yesterday 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."