MDC Statement on Xenophobic attacks in South Africa

THE MDC is disturbed by the escalation of xenophobic attacks on foreigners in South Africa. With an estimated 1.5 million Zimbabweans having fled the Robert Mugabe's dictatorship and economic decay, these savage attacks are a cause of major pain and concern to us.

We call upon the South African Government to deal decisively with this problem in order to prevent further loss of life.

The SA government must realize that this is a ticking time bomb and if left unattended, can easily degenerate into more unnecessary blood-shed. The inflammatory anti -foreigners' statements from some sections in leadership are also unhelpful.

So far several people have died from the xenophobic attacks while thousands have been displaced and living in refugee camps. The sporadic attacks are a painful reminder of the 2008 episode of xenophobic attacks which claimed 44 lives and displaced more than 20 000 people.

We urge the South Africans responsible for perpetrating these attacks to show respect for human life and dignity and exercise tolerance and compassion for foreign nationals, particularly Zimbabweans, as they are fleeing the dictatorship of their government back home. Thanks to the misrule of the Zanu PF government, up to 3.5 million Zimbabweans are living in neighboring countries, where most live in deplorable conditions, where they are raped, beaten, struggle to find basic shelter, subjected to xenophobic violence, abuse and neglect, even when trying to access health care.

While the perpetrators of this violence may feel aggrieved we believe it is not necessary to resort to violence, which if not stopped may result in genocide.We have always admired our neighboring sister South Africa as a country which respects the rule of law, and accordingly the deportation of foreigners if necessary should be done in accordance with the country's immigration laws.

The selective attacks on Africans in these disturbances are a sad reminder of the apartheid era where a hidden hand would fuel a fight between Africans so that Africans are seen as savages.

The MDC believes however that the xenophobic attacks on our people are just a symptom of the real problem and thus we call upon the Zimbabwe Government to restore the dignity of our people by:

1. Urgently attending to the economic challenges facing the country so that the economic climate in the country is conducive for all Zimbabwean economic refugees in South Africa to return home. We believe that it is the duty of a Government to provide for a conducive environment for its citizens so that they are not treated as second class citizens in other countries.

2. The Zanu -PF government must deal decisively with corruption, cut wasteful government expenditure and fulfil its electoral promises to create employment.

3. The Zimbabwe Government should immediately channel resources to assist in the repatriation of Zimbabweans who are in South Africa and wish return home. It is the duty of the Government to safeguard its citizens where ever they maybe.

4. The Zimbabwe Government should urgently engage its South African counterparts with a view to safeguard our people.

5. The MDC further calls President Robert Mugabe in his capacity as SADC and AU chair to urgently convene a conference on stopping the xenophobic attacks in the continent.