President Mnangagwa might trigger unnecessary Xenophobia in South Africa

In an exclusive Interview with the 1873 FM, Adv. Mpofu said, "The decision to deny Nelson Chamisa his right to a representation of choice was a political decision and not a legal one. We had got all the clearance from the relevant institutions and we were told that the only thing now remaining was a letter of authorisation from the Minister of Justice. And be mindful that the Minister was the Chief Election Agent of Mr. Emmerson Mnangagwa and was an interested part in this case. We found it absurd that one of the potential litigants has the power to choose the representation of the applicant.

"How can you be open for business when professionals are not allowed to practice in your country? We are busy in South Africa preaching Pan-African-ism, fighting xenophobia and teaching people about regional integration and yet you have an African government that behaves contrary to these beliefs that the whole of Africa is preaching."

If Adv. Dali Mpofu's words are anything to go by the recent inaugurated President of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa might actually trigger xenophobia indirectly as the two lawyers were not happy with the way they were treated in Zimbabwe.

It is important to note that one of the main causes of xenophobia in South Africa towards the foreigners mainly Zimbabweans is the fact that foreigners are said to be taking the jobs of the locals while they accept any salary from white minority industry owners. In recent years foreign nationals were exposed to in human attacks and some being burnt alive. From my past experience in South Africa, Zimbabweans tend to be second fiddle to the SA's citizens despite their academic qualifications and survival is mostly for the fittest as staying in Zimbabwe might be even worse than being in South Africa, but the case might prove to be the opposite when it comes to safety and security of foreigners especially at work places were many are using fake work permits while the same peril is worse for those who will be staying in locations, basically life is not that rosy if the above two scenarios are attached to your daily survival in South Africa. With the EDM mantra that has now even reached Europe of Zimbabwe is 'Open for Business' yet it is the opposite when it comes to legal representation of choice for the opposition legal team, the move by the Mnangagwa's government to deny the South African legal expects the right to practice law in Zimbabwe might be the smoke screen of an unwanted xenophobia attacks.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his legal team knew that they were not going to stand an inch against the duo of Adv. Dali Mpofu and Thembeka Ngcukaitobi considering that the two Advs. are renowned legal experts, however their denial to practice law in Zimbabwe might have been more political than legal battle and might actually have a longer bearing for foreign nationals in South Africa especially Zimbabweans.

Mnangagwa must be honest in his engagement exercise as one single error might trigger unnecessary loss of life to thousands of Zimbabweans who are in exile in South Africa due to Zanu Pf long and overdue bad governance. Zimbabweans especially those in South Africa who are using fake work permits have suffered a lot just to earn a decent meal and any unnecessary error that will be committed by the Zanu Pf government to provoke xenophobia will be the last thing that they might expect. Its high time ED and his government be real on people especially its citizens rather that the quest for power.

Knowledge Hakata is a cutting edge political analyst and co-founder of Demos Cratos based in Canada and can be contacted on knowledgehakata@yahoo.com/waterlessprings@gmail .com