March Begins at the National Assembly Premisses |
The largest crowd has marched in Malawi
on Tuesday morning from outside National Assembly building to Kang'ombe House
in the city centre of the Capital, Lilongwe where the South African embassy is
based to give petition which is calling South African Government to immediately
halt the ongoing Xenophobic attacks against foreign African nationals.
The demonstration organized by a group of
human rights activists was joined by legislatures Honorable
Bon Kalindo, and other dignitaries
including Mr Dalitso Kubalasa of MEJN, Martha Kwataine (MHEN), Hon. Rev. Malani
Mtonga (PP), and The Presidential Advisor on NGOs Mavuto Bamusi, and
others.
Hon Bon Kalindo carrying Malawi Flag |
Hundreds of Malawians
took to the streets while dressed in black attires, some demonstrators were in T-shirts having face
of President Jacob Zuma and others for Mandela while another man was seen
putting on Ngoni costume.
Songs of expressing anger with South
African government and calling President Jacob Zuma to end these attacks were
chanted throughout the way to South African High Commission office.
Man put on Jacob Zuma T-Shirt |
The protesters have presented the
petition to South African High Commissioner to Malawi, Ambassador Cassandra
Mbuyane Mokone who has since told those who gathered outside the embassy office
that she was sending the petition immediately to Pretoria and thanked the
demonstrators.
Cassandra Mbuyane Mokone receiving petition |
The petition signed by Malawi Human
Rights activists, Billy Mayaya, Gift Trapence, Robert Mkwezalamba, Lucky Mbewe
and Timothy Mtambo on behalf of concerned citizens of Malawi is asking South
African Government to address the worsening violence within 48 hours, else face
boycott to all South African products, businesses including ban of South
African airlines from operating or landing in Malawi airports.
The South African Government is urged to
take a proactive action in protecting rights of all people living in South
Africa, in line with provisions in their constitution and international legal
obligations and address the cause of xenophobia.
The letter is further calling for
thorough investigation of these ongoing violence and hold those responsible
accountable so that they face justice. Similarly, the petition while accusing
Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini, Edward Zuma and Small Businesses Development
Minister Lindiwe Zulu for their alleged remarks which are fueling the attacks
against foreign African nationals it asks south African Human Rights Commission
to investigate such xenophobia comments and take appropriate action.
However, the petition noted with
disappointment that perpetrators of 2008 xenophobic violence were not held
accountable for the killings of more than 60 people.
Though not addressed in the petition, human rights activist Timothy Mtambo says they want compensation to Malawi victims.
The ongoing violence in South Africa
against foreign African nationals is premised on alleged crowding of South African jobs by immigrants and lender the citizens jobless.
But the petition says "We call upon
the Government of South Africa to urgently remove the structural inequalities
that are rooted in apartheid and white privilege. We believe these are main
causes of worsening economic inequality and marginalization.
These inequalities
were not instituted by migrants and will not automatically disappear if the
migrant population decreases."
The petition adds "The most
sustainable way to address the economic frustrations felt by many South
Africans is to adopt policies that reduce the inequalities and create
programmes that empower ordinary South Africans."
The petition also reminds South African Government of how other African countries including Zimbabwe, sacrificed their socio-economic and political resources in solidarity with South African liberation movements to bring to an end to evil apartheid.
"In solidarity of these extreme
sacrifices by African people, we expect the South African authorities and its
citizens to reciprocate the solidarity through Ubuntu and shunning of
Xenophobia."
Billy Mayaya posing with one of the demonstrators |
Billy Mayaya one of the organizers for
the demonstration said it is possible to boycott South African businesses and
products if Malawians agrees to.
South African businesses including Game
shop, Shoprite and Standard Bank have large customers in Malawi.
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