Xenophobic Catastrophe in S/Africa, Inhumane

XENOPHOBIC CATASTROPHE IN S/AFRICA, INHUMANE

         

Undoubtedly, the South Africans have acted outrageously and overstepped the limits of a democratic state, that if drastic and severe measure is not taken by the apt authorities, soonest the members of the global community in its entirety might be sleeping with one-eye open.

          

It is no longer news that presently, there is widespread anger all over Africa and of course the world in general toward the South African government for its inability to mitigate the ongoing wave of xenophobic violence taking place in the country. Reports indicate that, not fewer than twenty people have feared dead and more than one thousand (1,000) foreigners have been displaced from their respective homes and places of business in KwaZulu-Natal.

         

The xenophobic attacks were apparently ignited by remarks reported to have been made in a speech that was presented by the King of Zulu, Goodwill Zwelithini, which called on foreigners that are purportedly taking jobs made for black South-Africans and causing high unemployment rate, to leave the country.

         

The media has been blamed in some quarters for ostensibly taking the King’s words out of context. Indeed, the King was playing with fire for publicly making such an inhumane statement. And right now, he has little, if any, control over the xenophobic outbreak which he is currently denouncing.

         

The Zulu King has been an embarrassment to his subjects. He has a taste for luxury; he currently possesses expensive cars, has at least six wives, and there are outpouring questions regarding upgrades for his wives’ Palaces at the expense of the public. His hostile comments in support of gay marriage, which he backtracks, have outlawed discrimination based on gender and recognized same sex marriage in South Africa. He has been in trouble in several occasions with the South African Human Rights Commission; and his passionate and continued participation in traditional animal sacrifices has been widely condemned by animal rights groups.

           

Pathetically, the reaction of the South African President Mr Jacob Zuma who is an indigene of the Zulu ethnic group has been ineffective. Amusingly, while saying that he does not want foreigners to leave the country, Mr Zuma has on the contrary in subsequent occasion stated that he was prepared to help them do so. Furthermore, he has blamed the xenophobia on the poor social and economic conditions of many of South Africa’s blacks.

         

It is obvious that Mr Zuma’s lackluster condemnation of the xenophobic attacks may reflect his populist style of politics. It is noteworthy that, KwaZulu-Natal has been Zuma’s power base and undeniably is the home of his contentious publicly-funded estate – Nkandala, which he was accused of misusing tax-payers’ money for its construction, much like the Zulu King. Zuma’s power base in KwaZulu-Natal has played a major role in his successful defeat of challenges to his leadership within the African National Congress (ANC).

         

Lest I forget; Xenophobia can be defined as strong dislike or fear of people from other countries. Thus, someone who is xenophobic displays a strong feeling of hatred towards people from other countries or his/her country’s immigrants. Xenophobia is similar to Apartheid, which the late Nelson Mandela was jailed for due to his fierce campaign against the anomaly, but the difference is that the latter is mainly concerned with race. Whichever one that is involved, the truth of the matter remains that, either of them is purely monstrous, inhumane, barbaric, and above all blasphemous.

         

Frankly, the Zulu King deserves to be tried by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for having instigated the monster that is yielding this inglorious act. In regard to the proposed trial, Mr Jacob Zuma along with his son – Mr Edward Zuma who has been supportive of the actions of the Zulu King from the onset, must not be exempted. But prior to the anticipated prosecution, something severe needs to be urgently done to ensure that normalcy is restored in South Africa. In view of this, the International Community, precisely the African Union (AU), ought to issue an ultimatum to the South African government mandating them to do everything within their reach to ensure that violence is eschewed at all cost in the country.

        

I can’t round off this piece without reminding the South Africans of the unending impact of Nigeria on their nation’s socio-economic and political stride. They shouldn’t forget so soon that during the said apartheid era, Nigeria was one of the major countries in the world that was at their aid; most importantly, Nigeria was a key player in the campaign towards the eradication of the political system as well as the crisis constituted by it.

        

Besides, the Nigeria – S/Africa relations cannot be overemphasized. The aforementioned bilateral relations, in which South Africa is at the major gaining side, is a relationship that any sane South African cannot afford to lose. Inter alia, the booming or the most circulated telecommunication firms in Nigeria - the MTN and Multi-Choice, among others are South-African companies. Surely, seeing one of our beneficiaries exhibiting this high level of ingratitude signifies that it is high time Nigerian leaders thought differently.

           

Obviously, the South-Africans have overstepped their boundaries; therefore deserve a serious-minded reciprocation from Nigeria, which is no doubt one of their major benefactors. They haven’t only abused the soul of the late Peace and Freedom hero, Dr Nelson Mandela who we believed had rested in peace, but have also succeeded in awakening the wrath of the ‘Giant of Africa’ alongside other concerned nations across the globe. Thus, it is needless to present an arrest warrant to this bunch of ingrates. Think about it!   

FDN NWAOZOR

(The Media Ambassador)

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frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056