THE disturbing new wave of xenophobia gripping our southern neighbour smacks of a protracted failure by South Africa to metamorphose from the apartheid mode and remnants of neo-colonialism that now manifest as a disdain for "foreigners," whatever that means!
Fortunately or unfortunately, I was in the Rainbow Nation in 2019 when xenophobic attacks were still prevalent for reasons that cry to heaven for reparations.
I witnessed how brother turned against brother in the name of protecting jobs, even where there are no requisite skills!
I know it sounds vitriolic and stereotypical, but I still find it ironic that blacks are labelled foreigners in Africa, yet the former white colonisers are not.
Yet, some of the countries, whose migrants this madness seeks to declare persona non grata, were instrumental in bringing democratic rule to South Africa.
They are now being paid back by being told/intimidated to go back “where you came from”.
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I can imagine if Zimbabwe were to do the same to Zambia and Mozambique, which played a central role in emancipating the country from the yoke of colonialism.
It would be the most ungrateful act of the century.
It is crystal clear that when black emigrants from Zimbabwe, Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Somalia, to mention a few, flock to another African country in search of better opportunities, it is a cry for help, not torture.
I am neither explicating nor justifying the causes of the collapse of their economies back home, as it is a topic for another day. Suffice to say, in the absence of economic limbo, some of them would not have contemplated emigrating.
I am, however, perturbed by the ill-treatment of the so-called "foreigners" on African soil under the guise of protecting local jobs; saving health institutions from a deluge of "foreigners"; and all sorts of reasons proffered by the movements bent on eliminating "foreigners".
It is unequivocal that the issue of documentation is the prerogative of the Immigration Department and the police, not gangs.
What boggles the mind is that individuals and movements in South Africa are taking the law into their own hands, making the lives of fellow Africans hell on earth.
I won't comment on whether their actions are sanctioned or not, as that would be speculative.
All I can say is I find the silence, reaction or apathy from the authorities disturbing.
I am sure Nelson Mandela is turning in his grave at what South Africa he served a prison sentence for has metamorphosed into.
As a Zimbabwean, I know we have our own economic problems to sort out at home.
However, some of my fellow compatriots who have crossed the Limpopo River have aided the South African economy in a way that warrants recognition, not xenophobia.
In my opinion, it is barbaric, inhuman and un-African to dehumanise, torture, deny medical care or even seek the expulsion of fellow Africans from an African country.
Politicians should not be complicit in this madness, as their quiescence may be construed (or misconstrued) as acquiescence to the status quo.
I applaud the few voices in the wilderness that have raised concern over black-on-black violence.
For instance, the combative Julius Malema has come out guns blazing, lambasting xenophobia.
The President of Botswana, Duma Boko, has reportedly decried the barbaric acts.
In the same vein, the United Nations has echoed the same sentiments.
South African authorities owe the continent and the world a concise, coherent and unequivocal policy and stance to tame black-on-black violence, which reeks of apartheid relics.
It doesn't need a rocket scientist to fathom the contribution some of the migrants have made to the South African economy, especially in the area of assuaging the skills gap.
Of course, there may be some undocumented "foreigners" who may be perpetrating crime or peddling drugs, as the rumour mill has regurgitated.
However, we cannot throw away the baby with the bath water!
South Africa needs to tackle the problem head-on using a holistic approach that combines law enforcement initiatives to stop gangs from taking the law into their hands, plus policy backed up by sincere statements denouncing the uncouth proclivity to harm, maim, torment, or kill fellow Africans!
In the spirit of Pan-Africanism, Ubuntu, and respect for the sanctity of life, I urge the powers-that-be to take the issue of curbing xenophobia seriously.
Gangsterism in the name of "sanitising" whatever lacunas has no place in this contemporary world.
Gone are the days when dubious organisations such as the notorious Operation Dudula were celebrated as heroic.
If truth be told, that's the infant version of terrorism.
If we continue to turn a blind eye to their operations, we are undoubtedly creating a dangerous precedent for the African continent and the world at large.
Waves of xenophobia are a storm slowly brewing and before we know it, it may graduate into a hurricane that swallows the continent into its vortex.
South Africa and, indeed, the whole of Africa under the banner of the African Union, must be vocal in stemming — not fomenting — black-on-black (and any form for that matter) violence.
The genocide in Rwanda is still fresh in our memories, and we cannot afford a reincarnation of such dastardly moments on our beautiful continent.
In the same vein, countries should prioritise mending their economies to lessen migration to so-called greener pastures that may end up as death-traps.
Canisio Mudzimu is a freelance writer obsessed with the protection of human rights. He can be contacted at canisiomudzimu@gmail.com