The Sunday Mail
Ambassador Bimha
The xenophobic violence in South Africa is highly likely to come under discussion at the ongoing Sadc Heads of State Extraordinary Summit which began in Harare yesterday.
The summit started with an indaba of senior officials which ends today, while the meeting of the council of ministers takes place between tomorrow and Tuesday before the convention of the Heads of State brings down the curtain on the high-level meeting on Wednesday.
Nationals from Sadc countries Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe have been the most affected by the anti-immigrant violence.
Sadc Heads of State who include the bloc’s chairman, President Robert Mugabe, South African President Jacob Zuma, and Malawi President Peter Mutharika have strongly condemned the xenophobic attacks.
Speaking to The Sunday Mail last Friday, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Joey Bimha said while the issue of xenophobia was not on the main agenda, the matter was likely to be brought up at the summit.
“This is a special extraordinary summit, which was called to discuss specific issues on industrialisation. But the issue of xenophobia is likely to arise because it is the most topical subject that is affecting the region at the moment.
“I would suppose that during discussions on any other business, this issue of xenophobia will be discussed.”
Ambassador Bimha said Heads of State at the summit could also come up with resolutions on xenophobia.
“Once the matter is discussed you can expect that they can come out with a resolution pertaining to xenophobia. It will be up to the Heads of State to make such a decision, in the context of what is happening,” he said.
Last week, President Zuma revealed that members of his cabinet and senior government officials from South Africa would be deployed to countries across Africa to give South Africa’s assurance of its commitment to end the attacks that have targeted fellow Africans.
South Africa Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Mzwandile Masina last week revealed that he would visit Zimbabwe as part of the team of officials that would be deployed to different parts of the continent.
“The president has sanctioned all members of the executive to crisscross the continent.
‘‘I will be in Zimbabwe to try and explain,” he said.
At least seven people have died as a result of the violence while thousands have been displaced from their homes and businesses.
This has led the South African government to deploy the army in Johannesburg and Durban suburbs affected by the violence.
Peaceful demonstrations have been held at South African embassies in several countries on the continent to condemn the attacks.
