(IKEJI) - The Malawian and Congolese government have reportedly stopped all South Africans from entering their country following the recent Xenophobic attacks where a few of their citizens were killed and their businesses destroyed.
The Malawian government has also allegedly thrown South African ambassador out of their country. There are also reports that Mozambican government has barred all trucks from South Africa from entering into their country.
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(Maravi Post) - According to the Malawi government, as of Friday the number of Malawians in make-shift camps in South Africa has reached 1,070 and counting. "Things are getting worse. A new camp has been set up in Durban where there are thousands of foreigners.
Vice President Saulos Chilima, who is in charge while President Peter Mutharika is away in the United States, expressed shock at the events in South Africa. "This is saddening; it's shocking to see Africans rising against Africans. We are supposed to be one continent. The government of South Africa has assured us it is stepping up security for foreigners. The Malawi government will make sure it brings home alive and safely all Malawians stranded in South Africa," he said.
Chilima said the first six buses, each with 70 people on board, are expected to arrive in the commercial capital, Blantyre, and the capital, Lilongwe, on Sunday. "They are going to be put in two holding camps for assessment. Government will transport them to their respective homes," he said.
Meanwhile, civil rights activists have organized street demonstrations in Lilongwe to protest against the xenophobia attacks in South Africa. "We are holding street demonstrations in Lilongwe this coming Tuesday."
"We're urging Malawians to boycott all South African shops and goods. We're giving them one week to close their shops. On Friday next week we will physically close all South African shops like Shoprite and Game if they don't close on their own," John Kapito, Executive Director of the Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA), said Friday. He added: "If they don't want us in their country, we don't want their goods here too."
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(South Africa Latest News)- Malawi's Minister of Information, Kondwani Nankhumwa, told reporters in Blantyre Wednesday that government was discussing with the African Union (AU) and other SADC countries over joint measures against the South African government.
"Our message to the government of South Africa is clear: Protect other nationals or expect trade repercussions as we cannot continue discussing regional trade integration with a country where our citizens and of our trade partners are being attacked" said Nankhumwa.
Unconfirmed reports claim that in addition to repatriating the country's nationals, president Peter Mutharika has written Jacob Zuma indicating that Malawi will not hesitate in joining other African countries over suggestions to recall high commissioners to South Africa and cut off any trade ties with the country should the attacks continue.
Meanwhile, Mutharika has reportedly cut short his US trip in order to travel to South Africa to engage Zuma on the matter before making a conclusive decision.
Zimbabwe has also condemned the attacks, calling the xenophobia in South Africa worse than apartheid as shops and houses owned by suspected foreigners continue to be ransacked.
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