Students protest xenophobic attacks in South Africa

Zambian students have staged violent demonstrations against xenophobic attacks in South Africa, protests that have since been condemned by Zambia’s president, Edgar Lungu.

The demonstrating students also targeted South African-owned shops such as Pick n Pay, Shoprite and MTN, forcing them to shut down. The students later marched to the South African High Commission in Zambia’s capital Lusaka carrying placards, and left a petition.

The students demanded to be addressed by officials, but their request was turned down and they started burning tyres and an embassy sign, forcing police to use teargas to disperse them.

According to Zambia’s Lusaka Times newspaper, in the petition delivered at the South African embassy in Lusaka during the demonstrations by students, Zambia National Students Union (ZANASU) Vice President Steven Kanyakula accused South Africa’s government of not doing enough to prevent the attacks against Africans in South Africa.

He said South Africa was not an island and the actions of South Africans pose a serious risk to South African investment and businesses in African countries.

‘A lukewarm approach’

“We believe that, unlike the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) who have come out strongly against these barbaric attacks by those ruffians, your administration had taken a lukewarm approach to dealing with xenophobic attacks, which may be due to political expedience,” said Kanyakula.

In a statement dated 4 September, the University of Zambia (UNZA) condemned the violent students’ protests.

It said it had noted with regret the recent spate of student demonstrations attributed to unhappiness over acts of xenophobia in South Africa.

“University council and management condemn the mode of action taken by its students in their attempt to express their dissatisfaction with the current developments in South Africa. The University of Zambia upholds high ethical standards for both its students and staff. UNZA believes that conflicts are resolvable in all cases through mutual dialogue.

“UNZA is therefore guided by the current diplomatic engagements taking place among the government of the Republic of Zambia, the Republic of South Africa and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and is optimistic that an amicable solution to circumstances that have led to the current threat to peace and national security in the region will soon be found.”

President’s guidance

The statement said the university encourages its students to abide by guidance from President Edgar Chagwa Lungu who, in his own statement on 4 September, directed that “we all show class and exemplary behaviour”.

Isaac Chipampe, special assistant to Zambia’s president (press and public relations), quoted Lungu as saying it was unacceptable for University of Zambia students to engage in acts of lawlessness while at the same time condemning criminal acts in South Africa.

The president said he was deeply concerned at the escalating violence targeting foreign citizens in South Africa. However, the students’ actions were not only criminal but affected the livelihoods of Zambians earning a living by working in those targeted shops, he said.

“The president says being from the highest institution of learning, students are expected to show class and exemplary behaviour to other youths in the land … How then can they engage in the same acts they are condemning?” the statement read.

Social media reports

In a separate statement, Naomi Nyawali, the first secretary press and public relations at the Zambian High Commission in Pretoria, dispelled social media reports that 39 Zambians have been killed in South Africa as a result of the current wave of attacks on foreigners.

“So far, only one incident involving Mr Daniel Lupiya was officially recorded and the victim was discharged from Germiston Hospital on the same day after being treated for injuries he sustained. Additionally, the commission is actively pursuing reports that another Zambian truck driver identified as Mr Siachingi Sialubaya working for a named cross-border trucking company registered in Zambia was attacked in KwaZulu-Natal province,” the embassy said.

The xenophobic attacks in South Africa have been condemned by a number of African countries and organisations, including the African Union Commission whose chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said he condemned “in the strongest terms” the incidents of violence against nationals of fellow African countries in South Africa, including the looting and destruction of their property.

Members of the National Association of Nigerian Students also recently picketed South African-owned businesses in Nigeria in response to reports of attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.