Maravi

Hansungule attributes SA attacks to state failure

Hansungule attributes SA attacks to state failure
By Brighton Phiri
Monday June 02, 2008 [04:01]

THE xenophobic attacks on foreigners in South Africa are a classical case of state failure, Professor Michelo Hansungule has said. And Prof Hansungule said President Levy Mwanawasa's reconciliation with opposition Patriotic Front (PF) president, Michael Sata is a marriage of convenience. Commenting on the xenophobic attacks on foreigners in South Africa, which have left over 50 people dead and 25,000 displaced, Prof Hansungule, who is law lecturer at University of Pretoria, said the violence confirmed that the state never existed in South Africa's townships.

"What is happening is classical case of state failure. There is no state in the townships. It is a complete shame," he said.

Prof Hansungule wondered why South African President Thabo Mbeki only condemned the violence 14 days after a lot of people had shed their lives.

"He reacted, I believe, only because the Sunday Times publicly demanded for his dismissal or resignation. For a man who talks about renaissance and all that, his personal style of governance is incredibly ineffective," Prof Hansungule said.

The attacks, which started on May 11 in Johannesburg's Alexandra, have spread to seven of South Africa's nine provinces.

On Friday, acting home affairs minister George Mpombo said more than 100 Zambians were trapped in various camps following the violent attacks.

On Saturday, Zambia's High Commissioner to South Africa Leslie Mbula said the number of Zambian nationals affected by the attacks had reached 114 following a discovery of eight people at the temporary shelters set up in various parts of Johannesburg.

High Commissioner Mbula said apart from damage to property, there had been no deaths or serious injuries reported among the Zambian community.

According to the mission, there are 57 Zambians sheltering at Jeppe Police Station, 44 at Cleveland Police Station, one at Alexandra Police Station, eight at Primrose Methodist Church and four at Johannesburg Central Methodist Church.

High Commissioner Mbula said of the 114, 30 had expressed willingness to return to Zambia and that the mission was negotiating with bus owners to see how they could be assisted.

Hundreds of Mozambicans and Malawians have since returned to their countries while the Zimbabwean government has sent buses and trucks to repatriate that country's victims who are the majority.

And on President Mwanawasa and Sata's reconciliation, Prof. Hansungule said the sudden 'marriage' between the two leaders was nothing more than a marriage of convenience.

"In my life, I have never believed politicians, never. If they can 'marry' so easily after so many years of personal outbursts against each other on things only themselves know about and can understand, I have no doubt they can break as easily as they connected," said Prof. Hansungule. "I think it is important for people not to be overly concerned about what they do as individuals towards each other.

The most important thing is how to think beyond each one of us, how to think Zambia! If there are any differences and there should be, they should be on big things like the policy and strategy against poverty or governance. They say there are no permanent enemies in politics. If this is the case, then it follows there are no permanent friends either."

Labels: MICHELO HASUNGULE, XENOPHOBIA

posted by MrK @ 5:25 PM