LUSAKA, Sept 5 (NNN-Xinhua) — Zambian President Edgar Lungu condemned the ongoing xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
The Zambian leader said the attacks deserve to be condemned in all its forms and manifestations.
“Attacks of this nature targeted at foreign nations call for urgent concerted measures by the South African government and the regional bodies,” he said in a statement.
He further assured that leaders were working on solutions to combat xenophobia and bring back the spirit of togetherness.
He indicated that criminal gangs engaged in brutalizing foreign nationals may cause the isolation of South Africa from the rest of the civilized world, and urged the South African authorities to not only arresting the culprits but also ensuring that such a situation does not exacerbate.
He further called on Zambians both locally and abroad to remain calm and disengage from acts of violence as they voice their grievances.
A Zambian national was on Monday stabbed in the head during the current spate of xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa.
Ferdinand Simaaya, president of the Zambia Association in South Africa, said Daniel Lupiya was stabbed in the head and has since been hospitalized at Germiston Hospital.
Meanwhile, students from Zambia’s biggest public university, the University of Zambia, had earlier marched to the South African embassy to protest against the xenophobic attacks.
The students, who were clad in black attire and carrying placards, sang songs denouncing the attacks and calling on South African authorities to stop the attacks.
The students had earlier stormed some shopping malls where they attempted to loot South Africa chain stores, but quick action by the police quelled the move.
Manda Hill, a popular shopping mall which houses a number of South African chain stores announced a temporary closure while Multi-choice Zambia, providing South Africa’s pay-to-view DStv service, also announced that it has temporarily closed most of its branches. — NNN-XINHUA