Zuma Apologizes to Mozambicans for Xenophobic Violence
South African President Jacob Zuma apologised to Mozambicans Wednesday for a recent outbreak of xenophobic violence in which at least seven people died and hundreds of migrants were forced to flee their homes.
Speaking at the start of a two-day state visit to Maputo, Zuma said the attacks -- which included the murder of a Mozambican man captured by a press photographer -- "shocked us and disturbed us".
Apologising on behalf of the "small minority of South Africans" involved in the violence, Zuma said: "The Mozambicans are our brothers, our sisters, that's like a family problem really."
Rampant unemployment and poverty are seen as contributing to the violence by South Africans, who accuse migrants from Mozambique and other neighbouring countries of stealing their jobs.
Since the end of apartheid 21 years ago, South Africa has attracted millions of migrants seeking a better life in the continent's most advanced economy.
Zuma pledged to address "some of the underlying factors" to ensure that the attacks against foreigners did not erupt again, without elaborating.
While condemning the violence, South Africa has also cracked down in a series of raids in which 1,650 illegal immigrants have been arrested.
More than 400 Mozambicans were expelled on Friday and 427 others are slated to be deported soon.
Zuma is in Maputo at the invitation of President Filipe Nyusi, with the visit set to focus on bilateral and regional cooperation.
Mozambique is South Africa’s top trading partner in Africa, with two-way trade worth 43.9 billion rand ($3.7 billion) last year.
-AFP
Zuma Apologizes for Xenophobic Deaths
May 20 2015 at 10:21pm
By ANA Reporter
Maputo - South African President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday formally apologised to his Mozambican counterpart, President Filipe Nyusi for the death of Mozambican nationals during the recent wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
In an official statement containing his opening remarks at the start of his state visit to Mozambique, Zuma said: “Let me from the onset Mr President extend our deepest condolences to you in person, for the death of Mozambican nationals during the recent horrific attacks in our country.
“We condemned the incidents strongly and continue to do everything possible to ensure that there is no recurrence in our country. Our people came out in huge numbers to demonstrate their strong condemnation of the attacks. Government has also embarked on a long-term programme of managing migration better and to promote peaceful co-existence between foreign nationals and nationals.
“We have also embarked on a month-long programme to raise awareness about the sterling contribution of our neighbours and Africa as a whole in the attainment of freedom in our country. We thank you for your understanding during the entire difficult period.”
Mozambican national Emmanuel Sithole was one of several people killed when anti-foreigner violence erupted in parts of South Africa last month.
Zuma, in his opening remarks said the two-day State visit was a great honour and privilege as he went on to describe “this great country, Mozambique, a country with whom we share historic bonds of friendship and solidarity”.
He told Nyusi and a number of government ministers and senior officials that “these historic bonds were concretely cemented during the period of our struggles against colonialism and apartheid”.
“Our historic and strategic relations have found true expression in the many areas of cooperation between our two countries over the last two decades,” Zuma said. “Key in this regard, was our decision in 2011 to elevate our structured bilateral mechanism to an annual Bi-National Commission.
“The depth and extent of our cooperation is amplified by the existence of over sixty (60) bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding covering a wide range of sectors including energy, transport, trade and investment, agriculture, environment, water, defence and security, immigration, science and technology, labour, communication, tourism, arts and culture, sport, to mention but a few.
“While we applaud the existence of these legal instruments which are in their very nature enabling mechanisms, there is nonetheless an urgent need to ensure that they are implemented for the mutual benefit of our two countries and peoples.”
Zuma added that the two countries’ trade and investment cooperation could undoubtedly be expanded further and said “the opportunity is ripe with potential for expansion and diversification of trade”.
“As a region, we have not only committed ourselves to regional integration but we have taken a step closer to realising our cherished desire to industrialise the region.
“As SADC, our approval in Harare on 29th April 2015 of the Regional Industrialisation Strategy and the Revised Regional Strategic Indicative Development Plan is a demonstrable and seminal milestone towards regional economic integration.”
Zuma said conflict and instability continued to impede the political and economic progress of Africa.
“We should continue to co-operate closely in conflict prevention, resolution and management, as well as in post conflict reconstruction and development,” Zuma said. “We are deeply concerned by the ongoing conflicts that are tearing apart the sister countries of Central African Republic, Libya, South Sudan and Somalia.
“We are equally concerned about the ongoing instability in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The current challenges in Burundi nearly took us by surprised. This requires of us as a Continent to be vigilant and make the necessary interventions timeously. We commend the regional efforts as led by the East African Community.”
ANA
SA to mend fences with Mozambique
Ngwako Modjadji
South African Citizen
Bilateral damage between South Africa and Mozambique caused by the recent xenophobic attacks seems on the verge of being repaired.
This became evident yesterday when South Africa said it wanted Eduardo Joaquim Mulémbwè from Mozambique to replace Bethel Amadi of Nigeria as Pan African Parliament (PAP) president.
The PAP, seated in Midrand, seeks to facilitate the effective implementation of the policies and objectives of the African Union (AU) across member countries, to promote the principles of human rights and democracy in Africa and to encourage good governance, transparency and accountability, among other things.
Relations between SA and Mozambique deteriorated when Mozambican Emmanuel Sithole was killed in Alexandra last month. South African parliamentary delegation leader Hunadi Mateme yesterday made it clear that South Africa was behind Mozambique’s candidate.
“We feel that Mozambique has a good president,” said Mateme, adding that it would be “unfortunate” if Mulémbwè did not become the PAP president.
“The situation we are in, according to the rotation, it was supposed to be the Northern African region electing its president,” said Mateme.
“They indicated that their state of readiness is not what it should have been.”
Meanwhile, Thabo Mbeki, the former president of South Africa, is expected to present the AU with a report on “illicit” financial flows out of Africa tomorrow.
– ngwakom@citizen.co.za
SAnews.gov.za (Tshwane)
20 MAY 2015
South Africa: SA, Mozambique Set to Strengthen Bilateral Ties
Pretoria — Bilateral ties between South Africa and Mozambique are set to soar to new levels as President Jacob Zuma undertakes a two-day state visit to that country.
The visit - which kicks off on Wednesday - will allow the two leaders to consult on issues of mutual interest, in particular on bilateral, regional and continental cooperation, the Presidency said on Monday.
"The visit will further foster closer trade relations with Mozambique, which is one of the seven fastest growing economies in sub-Saharan Africa."
Mozambique has investment opportunities in sectors such as construction, mining and petroleum.
South Africa and Mozambique already share strong historical and fraternal ties dating back to the fight against colonialism and apartheid.
With the advent of democracy in 1994, South Africa and Mozambique have strengthened their relations especially in the area of economic cooperation and investment.
This cooperation resulted in the implementation of multi-billion rand economic projects such as the Maputo Development Corridor and the trilateral Spatial Development Initiative with Swaziland.
President Zuma will travel to Mozambique, accompanied by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa, Minister of Energy Tina Joemat-Pettersson and Minister of Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa.
Speaking at the start of a two-day state visit to Maputo, Zuma said the attacks -- which included the murder of a Mozambican man captured by a press photographer -- "shocked us and disturbed us".
Apologising on behalf of the "small minority of South Africans" involved in the violence, Zuma said: "The Mozambicans are our brothers, our sisters, that's like a family problem really."
Rampant unemployment and poverty are seen as contributing to the violence by South Africans, who accuse migrants from Mozambique and other neighbouring countries of stealing their jobs.
Since the end of apartheid 21 years ago, South Africa has attracted millions of migrants seeking a better life in the continent's most advanced economy.
Zuma pledged to address "some of the underlying factors" to ensure that the attacks against foreigners did not erupt again, without elaborating.
While condemning the violence, South Africa has also cracked down in a series of raids in which 1,650 illegal immigrants have been arrested.
More than 400 Mozambicans were expelled on Friday and 427 others are slated to be deported soon.
Zuma is in Maputo at the invitation of President Filipe Nyusi, with the visit set to focus on bilateral and regional cooperation.
Mozambique is South Africa’s top trading partner in Africa, with two-way trade worth 43.9 billion rand ($3.7 billion) last year.
-AFP
Zuma Apologizes for Xenophobic Deaths
May 20 2015 at 10:21pm
By ANA Reporter
Maputo - South African President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday formally apologised to his Mozambican counterpart, President Filipe Nyusi for the death of Mozambican nationals during the recent wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
In an official statement containing his opening remarks at the start of his state visit to Mozambique, Zuma said: “Let me from the onset Mr President extend our deepest condolences to you in person, for the death of Mozambican nationals during the recent horrific attacks in our country.
“We condemned the incidents strongly and continue to do everything possible to ensure that there is no recurrence in our country. Our people came out in huge numbers to demonstrate their strong condemnation of the attacks. Government has also embarked on a long-term programme of managing migration better and to promote peaceful co-existence between foreign nationals and nationals.
“We have also embarked on a month-long programme to raise awareness about the sterling contribution of our neighbours and Africa as a whole in the attainment of freedom in our country. We thank you for your understanding during the entire difficult period.”
Mozambican national Emmanuel Sithole was one of several people killed when anti-foreigner violence erupted in parts of South Africa last month.
Zuma, in his opening remarks said the two-day State visit was a great honour and privilege as he went on to describe “this great country, Mozambique, a country with whom we share historic bonds of friendship and solidarity”.
He told Nyusi and a number of government ministers and senior officials that “these historic bonds were concretely cemented during the period of our struggles against colonialism and apartheid”.
“Our historic and strategic relations have found true expression in the many areas of cooperation between our two countries over the last two decades,” Zuma said. “Key in this regard, was our decision in 2011 to elevate our structured bilateral mechanism to an annual Bi-National Commission.
“The depth and extent of our cooperation is amplified by the existence of over sixty (60) bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding covering a wide range of sectors including energy, transport, trade and investment, agriculture, environment, water, defence and security, immigration, science and technology, labour, communication, tourism, arts and culture, sport, to mention but a few.
“While we applaud the existence of these legal instruments which are in their very nature enabling mechanisms, there is nonetheless an urgent need to ensure that they are implemented for the mutual benefit of our two countries and peoples.”
Zuma added that the two countries’ trade and investment cooperation could undoubtedly be expanded further and said “the opportunity is ripe with potential for expansion and diversification of trade”.
“As a region, we have not only committed ourselves to regional integration but we have taken a step closer to realising our cherished desire to industrialise the region.
“As SADC, our approval in Harare on 29th April 2015 of the Regional Industrialisation Strategy and the Revised Regional Strategic Indicative Development Plan is a demonstrable and seminal milestone towards regional economic integration.”
Zuma said conflict and instability continued to impede the political and economic progress of Africa.
“We should continue to co-operate closely in conflict prevention, resolution and management, as well as in post conflict reconstruction and development,” Zuma said. “We are deeply concerned by the ongoing conflicts that are tearing apart the sister countries of Central African Republic, Libya, South Sudan and Somalia.
“We are equally concerned about the ongoing instability in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The current challenges in Burundi nearly took us by surprised. This requires of us as a Continent to be vigilant and make the necessary interventions timeously. We commend the regional efforts as led by the East African Community.”
ANA
SA to mend fences with Mozambique
Ngwako Modjadji
South African Citizen
Bilateral damage between South Africa and Mozambique caused by the recent xenophobic attacks seems on the verge of being repaired.
This became evident yesterday when South Africa said it wanted Eduardo Joaquim Mulémbwè from Mozambique to replace Bethel Amadi of Nigeria as Pan African Parliament (PAP) president.
The PAP, seated in Midrand, seeks to facilitate the effective implementation of the policies and objectives of the African Union (AU) across member countries, to promote the principles of human rights and democracy in Africa and to encourage good governance, transparency and accountability, among other things.
Relations between SA and Mozambique deteriorated when Mozambican Emmanuel Sithole was killed in Alexandra last month. South African parliamentary delegation leader Hunadi Mateme yesterday made it clear that South Africa was behind Mozambique’s candidate.
“We feel that Mozambique has a good president,” said Mateme, adding that it would be “unfortunate” if Mulémbwè did not become the PAP president.
“The situation we are in, according to the rotation, it was supposed to be the Northern African region electing its president,” said Mateme.
“They indicated that their state of readiness is not what it should have been.”
Meanwhile, Thabo Mbeki, the former president of South Africa, is expected to present the AU with a report on “illicit” financial flows out of Africa tomorrow.
– ngwakom@citizen.co.za
SAnews.gov.za (Tshwane)
20 MAY 2015
South Africa: SA, Mozambique Set to Strengthen Bilateral Ties
Pretoria — Bilateral ties between South Africa and Mozambique are set to soar to new levels as President Jacob Zuma undertakes a two-day state visit to that country.
The visit - which kicks off on Wednesday - will allow the two leaders to consult on issues of mutual interest, in particular on bilateral, regional and continental cooperation, the Presidency said on Monday.
"The visit will further foster closer trade relations with Mozambique, which is one of the seven fastest growing economies in sub-Saharan Africa."
Mozambique has investment opportunities in sectors such as construction, mining and petroleum.
South Africa and Mozambique already share strong historical and fraternal ties dating back to the fight against colonialism and apartheid.
With the advent of democracy in 1994, South Africa and Mozambique have strengthened their relations especially in the area of economic cooperation and investment.
This cooperation resulted in the implementation of multi-billion rand economic projects such as the Maputo Development Corridor and the trilateral Spatial Development Initiative with Swaziland.
President Zuma will travel to Mozambique, accompanied by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa, Minister of Energy Tina Joemat-Pettersson and Minister of Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa.
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