Harare (New Ziana) – CHAIRPERSONS of Human Rights Commissions from the Southern Africa Development Community are meeting in the capital for two days to discuss issues of common concern.
Delis Mazambani, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission executive director, told New Ziana that the conference would be held on Thursday and Friday.
“We are having a regional conference starting tomorrow (Thursday) and ending on Friday,” she said.
“Chairpersons of human rights commissions from SADC are coming in and will be discussing issues of migrants, including xenophobia.”
Xenophobia has been topical since 2008 when South Africa was rocked by scenes of hatred and savagery as local township residents turned on migrants, accusing them of taking their jobs.
More than 60 people were killed and thousands forced to flee by gangs wielding guns, clubs and machetes.
Most horrifying was the killing by necklacing, the appalling method of putting a petrol-filled tyre around a victim’s neck and setting it ablaze.
Because of its more developed economy, South Africa is the destination for migrants from most SADC countries, many of whom enter the country illegally.
The South African government announced that it would not be extending work permits for foreign nationals whose jobs it deemed not essential – a move that has been widely condemned as promoting xenophobia.
Millions of SADC nationals are counting down the days to the expiry of the grace period given to leave the country, which is December this year.
New Ziana
