Mozambique’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Maria Lucas, stated that the solution to xenophobia lies in creating more jobs, adding that Mozambique, South Africa, and Eswatini are now focusing on establishing a special economic zone along their shared border.
South Africa has been experiencing protests and social tensions targeting migrants; earlier this month, an anti-immigration march culminated in attacks on foreign-owned businesses in the Eastern Cape province, in the eastern part of the country.
According to the minister, the solution to the crisis is not a police or military one, but rather the economic development of the countries to create jobs. “South Africa is creating a special economic zone along the border. On the South African side, the project is at a fairly advanced stage, and there is now consensus to extend it to the Mozambican and Eswatini sides.”
Quoted by Lusa, Maria Lucas emphasized that the tripartite special economic zone should boost regional development, given that many Mozambicans travel to South Africa in search of work.
The Ministry of Labor, Gender, and Social Action (MTGAS) announced that it had sent a delegation to South Africa to closely monitor the situation of Mozambican workers in the wake of xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals of African origin.
Last week, African migrants in Pretoria were warned to remain “highly vigilant” during a march against illegal immigration, due to fears of possible episodes of xenophobic violence.
South Africa is home to about 2.4 million migrants, just under 4% of the population, according to official data. Most come from neighboring countries such as Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, which have a long history of supplying migrant labor to their more prosperous neighbor.
In addressing xenophobia in South Africa, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned what he described as “criminal acts perpetrated by individuals who incite violence and exploit socioeconomic conditions.”
In remarks delivered by his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, on Monday, he reminded South Africans that their struggle against apartheid was “sustained by international and African solidarity.”
The UN Secretary-General expressed concern over reports of “xenophobic attacks and acts of harassment and intimidation,” warning that “violence, vigilantism, and all forms of hate speech have no place in an inclusive and democratic society.”
