Malawi leader set talks with South Africa President as Malema lashes out at Zuma over xenophobia

Malawian President Peter Mutharika who is in the United States is scheduled to visit President Jacob Zuma in South Africa to dialogue over the anti-African migrants violence, SABC reported on Friday.

Mutharika’s government is meanwhile evacuating Malawi nationals from South Africa following the violence.

The SABC reported that Mutharika will cut his US trip to meet Zuma on the afrophobic matter.

There was no immediate confirmation from Malawi government on that but Information Minister Kondwani Nankhumwa called on the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) to intervene to help protect foreigners.

“This is unfortunate coming at a time we are working on regional integration,” he said at a news conference.

“We urge the government of South Africa to protect foreigners,” he added.

Meanwhile, Julius Malema – the firebrand leader of the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party –  has torn into President Jacob Zuma, his son and the ruling ANC, blaming them for the xenophobic violence.

Malema told parliament that Zuma government was setting an example of resorting to violence when confronted with problems.

Malema said: “When people had problems in Marikana…you killed them…When Tatane protested, you killed him… When the DA marched to Luthuli House, you responded by violence.”

He further accused Zuma of not keeping his family in check, following his son Edward’s remarks that foreigners must go.

“Mr President you taught our people that everything should be resolved through violence. You must take full responsibility.”

Malema charged that he noticed, minutes earlier whenZuma condemned the wave of xenophobia in an address to the chamber, that his heart did not appear to be in it.

“You body language did not suggest a leader,” Malema said, before adding that the president had failed to stop his son Edward Zuma from expressing anti-foreigner sentiment.

“You cannot even whip your own son into line.”

Malema ended his three-minute speech with a passionate plea to end the attacks that has left at least five people dead and hundreds displaced.

“Don’t kill each other, no country can survive in isolation.”

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