Malawi shut down South African shops in tit-for-tat measures

Malawians on Friday applied a  tit-for-tat measures by forcing shops owned by South Africans close for business following the recent xenophophic attacks in South Africa.

Dubbed ‘Black Friday’ protests championed by Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA) boss, John Kapito, the shop owners of Pep, Game and Shoprite were asked to leave their shops shut down for business.

Some Shoprite shops were open in the capital Lilongwe but Kapito and another activist Billy asked them to close for their safety.

Kapito said they asked them to remain closed for the day because “we are avoiding ugly scenes”.

He said the ‘Black Friday’ protests of boycotting South African products will help show South Africans that “people depend on one another across the global and the continent.”

Black Friday is aimed at telling Malawians from all regions in the country to shun South African companies and outlets in the country as a way of demonstrating against Xenophobic attacks on Malawians in South Africa.

A heavy Police presence is on standby in case of any unforeseen problems.

Projects Officer for CAMA, Maurice Mkawihe told reporters at Shoprite where they had a stop over that the ‘Black Friday Boycotts’ will go on for the next four weeks.

“The idea of boycotting South African companies and outlets is to register concerns and solidarity with victims of xenophobia.

“Africa is one, whenever there is disagreements let us discuss amicably but not showing anger by violence. What is happening in South Africa is evil,” said Mkawihe.

Most privately owned radio station have also stopped playing South African music in protest.

Organizers have called on Malawians not to patronize South African food franchise Debonair Pizza and Steers.

Other institutions with links to South Africa such as Old Mutual, Nedbank and Standard Bank, however, are operating normally.

Malawi Information Minister, Kondwani Nankhumwa believes dialogue will be of paramount importance for the two governments as well as others in the region to bring an end to the attacks.

“The president [Peter Mutharika] stated a few days ago that he has opened communication lines with his South African counterpart President Jacob Zuma on this matter within the Southern African Development Community framework,” Nankhumwa said.

Malawi is one of the highest consumers of South African products and services.

Malawians import vegetables, meat products, clothes, furniture, groceries and other household items from South Africa.

The Malawian government has repatriated 3,200 nationals from South African since the anti-immigrant violence began three weeks ago.

Hundreds of Malawians trek to South Africa every year in search of jobs. A majority of these migrants travel without proper documents.

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