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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1. CONTACT and DIALOGUE is the only solution to sort out any kind of problem not bloodshed.
2. GLOBALIZATION is everywhere including very rich countries like Brazil, Russia, Italy, China too depend on other countries. Mind you, South Africa, you are on the bottom line of the BRICS in the whole world though you are the Europe of Africa.
The fact that south african shops helps malawians shouldn’t mean that malawians will never demonstrate another day for better wages…….
Much as I don’t support the strategy used to voice concerns for Xenophobia in RSA, I would encourage a cold war against South Africa. 1 produce more domestic consumables especially food stuff 2 buy electronic goods from ISO listed companies from China. The Commercial attaché in Malawi embassy in China should assist here. 3 promote local TV stations and improve their quality and stop buying viewing from Multichoice. 4 improve our local banks like we did in the Kamuzu era: we had National, Commercial and New Building Society as main local Banks. 5 improve our Agriculture and animal production for… Read more »
Thats the right direction go on fans.
HOW DO YOU THINK KUTI AVUTIKA MUKASEKA MASHOP NDIFETOMWE WE ARE THE ONE WORKS THEIR
Most South Africans from my vitual observation; not rumours, do not fear God just as the way Malawians do,thats why they butcher others like pigs and dogs.Lets pray for them
Utilize their buses to repatriate our brothers and sisters, its another wickness that we can not survive without them. Plz just leave this stuation neutrol, this victims will repatriated today, tomorow they will be there, whats the benefit of devuaring 195 million kwacha. remember we have hitted with several natural disaster, hence no bumper harvest, apply much effort on this by filling all silos, ndizosabvuta zingofunika kuyiyamba ntchitoyo munthawi yake. Kupewa kusolora. Izinso kumalawi kuno zinachitika ku area 25, nchesi ku lilongwe
By the way, why did these activists pick on Shoprite, Game and PEP only? Do they know that these shops are not even liked by black South Africans who attacked our brothers and sisters because they are owned by white people who took over the economy during apartheid? I think most people who back this boycott have not read the South African history at all. Secondly, do these guys like CAMA and Mayaya and all of you who are just follwing them blindly know that we have men and women who travel daily to South Africa to buy commodities to… Read more »
Why are you closing the Shops only,what about the banks?
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Its just unfortunate that some peoples can behave like beasts.