Congolese hit back at Zulu king
Zwelithini's fanning xenophobia - Congolese nationals
THE Congolese community in South Africa has accused Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini of being irresponsible and fanning the fires of xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals.
Blanchard Kimuena, spokesman for the community, which calls itself the Congolese Freedom and Justice Fighters, was fuming yesterday, saying Zwelithini's attack on them shows that he was not in touch with reality on the ground.
"The King's criticism of the Congolese community is unfair and irresponsible. The King's baseless attack on foreigners shows that the monarch is out of touch with realities on the African continent, a tangible proof that he does not regularly travel to African countries to see the impact of misery, poverty and abuse of power by the so-called friends of South Africa," Kimuena said.
The Congolese were responding to Zwelithini's attack on their recent march to Parliament demanding that Zuma denounce the re-election of President Joseph Kabila in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The Zulu King used his address before the opening of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature on Monday to express his disappointment with the Congolese nationals' march against Zuma.
In his address, Zwelithini said: "They must understand that President Zuma was elected by the majority of South Africans and they do not have a right to march against him .
"If such behaviour is allowed to continue, I have no doubt that locals might ask themselves many questions, and I hope it will never happen."
Kimuena insisted that their march was not directed at Zuma's administration and the ANC.
"Our main concern is that South Africa, as the continent leader, is setting a bad example by indirectly supporting dictatorial regimes in exchange for economic interests, which include oil, gold and diamonds contracts.
"Hard evidence suggests that the DRC elections were rigged by Joseph Kabila, and yet South Africa kept quiet and swiftly approved its results, which is tantamount to propping a government that lacks legitimacy."
tibza
We will wake up oneday being govern by this Congolese Freedom and Justice Fighters...i am scared that we allowed foreigners to form a gangster group in our country......President please protect us from this ruthless fighters.deport this peopleReport Abuse
maneater
not to sound xhenophobic but i agree with the King in this instance. if the congolese community did not find it in themselves to go back home and vote the current regime out they should not start to toyi toyi in our backround. i am sure they would make a big impact if they can go back home and toyi toyi there!!!Report Abuse
MommaC
Where is what Goodwill said xenophobic?I too think it was a bloody cheek for them to make demands on our president. They are here by suffrage, not by right. You don't go as a guest into someone's house and then dictate to your host how to run their household. Its just rude.
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Gandokazi
They must just go back to their countries imagine the nerve to march to parliament.Report Abuse
TheNewFreedomFighter
Notice how quiet the fascist ANC is on the matter. Why? Because they support the xenophobic King. In fact, this is how the fascist ANC works. They have people on the periphery of Government making the true or populist statements of policy and yet as the Government they porport to support the politically correct policy. The fascist ANC speaks with forked tongue because they are weak leaders (sic) in Africa. The fascist ANC would rather support (even through silence) corrupt and illigitimate demogogues and dictators in Africa rather than stand up for what is right. The fascist ANC has no moral compass; it has a short memory of its own struggle days and who supported them (why should they when they revel in the luxury they've stolen from us?); the fascist ANC is a fairweather friend; when days are dark the fascist ANC denies you.As for this Z u l u King or any other so-called African monarch - how dare he speak in a democratic institution as though he does so on behalf of the people of SA. Voetsak you imposter!
On Black Tuesday 2011 the ANC government became a fascist regime.
(Sowetan, since when is 'z u l u' a vulgar, discriminatory, obscene or abusive word? In fact by describing it as such you are affronting a hugh number of Z u l u people in South Africa. You are indeed a bunch of cretins. Wake up man!)
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Pointman
@MommaC - this comment is uncharacteristic. If the ANC could protest in London then the Congolese can protest here. They were just asking for a fraudulent president to be isolated.Report Abuse
amlaml
Hayi Sowetan what wrong with you, do you really consider a name amakhaza as obscene, vulgar that is why you don't publish my comment he he he ok then lets try this, our govt has made theier beds and now they must lie on them, this is what u get from protecting a snake from amakhaza and decide to take it inside the house as soon as it gets warm it bites you. Congolese are now warm and biting whatever comes their way.Report Abuse
MommaC
PointmanThe ANC got permission from both the British government and the mayor of London for those protests. The protests were focused on Africa House and (to the best of my knowledge) they never marched to make demands on the British prime minister. Heck, 90% of the rent a crowd in front of Africa House wasn't even from Africa
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Pointman
If the king is going to make public comment then he must employ better advisors. Where is the empathy for other peoples suffering. Living high on the hog without breaking a sweat makes people indifferent to other peoples suffering.Report Abuse
Lee-Ann
Who the hell told them that if you need help you need to march to parliament? Of a foreign country nogal? The king might as well have said we must start xenophobic attacks on them specifically. They come here and misbehave, after that they say the king is irresponsible? Is SA a congolese province? arg man, ba tena this people!Report Abuse