The leader of the opposition Mozambican Democratic Movement Party (MDM) called on Monday for a review of public policies aimed at promoting employment and attracting foreign investment, in response to the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
“It is indeed urgent to revise public policies, not only those promoting employment but also those aimed at attracting foreign investment, and this necessarily involves the industrialisation of agriculture,” said Lutero Simango at a press conference in Maputo.
The position of the MDM, the third-largest opposition party, comes against a backdrop of growing social tension in South Africa, which has already forced the repatriation of more than 700 Mozambicans following xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals – a situation that is reported to have caused at least nine Mozambican deaths and highlighted the need for a domestic response to the return of workers, particularly those in the mining and agricultural sectors of the neighbouring country.
For the politician, alongside the development of agriculture, it is urgent to develop a strategic policy for water management and conservation, which necessarily involves the construction of dams.
“It is also very important and urgent to strengthen technical education to ensure a skilled workforce,” concluded Simango.
At least 16 minors are among the 169 Mozambicans repatriated over the weekend from the towns of Mossel Bay and Hermanus in the Western Cape province of South Africa, victims of xenophobic attacks, the government said on Sunday.
According to a statement released by the State Information Office, Mozambican diplomatic and consular missions in South Africa are monitoring the situation closely and continue to provide the necessary assistance to affected citizens.
In Gauteng province, incidents involving foreign nationals were reported during demonstrations in Daveyton, on the outskirts of Johannesburg, with no reports of Mozambicans being affected.
In the statement, the government also indicates that, in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, the Mozambican Consulate in Durban has been monitoring reports of concern from members of the Mozambican community regarding the climate of intimidation associated with recent anti-immigration rhetoric.
With these 169, added to the 545 who arrived in the country on Tuesday, the number of Mozambicans repatriated in the last week has risen to 714.
South African protesters have set a deadline of 30 June for all foreigners to leave the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal, according to information previously provided by the Mozambican government.
On 1 June, the government reported that more than 800 Mozambicans living in the city of Mossel Bay, Western Cape, had been victims of xenophobic attacks two days earlier, which had so far claimed nine lives.
Xenophobic tensions are a recurring problem in South Africa. Numerous immigrant communities have been repatriated by their own countries, such as Mozambique and Nigeria, and South Africa has faced international criticism for xenophobia. The most serious incidents in recent times occurred in late 2019, with 18 foreigners killed, according to data from Human Rights Watch.
Mozambique has around 300,000 citizens residing in South Africa. The Presidency stated in a press release that “thousands” have already returned to the country due to the violence.
