Business at South African stores dominated East Park Mall and Manda Hill in Lusaka was today interrupted and later closed after a group of the University of Zambia – UNZA students protested and blocked shoppers at mostly South African stores, following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in South Africa on fellow Africans including Zambians.
Some UNZA students peacefully protested to show their anger and displeasure against the attacks and killing of foreign nationals in South Africa hence targeted some South African stores which include Pick n Pay and Shoprite.
A ZBT analyst who rushed to perhaps the highest traffic malls in Zambia at both East Park and Manda Hill found all shops closed after the students descended on some shops damaging property while customers in Pick n Pay at East pack where locked inside in fear of having protesters break into the shop.
At East Park shopping mall, some shops were partially damaged and employees were seen turning back from their workplaces while the mall remained closed until further notice.And some shop owners talked to have stated that while they do not support the xenophobic attacks going on in South Africa, they are saddened with the protest which has resulted into the closure and loss of business.
“Am totally not in support of what is happening in South Africa but that doesn’t mean Zambia should equally do the same thing because this has an effect on not only South African business but Zambians as well,”.
The students later marched to the South African Embassy in Kubulonga were they demanded to be addressed by the South African high commissioner to Zambia. However their March to the embassy did not yield any positive results as students become unruly and demanded that they South Africa flag is brought down while the Southern African signage post was set on fire.
And some UNZA students talked to under conditions of anonymity have stated that their protect is an indications that Zambians are not happy with the happenings in South Africa and have condemned the act of not allowing the commissioner to show up adding that all they wanted was a peaceful dialogue with the commissioner.
“All we are doing is to make sure that Zambians are okay in South Africa, we are not happy that our people are being threatened and killed every single day, how many South Africans do we have living and doing business in Zambia?, So why should they kill our citizens for doing business there,”?
Meanwhile, Manda Hill Management has disclosed in a statement that the mall has been closed until further notice following the protests that occurred by some groups of UNZA students this morning.
The management has said that the protest was peaceful and that Manda Hill security team along with Center Management rapidly resolved the situation had has since called on its customers to remain calm while the team is still observing the situation.
Zambia was a key ally in the fight against the white apartheid government in South Africa. The country was home to exiled freedom fighters and has remained a home for some todate. The happenings in South Africa is widely condemned with Zambia’s foreign affairs Minister Joe Malanji falling on South African authorities to urgently stem the Xenophobic attacks on innocent foreign workers and residents.
