We are all Africans, and Africa lives in every single one of us

Fellow citizens, allow me to seize this urgent opportunity to speak to you like a state president.

In the last two weeks, our country has been besieged by a psychotic monster called xenophobia. Xenophobia refers to a citizen’s feeling of excessive hatred towards foreign nationals.

I strongly seek to inform all citizens that xenophobia is extremely inhuman, unAfrican and grossly heinous. There are some citizenss who are attacking and harming foreign nationals. Some of these citizens have ransacked and looted shops owned by foreign nationals.

These callous attacks on foreigners were reportedly concentrated in Kwa-Zulu Natal and Gauteng provinces. What appears bizarre is that these citizens are targeting foreigners from African countries. We urge our police to show no mercy towards anyone who incites or orchestrates xenophobic crimes.

As South Africans, we must bear in mind that we are an integral part of Africa. Africa is embodied in our hearts and soul. Africa is our fatherland and it (Africa) runs through our veins and bloodstream. South Africans should never look down on Africa and its people. People from Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia and Botswana are our brothers and sisters. People from Lesotho, Swaziland, Kenya, Sudan, Morocco and Egypt are also our brothers and sisters. People from Nigeria, DRC, Rwanda, Libya, Mali, Senegal and Tanzania are members of our African family. The heart and soul of Africa resonates and resides in all African countries.

With great humility, I sincerely urge those citizens to refrain from intimidating, harassing and attacking foreigners. I humbly urge all citizens to live with and treat all foreign nationals with love, respect, dignity and honour.

I also wish to appeal to all foreign nationals to partner with local citizens in creating a prosperous and peaceful country. Together we can find common ground and address persisting socio-economic challenges that afflict our society. Together we can craft a common destiny and as a result, create a beautiful country that caters for the needs of all people. Together we can create a society that accommodates all people irrespective of their race, ethnicity or nationality.

In 2007, I attended a week-long conference by the American Studies Association. For the whole duration of the conference, I shared a hotel suite with Austin Mudzumberi. He was a delegate from the University of Zimbabwe. I was greatly fascinated by his sharp mastery of African political history. His contagious spirit of generosity is on par with his amazing kindness and endless jokes.

Mudzumberi once shared a joke about an African president who accidentally drank water meant to wash your hands in at a presidential gala dinner. That water was in a portable silver bowl placed on the president’s table.

Upon sitting on his reserved chair, the thirsty president quickly grabbed that bowl and gulped the water. The vice-president realised that mistake and immediately informed the president about it. The president was then informed that he just mistakenly drank water meant for washing hands. Upon hearing that, the president consequently vomited in full view of other dignitaries. Three cabinet ministers involuntarily laughed at the president. Shortly after the vomiting mishap, the president sacked the three ministers who laughed at him. That was one of Mudzumberi’s hilarious jokes.

Every time I see or meet a foreign national I’m always reminded of Mudzumberi’s great humility, kindness and humanity. I appeal to all citizens to open their hearts and show love and appreciation to all foreign nationals. There is an age-old Sepedi adage that says “motho ke motho ka batho”. It simply translates as “I am because you are”.

No one should apologise for being a foreign national. No one should feel ashamed of being a foreign national. During Apartheid, our own freedom fighters went into exile and were cared and protected by foreign countries. We owe our democracy to the gratitude and generosity we received from foreign countries during the Apartheid regime.

As Africans, we should always love and care for each other in times of adversity and in moments of prosperity.

We are all Africans, and Africa lives in us all.

Lastly, the media should stop twisting stories and desist from over-reporting on speeches that incite public violence and mayhem.

I thank you all.

Elvis Masoga

Political analyst