Maputo, 8 May (AIM) – The Mozambican Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maria Manuela Lucas, believes that job creation is crucial to prevent Mozambican citizens from leaving in search of better living conditions in South Africa, where they are victims of xenophobic acts committed by South African citizens.
In recent months, various South African nationals have been carrying out anti-migrant protests against Africans, including Mozambicans. The focus of these xenophobic acts, which have been recurring, has been black Africans.
Discrimination against foreign nationals has also been leading to looting, displacement, harassment, and deadly riots, in informal settlements.
According to the minister, unemployment is the main reason that causes xenophobic acts against African citizens in South Africa.
“If you look at the percentage of the African population living in South Africa, it is only 4 percent. If you look at the population detained for crimes, our African population does not reach more than 6 percent. So, what this means is that the problem really isn’t related to having Africans there in South Africa. The problem is economic and social; it is unemployment”, she said.
The minister also announced that Mozambique, South Africa and Eswatini intend to establish a special economic zone at their joint border in order to promote “economic development capable of providing employment.”
“The solution to the crisis is not police or military-based, but rather the economic development of countries to be able to provide employment. On the South African side, the project is at a very advanced stage, and there has now been consensus for its extension to the Mozambican and Eswatini sides”, she said.
“The tripartite special economic zone should boost regional development, considering that many Mozambicans travel to South Africa in search of employment”, she added.
According to the government data, over 300,000 Mozambicans reside in South Africa. Mozambican Labor Ministry has already sent a delegation to South Africa to closely monitor the situation of Mozambican workers.
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