By Rex Mphisa
ZIMBABWEANS, who stood with South Africans during their war of liberation, have changed posts, thanks to xenophobic attitudes.
Most, as SA enters into the World Cup opener with Mexico, are rallying behind the “Amigos” commonly referred to as El Tri or El Tricolor.
“Our brothers and sister are being harassed in SA so we have flown to Mexico, its the attitude of most Africans and SA is with itself,” a Beitbridge soccer follower said on a residents Whatsapp Group.
“If we support them they will say we are taking their jobs and might rise up against us so we are with the South Americans,” said David Moyo of Tshitaudze suburb.
His feeling is common amongst Beitbridge and many other Zimbabweans reflecting on the ongoing Xenophobic activities in SA.
Xenophobia attacks in that country is primarily driven by economic desperation, a scarcity of basic public services, and political scapegoating.
Frustrated by systemic inequalities, struggling locals view foreign nationals as direct competition for jobs, housing, and limited government resources.
The key factors triggering these sentiments and recurring violent outbreaks include unemployment where SA’s unemployment rate hovering around 32%, millions of citizens—particularly the youth—are economically disenfranchised.
Foreign nationals, particularly from other African nations, are often incorrectly blamed for “stealing” these jobs or undercutting local wages.
SA locals scapegoat through foreigners during times of economic crisis when frustration is frequently redirected toward vulnerable migrant communities.
Foreign-owned informal businesses in townships and rural areas have frequently been targeted in sporadic raids when SA nationals say such lay businesses should be left for them.
Bad service delivery and widespread struggles with electricity (load-shedding), poor housing, strained healthcare, and water shortages leave local communities angry at the government but vending it on foreigners some who have been humiliated at public hospitals.
The migrants are often scapegoated for “straining” these basic public services and some political anti-immigrant sentiments which often peaks around election seasons has used the dislike of foreigners as a trump card.
Last elections SA’s Patriotic Alliance (PA), notably conducted high-profile operations along the Limpopo River border to combat undocumented immigration from Zimbabwe.
Leadership, including deputy president Kenny Kunene, camped along the riverbanks to intercept and push back individuals attempting to cross illegally.
Local political figures and vigilante movements (such as Operation Dudula) deliberately use anti-foreigner rhetoric to rally support and protest illegal immigration.
But as the World Cup starts with SA, the supporters build-up has not forgotten the “dudulas” of SA and stickers are flying on social media against SA, one of the 10 African teams at the tournament.
The 10 African nations are Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia.
“If we support South Africa, they will accuse us of taking their job,” runs one sticker that has been circulated many times in Zimbabwe.
Although President Cyril Ramaphosa has said there is a third force fuelling foreigner hate, most people believe his Government left it for a little too late to act.
“The government stance has taken a route leaving everyone with doubt. One day SA will be isolated from the rest of Africa. The government is not sure of itself and its sad,” said a Zimbabwean politician.
A handful felt because Zimbabwe uses SA stadiums there was need to rally behind SA.