By Own Correspondent

THE Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has expressed deep worries over the unfolding xenophobic attacks in South Africa amid calls for authorities back home to fast track the resuscitation of the economy.

In a statement, ZCTU secretary general, Japhet Moyo condemned the appalling attacks directed against Zimbabweans living and working in South Africa by a vigilante group of criminals operating under “Operation Dudula.”

The federation said the group claims that migrants are criminals, murders, deal in drugs and prostitution as justification for the attacks.

The ZCTU is of the firm belief that these are baseless justifications by criminals with deep hatred for foreigners and are now making it an annual festival to torture and butcher foreign nationals and underscored that the problems are a clear symptom of economic malaise and lack of job creation by South African and Zimbabwean authorities.

“While the ZCTU calls upon the South African government to put in place practical policies that safeguard migrants and bring a lasting solution to the ever resurfacing xenophobic attacks it implores on the Zimbabwe government to fix the political and economic gridlock that is pushing away innocent citizens to foreign countries,” he said.

Moyo said the Zimbabwe government needs to appreciate that the economic situation in the country is too sour to swallow on the back of a weak currency coupled with depleted infrastructure, poor social services, high inflation and high unemployment.

These are areas that need urgent redress to avoid the economic migration of our people into red zones of violence like South Africa where they are murdered in cold blood.

“The murder of a Zimbabwean national Elvis Nyathi in Diepsloot South Africa, last week is squarely in the hands of the Harare Government which has driven its citizens out of the country because of its retrogressive economic policies that have created an internal job drought,” he said.

Moyo said successive xenophobic attacks in 2008, 2017 and the recent murder of Nyathi have claimed Zimbabwean lives but the government has done little to create employment opportunities within the country.

“As long as there are no jobs within the Zimbabwean market our people shall continue to be murdered in cold blood by South Africans. The ZCTU implores on the government to take a deep internal introspection on its policies and bite the bullet to protect its nationals,” he said.

Moyo said  that it is clear that diplomatic engagements have not stopped xenophobia in South Africa and it would be wishful thinking to expect Operation Dudula to be ended by mere talk.

“The only option for our government is to santitise its house and create meaningful employment opportunities for its nationals. Our leaders must get off form the ivory towers and face the reality that their governance system is responsible for the deaths of its people in foreign countries,” he added.