THE Congolese community in South Africa has accused Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini of being irresponsible and fanning the fires of xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals.
Blanchard Kimuena, spokesman for the community, which calls itself the Congolese Freedom and Justice Fighters, was fuming yesterday, saying Zwelithini's attack on them shows that he was not in touch with reality on the ground.
"The King's criticism of the Congolese community is unfair and irresponsible. The King's baseless attack on foreigners shows that the monarch is out of touch with realities on the African continent, a tangible proof that he does not regularly travel to African countries to see the impact of misery, poverty and abuse of power by the so-called friends of South Africa," Kimuena said.
The Congolese were responding to Zwelithini's attack on their recent march to Parliament demanding that Zuma denounce the re-election of President Joseph Kabila in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The Zulu King used his address before the opening of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature on Monday to express his disappointment with the Congolese nationals' march against Zuma.
In his address, Zwelithini said: "They must understand that President Zuma was elected by the majority of South Africans and they do not have a right to march against him .
"If such behaviour is allowed to continue, I have no doubt that locals might ask themselves many questions, and I hope it will never happen."
Kimuena insisted that their march was not directed at Zuma's administration and the ANC.
"Our main concern is that South Africa, as the continent leader, is setting a bad example by indirectly supporting dictatorial regimes in exchange for economic interests, which include oil, gold and diamonds contracts.
"Hard evidence suggests that the DRC elections were rigged by Joseph Kabila, and yet South Africa kept quiet and swiftly approved its results, which is tantamount to propping a government that lacks legitimacy." - Sowetan
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