Zimbabweans call for tolerance following attacks
May 16, 2008, 05:15


Zimbabweans, who have sought refuge at the Alexandra police station north east of Johannesburg, have pleaded with South Africans to be tolerant with them in view of the current situation in their country. Hundreds of displaced foreigners - mainly Zimbabweans - are living at the Alexandra police station.

Foreign nationals have been fleeing violent xenophobic attacks in the township that began on Sunday. The situation had calmed down last night, but remained tense.

Meanwhile secretary-general of Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change, Tendai Biti, has reacted strongly against the xenophobic attacks. He says Zimbabweans are beaten both at home and abroad.

Biti says the MDC has ensured that the Zimbabwean Crisis Organisation is in South Africa to assist Zimbabweans in South Africa.

Doctors appalled by Alexandra attacks
Doctors without Borders have described as appalling the situation at the Alexandra police station.

Leader of the Doctors without Borders team, Rachel Cowen, says they are calling for more aid for the displaced foreigners.

Elinor Sisulu of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition says Zimbabweans should be redefined as genuine asylum seekers in South Africa to protect them from xenophobic attacks. She was addressing a seminar on the worsening situation in Zimbabwe at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban last night.

http://www.sabcnews.com/africa/southern_africa/0,2172,169617,00.html