Xenophobia: Zambian Students Storm South Africa Embassy, Destroy Properties

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Angered by the recent xenophobic attacks, some Zambian students on Wednesday took to the South African Embassy in Lusaka, the country’s capital.

The visibly-angry students of the Rainbow nation defied huge police presence and approached the embassy to achieve their aim.

Despite being addressed by the Zambian general Police inspector Kakoma Kanganja and his police team, the citizens seems not to be pleased with his remark.

Zambia’s university students burn the sign outside the South African Embassy in Lusaka on September 4, 2019, during a demonstration to protest against xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals in the Rainbow Nation. SALIM DAWOOD / AFP

The action comes shortly after Zambia has cancelled an international friendly football match which was slated for Lusaka next weekend against South Africa.

“This is because of the security concerns, you never know what can happen,” Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) secretary-general Adrian Kashala, told AFP. “We want to be sure of the security of (the) visiting team”.

The attacks on foreign stores began a day after South African truckers started a nationwide strike on Sunday to protest against the employment of foreign drivers. They blocked roads and torched foreign-driven vehicles mainly in the southwestern KwaZulu-Natal province.

See photos from the protest below:

Zambia’s unniversity students burn the sign outside the South African Embassy in Lusaka on September 4, 2019 during a demonstration to protest against xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals in the Rainbow Nation. SALIM DAWOOD / AFP

Zambia’s unniversity students burn the sign outside the South African Embassy in Lusaka on September 4, 2019 during a demonstration to protest against xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals in the Rainbow Nation. SALIM DAWOOD / AFP

Zambia’s unniversity students burn the sign outside the South African Embassy in Lusaka on September 4, 2019 during a demonstration to protest against xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals in the Rainbow Nation. SALIM DAWOOD / AFP

A protestor gestures and holds a placard during a demonstration in front of the South African Embassy in Lusaka on September 4, 2019 to protest against Xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals in the Rainbow Nation. SALIM DAWOOD / AFP

Demonstrators marching towards the South African Embassy in Lusaka on September 4, 2019 to protest against the xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals in the Rainbow Nation are blocked by Zambian general Police inspector Kakoma Kanganja and his police team. SALIM DAWOOD / AFP