Cape Town – Using brutal attacks in northern Mozambique to discredit the #BlackLivesMatter movement in a Facebook post, Helen Zille’s statements have been labelled as being “in poor taste” and “grandstanding white privilege”.
In the post, Zille wrote: “I have been sent some videos of the ISIS-linked insurgent attacks in Cabo Delgado, in Northern Mozambique. They are so totally and utterly gruesome, that I can honestly say I have never seen anything so horrific before...
’’Now here is a dead serious question: Where is #BlackLivesMatter? Or do they only deal with deaths that they can make political capital out of, in decrying ’whiteness’? #BlackLivesMatter is too busy scouring the internet looking for unintentional micro aggressions than actually trying to stop the most brutal violence committed against black people ... ”
The post caused a stir, receiving thousands of comments and shares.
ANC deputy chief whip in the provincial legislature Muhammad Khalid Sayed said what was happening in Mozambique was an example that black lives do indeed matter.
“Instead of highlighting this as truly a case that #BlackLivesMatter, Helen Zille grandstands again in defence of white privilege. Black lives do matter, that’s why the Southern African Development Community Troika (SADC Organ on Politics Defence and Security responsible for promoting peace and security in the SADC region) met last week to discuss this serious issue. Black lives do matter, that’s why attention is being paid by our government leaders. Zille should stop being sensationalist and grandstanding.”
Following the Extraordinary Double Troika Summit of the SADC held in Maputo, Mozambique - President Cyril Ramaphosa said they had received a report on the security situation, and “noted with concern, the acts of terrorism perpetrated against innocent civilians”.
“Double Troika Summit expressed SADC’s full solidarity with the government and people of the Republic of Mozambique, and reaffirmed SADC’s continued commitment to contribute towards the efforts to bring about lasting peace and security, as well as reconciliation and development in the Republic of Mozambique. Double Troika Summit directed an immediate SADC Organ technical deployment to the Republic of Mozambique,” Ramaphosa said.
Meanwhile the ACDP also raised its concerns, condemning what it likened to a “developing genocide“.
ACDP president Reverend Kenneth Meshoe said: “The ACDP raises its condemnation for the brutal and murderous attacks, which have taken place in Palma, in the Northern Mozambican province of Caba Delgado.
’’More than 750 000 Mozambicans have been displaced and thousands killed since the insurgency began a few years ago. Recently, a South African citizen was killed, allegedly, by the Islamist extremist group, al-Shabaab.”
“This is intolerable and must not be allowed to continue. Both South Africa and Mozambique must find ways of mutual cooperation in dealing with this scourge of religious extremism.”
Cape Times