ONE of the selling points that Zambia dangles before potential outside investors is its record of peace and hospitality towards people from other countries.But xenophobic riots targeting mainly Rwandan nationals in some densely populated parts of the capital, Lusaka, in April threatened the country’s peace and its reputation as a safe investment destination.“Xenophobia is alien to our land and security services will not tolerate criminality disguised as such. Zambians are known to be peace loving and generally sympathetic to those in need. I am ashamed on behalf of the entire republic that some of our people are committing criminal acts against foreigners,” Zambian president Edgar Lungu said after the attacks last month.Since independence from Britain in 1964, Zambia has maintained a reputation as a peaceful, stable and tolerant society.Former SA president Thabo Mbeki lived there during apartheid. Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe and former Namibian president Sam Nujoma also made ...
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