JOHANNESBURG - South African opposition leader Mmusi Maimane on Monday blamed African liberation movements and regional presidents for driving an immigration crisis, delivering a sharp critique on Africa Day that contrasted with official calls for continental unity.
Maimane, leader of the opposition party, said liberation movements have “betrayed the promise they made to the people” and turned into “a cabal of criminality, corruption and cronyism.”
“The enemy of South Africa is Emmerson Mnangagwa and not Kudzai the Uber driver,” Maimane said in a speech at Constitution Hill.
“The enemy of South Africa is Yoweri Museveni and not Kizito the barber.” He singled out Zimbabwean President Mnangagwa, Ugandan President Museveni and their ruling parties, along with Mozambique’s FRELIMO, as the root causes of migration pressures on South Africa.
Ordinary African migrants fleeing hardship are not the problem, he said.
“The reason why we have immigration at these unmanageable levels is because these leaders - Museveni, Mnangagwa and others - have destroyed their home nations and beaten up their citizens,” Maimane said.
“Unfortunately they have received support and fellowship from the ANC. This must stop.”
South Africa has faced growing debate over high levels of immigration from neighboring countries, with many migrants citing economic collapse, political repression and violence at home.
Maimane argued the crisis stems from governance failures rather than individual migrants seeking work.
His remarks came as Zimbabwe and other nations marked Africa Day with celebrations of Pan-African solidarity.
In Harare, Mnangagwa reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to continental integration in an Africa Day address.
“Zimbabwe reaffirms its unwavering commitment to Pan-Africanism, solidarity, and the advancement of the African Continental Free Trade Area,” Mnangagwa said.
He urged Zimbabweans, particularly the youth, to embrace “patriotism, loyalty, discipline, hard honest work, environmental stewardship, and innovation” to build “a modern, industrialised, and prosperous Zimbabwe within a new united, integrated and prosperous Africa.”
Mnangagwa called for continued progress toward the African Union’s Agenda 2063 goals.
Maimane’s speech highlighted deep divisions over migration and accountability within southern Africa even as leaders invoke unity. South Africa’s African National Congress-led government has faced criticism at home for both its domestic economic record and its relationships with neighboring governments.
No immediate response was available from the ANC or the Zimbabwean embassy in Pretoria.