WHITE SOUTH AFRICAN TV PRESENTER TELLS ZIMBABWEAN TO GO HOME

In this bizarre and heated interaction, Leanne Manas (@leannemanas), a white South African TV presenter, asked South African-based Zimbabwean political activist Rutendo Matinyarare (@matinyarare) why he does not want to ‘go home.’

The exchange occurred on 19 December 2018 during a live TV programme (@SABCnewsonline) reflecting on the legacy of Zimbabwe’s first post-independence leader, Robert Mugabe.

Matinyarare highlighted that, despite the challenges Western sanctions have caused, Zimbabwe was on the rise, owing to its immense natural resources. Manas responded to this by saying that if the country had such great resources, Matinyarare should leave South Africa and return to Zimbabwe, a line that right-wing xenophobes commonly use.

However, the Zimbabwean activist was equal to the task and quickly reminded the anchor that her ancestors had migrated from Europe to South Africa.

Further, African Stream takes a Pan-Africanist perspective, which acknowledges that European colonisers created the borders of African states and that Matinyarare, as an African, has the right to live in any part of the continent.

Matinyarare, leader of the Zimbabwe Anti-Sanctions Movement, recently posted this video on his X (formerly Twitter) account, saying five years after this fiery interview, the US lifted two-decade-long sanctions. Zimbabwean Vice President Constantino Chiwenga had said last year that US and EU sanctions have cost the landlocked southern African country more than $150 billion. However, after removing the 2003 sanctions, the US imposed new restrictions on Zimbabwean officials and entities in March.

What do you make of this exchange? Let us know in the comments.