By CHUSA SICHONE –

THE Rwandan community in Zambia has described as unZambian the recent attacks and looting of shops belonging to foreigners in protest against ritual killings.
Rwandan community leader, Frodouald Ntezimana said his fellow nationals viewed Zambia as a beacon of peace and their second home after they fled from genocide in their country of origin.
Mr Ntezimana observed that Zambians were peaceful by nature and that their culture did not condone violence against another individual and thus it was strange to see them react violently against foreigners whom they had lived with in harmony for many years.
“We have been in Zambia for more than 20 years; we have been sharing human, Christian and social values. What is happening is unZambian because normally Zambians do not behave like that.
“Zambia is a Christian Nation and in the Zambian culture there is no such a thing. It is very unfortunate that my fellow refugees are being caught up in this,” he said.
Mr Ntezimana said he did not believe that his fellow Rwandan nationals could be involved in ritual killings as they were currently pushing to be integrated in Zambia following the cessation of their refugee status on June 30, 2013.
He said following the xenophobic attacks, the former Rwandan refugees were living in fear and was hopeful that their worries would end if they were formally and completely integrated in the Zambian community.
Thousands of former Rwandan refugees are expected to be integrated in Zambia.