HARARE — Zulu monarch King Misuzulu kaZwelithini and King Ndamase Ndamase of the AmaMpondo in South Africa’s Eastern Cape met President Emmerson Mnangagwa in Harare on Monday, part of a regional push by South African traditional leaders to distance themselves from rising xenophobic sentiment at home.

The visit follows weeks of anti-immigrant tension in South Africa, including nationwide demonstrations on June 30 by groups demanding that foreign nationals leave the country. Zimbabwe’s government says tens of thousands of its nationals have returned home since May, citing fears of vigilante attacks.

In a statement issued on Monday, King Misuzulu said he had travelled to Zimbabwe “not merely as the King of the Zulu nation,” but as a son of Africa who believes the continent’s greatest strength lies in its shared history, shared humanity and shared responsibility to one another.

The king confirmed he had entered Zimbabwe through the normal immigration process, presenting his passport to be stamped and declaring his nationality, the purpose of his visit and where he would be staying. He said every sovereign nation had the same right to know who was entering its territory, for what purpose, for how long, and whether they complied with its laws.

“This is not an African principle. It’s a universal principle of international law. Every member state of the UN maintains borders. Every member state issues visas. Every member state enforces immigration laws,” he said.

“Africa should never be expected to apologise for exercising rights that every sovereign nation in the world already exercises.”

The king said the continental conversation on migration had become increasingly polarised.

“On one side, there are those who wrongly conclude that every concern about illegal immigration is an expression of xenophobia. On the other, there are those who unfairly attribute every challenge facing their communities to foreign nationals,” he said. “Neither position serves Africa.”

He said violence against any innocent person, regardless of nationality, could never be justified, but that no sovereign state should be expected to abandon enforcement of its immigration laws for fear of being labelled xenophobic. The distinction between illegal and lawful migration, he said, had to remain clear.

“A person who lawfully enters another country, complies with its laws, contributes positively to society and respects the institutions of that nation should always be treated with dignity,” he said.

“However, unlawful entry, document fraud, organised human trafficking and deliberate violations of immigration legislation are matters of criminal justice and public administration – not questions of race or nationality.”

Seeking to ease regional tension, King Misuzulu pointed to historical ties between Southern African nations, noting that the history of his people extends beyond South Africa’s borders.

He cited Chief Mzilikazi kaMashobane, who served under King Shaka before leading his followers northward to establish the Ndebele nation in present-day Zimbabwe, whose “descendants are an honoured part of Zimbabwe’s history and identity,” and Soshangane kaZikode, who established the Gaza State across parts of present-day Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Eswatini.

“These histories remind us that African identity has never been confined to colonial borders, and our shared ancestry should inspire mutual respect,” he said.

“It should never be used to justify disregarding the immigration laws of sovereign nations. Being family does not exempt us from respecting one another’s homes.”

The king rejected characterisations of South Africans as xenophobic.

“It’s inaccurate to portray South Africans as a people who hate Africans. South Africans have for generations welcomed students, entrepreneurs, professionals, investors, refugees and visitors from across the continent,” he said.

Speaking after the meeting, Ndamase said the two kings had travelled to Harare to make clear that South Africa’s traditional leadership stood opposed to xenophobia.

“We came here to Zimbabwe to show that we as traditional leaders, or royal leaders, of South Africa are against xenophobia,” Ndamase said, adding that the kings had briefed South African President Cyril Ramaphosa of their intention to travel to Zimbabwe to meet Mnangagwa.

“We are here to show peace, and to show that we as black people, or African people, are one. So there could be many ways of fixing things between the African countries,” he said, adding that the kings wanted to engage fellow traditional leaders and heads of state across the region so that South Africa’s different tribes and nations could “speak and talk in one language and talk as one family.”

“We are not saying illegal immigrants are doing the right way of coming to South Africa illegally, but xenophobia and violence is not something which the royal leaders of South Africa want,” he said.

“Even the government of South Africa is against violence and xenophobia in South Africa.”

Ndamase said the violence and hostility directed at foreign nationals in South Africa was the work of a small minority and did not reflect the position of the government or the country’s traditional leadership.

“There is March and March that is happening in South Africa. It is just a few people… It does not come from the government, it does not come from the royal leaders,” he said.

“So we want to show Africa that South Africa is still a country that everybody is invited to come to, and everybody can stay in South Africa peacefully.”

Ndamase, who chairs the Kings Forum of South Africa, wrote to Mnangagwa on July 3 requesting the audience, citing what he described as the Zimbabwean leader’s Pan-Africanist credentials.

The two kings had separately met Ramaphosa on June 27 and 28 to discuss the government’s response to the anti-immigrant sentiment before deciding to seek regional engagement.