The state vice president who is also United Transformation Movement (UTM) Saulos Chilima has condemned the attacks against people from other countries.

Making the plea during a press briefing in Lilongwe, Chilima stressed that xenophobia will never be good because it is happening in Malawi, the act will remain bad.

“If we condemned xenophobic attacks in the Republic of South Africa, it does not make it a good act if it is Malawians who are involved,” advised Chilima.

He further asked that they should learn to settle whatever differences they may encounter amicably.

He said disagreements end with dialogue and has urged all Malawians to follow legal procedures such as deportation.

South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa will host Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday for a state visit, the first for South Africa’s 6th administration.

President Ramaphosa to host President of Nigeria for a State Visit https://t.co/0hQNY9Yk8w

— The Presidency (@PresidencyZA) October 1, 2019

Last week, Ramaphosa hosted former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo during a courtesy call, following a wave of violence and looting which hit business hubs in Gauteng.

“One of the main features of the visit will be a joint business forum, with a focus on trade and investment,” Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Khusela Diko said.

Nigeria recalled its high commissioner and evacuated some of its citizens in September after a spate of attacks in SA left at least 12 people dead, two of them foreigners. Protests in Nigeria over the violence targeted SA companies including MTN and Shoprite.

Nigeria is SA’s biggest trade partner in Africa, with flows estimated at $4.5bn in 2018 compared with $2.9bn a decade ago, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.