Investigations reveal that the alleged discrimination against African migrants in the Chinese city of Guangshou took place – it’s allegedly a product of vengeance on Africans based on discrimination and harassment of Chinese people in Africa.
A Nigerian student studying in China anonymously revealed that an unfounded rumour milled through major China cities that Chinese people are being maltreated in Africa. This, he claimed was the genesis of the lie that African communities had become a new hotbed for the coronavirus in the Chinese city of Guangzhou.
African people wearing masks walk on the street in Guangzhou [File: Alex Plavevski/EPA-EFE]
He said the rumour was cooked to get back at Africans and also stigmatise them as coronavirus major careers.
As the rumour flies through town, health officials started door-to-door testing targeting African migrants.
It was reported that Landlords and hotels evicted hundreds of Africans and forced into quarantine despite testing negative for the virus.
The source of the rumour is also traceable to some viral videos that show Africans harassing, name-calling and intimidating Chinese people in Africa – though the veracity of the content of the videos was not confirmed.
Many of these Africans are currently homeless with a growing ‘fear’ that cities like Guangzhou could face a second wave of the outbreak.
African diplomats in China have reported the case to Chinese foreign ministry for effective investigation and follow up.
The Chinese embassy in Zimbabwe denies the accusations saying: “China treats all individuals in the country, Chinese and foreign alike, as equals.”
According to BBC, a Nigerian student revealed he had been forced into hiding. He said: “I am running [from the police] because of the way they are testing people and claiming that the person has a sickness, bringing all sorts of injections”.
“They are going to houses and bringing people out, keeping them in hotels. I am just hiding and living by the grace of God.”
Another Nigerian student in China who identified himself as Olu said “They are doing the same thing (here) they are doing in Nigeria. They want to test some testing kits on Africa. Our people back home should reject them. We are not GuineaPigs”.
