The march was organised by the civil society and joined by concerned citizens.

Xenophobic attacks resurfaced in the so called Rainbow nation allegedly after one of the influential kings Goodwin Zwelithini told a rally that all foreigners should leave the country.

In 2008, the same kind of attacks occurred where over 60 foreigners were killed and scores of others injured.

The Lilongwe demonstration adds Malawi on the list of countries from Africa and beyond that have expressed concern at South Africans behaviour towards foreigners.

The match started from the Parliament Buildings and ended at the office of the South African High Commission in City Centre where a petition was presented.

Reading out the petition, Chairperson of the organizing Committee Billy Mayaya said it is sad that the attacks have resurfaced even when the South African government promised to deal with the problem when it occurred in 2008.

“It is sad that we are standing here again to present a petition on xenophobia though your predecessor promised that this will never happen.” said Mayaya.

“We Malawians condemn this in the strongest terms. Xenophobia stands to erase the gains that South Africa made after dealing with apartheid. In fact it is the new form of apartheid,” added Mayaya.

Member of the organising Committee Timothy Mtambo urged the South African government to respect human rights.

He demanded that the government of South Africa takes action against perpetrators of the same in the next 48 hours or Malawians will shun South African businesses in the country.

In her response after receiving the petition, South African High Commissioner to Malawi Cassandra Mokone thanked the organisers for the peaceful demonstration and promised to forward the petition to Pretoria as quickly as possible.

The current spate of xenophobic attacks has claimed the lives of two Malawians.

Government has been repatriating Malawians who have been stuck in South Africa since the attacks started.