LUSAKA, June 8 (Xinhua) -- The first batch of Zambians will return home this week from South Africa in fear of xenophobic attacks, according to Sunday Mail.

    Zambian High Commission to South Africa Leslie Mbula said Saturday that a bus had been released to ferry 43 Zambians to Lusaka this week, the Zambian newspaper reported.

    Apart from the 43 individuals, a group of 44 trainee pastors has also asked the commission to facilitate their travel back to Zambia.

    Mbula said that more Zambians were deciding to leave South Africa rather than waiting in the country until the violence is quelled.

    Zambian Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Susan Sikaneta said Zambians willing to come back would have been brought back earlier but their trips back home were delayed in the process of registering with the High commission in Pretoria of South Africa.

    She said Zambians living or working in South Africa have a tendency of not registering with the High Commission until they find themselves in such problems.