Lusaka - Former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda has condemned the xenophobic frenzy in South African townships and poor neighbourhoods, in which over 40 people have been killed, mostly African migrants.

Radio Zambia Saturday quoted Kaunda as urging the South African government to intervene quickly to stop what he termed a deplorable human carnage.

"It is criminal to kill fellow human beings for selfish reasons as is the case in South Africa," Kaunda, who led the post-independent Zambia for 27 years, said.

It is not not yet clear whether any Zambian nationals have been caught up in the attacks. Zambians do not travel to South Africa in search of work in the same numbers as Zimbabweans, Mozambicans and Malawians, who appear to have borne the brunt of the violence so far.

Speaking on Zimbabwe, Kaunda suggested the formation of a government of national unity, irrespective of the outcome of next month's presidential run-off election.

Zimbabweans will be called to vote again on President Robert Mugabe and opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai after neither won an outright majority in the first round of voting on March 29.

"The panacea for Zimbabwe is for the ruling Zanu-PF and the MDC to form a government of national unity to salvage peace in that country," said Kaunda. (dpa)