EDITORIAL
The wave of violence engulfing South Africa, including
the targeting of foreigners from other African countries,
is worrying and embarrassing.
More so given the fact that during the Apartheid era, many
black South Africans not only sought refuge but also trained
as fighters and lived happily in several neighbouring countries.
They relied mainly on the goodwill of the African solidarity
(Pan-Africanism) to fight the Apartheid regime and regain
their freedom.
Many of the African National Congress (ANC) guerilla fighters
trained in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique
and other African countries. They were never segregated
against, even when the Apartheid regime tried to mount pressure
on those countries to expel the South African fighters and
refugees.
So why are South Africans who were welcomed with open hands
in other countries now turning their anger and weapons against
their African brothers and sisters? Why this sudden xenophobic
rage? Why do they find it difficult now to live with Zimbabweans
or Ugandans?
One would have expected that since Zimbabweans are in trouble
now, South Africans would be more than willing to return
the favour.
The argument that foreigners are displacing them from their
jobs does not hold water. South Africa has attracted a lot
of foreign investment which in turn has provided employment
to its nationals.
And some of those who were attacked are investors who had
already established their own business from which their
government levies taxes; they also employ local South Africans!
As a matter of fact, most work permits are issued to those
foreigners who have exceptional competences that South Africans
lack. And the South African trade unions are very vigilant
in securing jobs for the nationals.
South Africa earns about Shs $7.3 billion every year from
tourism; the bulk of these tourists are foreigners who are
fascinated by the rainbow nation’s history.
Besides, the world has become a global village, where one
should be able to move and sell their labour and skills
any where in the world without being hindered by the accident
of birth.
To segregate against one on account of where they were
born is not only primitive but also out of touch with world
trends.
Black South Africans need to grow up and learn to live
with others!
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