Illegal immigrants – more than meets the eye

A speaker at a seminar organized by the UN – Investment Consultancy body (UNCTAD/ICC) recently seemed to echo my thoughts (in an earlier blog) about the issue of illegal immigrants. I had intimated that the reasons of illegal immigration are varied. Thus dealing with this stark reality should also take a new turn. Repatriation and enactment of stricter laws are not the cure-all here.

The speaker said that the best approach to solving the problem of illegal immigrants, seeking better lives abroad, was for the rich nations to support government initiatives to put up sound economic infrastructure back home and acquisition of modern technology. He went on to say that stringent regulations would not solve the problem of illegal immigrants.

He said that richer countries should take it upon themselves to increase investments in developing countries.

If only rich/influential countries would take the cue…

BRING NORMALCY TO THE REPATRIATION EXERCISE

There've been mixed feelings about the recent goings-on in the boarder regions of Tanzania, especially Kagera and other areas that border Rwanda and Burundi. The Tanzania government has decided to send the 'illegal immigrants' in the regions to their mother countries. The bulk of these people are from Rwanda and Burundi. Some people think that what has been going on (the manner of the exercise) has not been conducted in the best of ways.

Take for instance, some of the illegal immigrants were literally rejected in their 'home countries' when they were repatriated. This leaves a question begging for an answer: what methods were used to verify the nationality of the said people? As there are no National Identity cards in Tanzania it would be tricky to ascertain the truth. Some of the said 'non-citizens' used voters' identity cards to prove that they are Tanzanians but they were quashed. These are the same guys who used the said cards to vote in the general elections last year– and the votes were good and genuine! So what's the hullabaloo all about now.

Another thing, most of these 'immigrants' have lived, schooled, married and had families in Tanzania. Literally speaking, they had found a home in Tanzania. But today, fifty or so years down the line, they’re being quashed. What's the agenda?

I liked the suggestion (Editorial) in one of the Tanzanian dailies that I perused some days ago. The paper was asking the government to grant these people Tanzanian nationality, if they (immigrants) so wish, instead of hassling and harassing them.

It went on to say that Africans were one people before the advent of colonialism and are still one people – national borders notwithstanding! We should value that priceless oneness above all else and throw political gimmicks and political overtones (that are obviously at work in this issue) out the window and as far as possible. And that's the bottom line.