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.

KAGERA BELCHES BLACK SMOKE

It is breathing down the necks of illegal immigrants. The breath is hefty, unabated and unrelenting

The immigration department of Tanzania has issued a grace period (read ultimatum) to illegal immigrants in Kagera region. (Kagera is the Tanzanian region that borders Rwanda and Burundi).

It has asked them to leave the country of their own accord or face forceful repatriation to their home countries.

The bulk of these illegal immigrants are from Burundi and Rwanda. Most of them immigrated to Tanzania during the genocide way back in 1994 and subsequent years. Tanzania has been their home in more ways than one. Other illegal immigrants are from Congo, Uganda and Kenya.

Last week the BBC interviewed some of them. They voiced their fears and said that they were being harasssed by immigration authorities. The immigration spokesperson in the area vehemently denied the allegations.

Those of them with properties that they deem will be cumbersome on the journey should sell or dispose of them, so have they been eloquently told. Those who have 'acquired' wives or husbands who are Tanzanian will be forced to acquire residence permits in order to stay with their families in Tanzania.

...Thus the sword of damocles dangles threatening to plunge. Anyone out there?!!

Rising spate of African illegal immigrants to countries in Africa and 'greener' countries outside Africa

Jacques chirac, the president who said "Africans will flood the world"

...What's the cause of this unprecedented rise?



In a TV interview, French President Jacques Chirac said nearly 50% of Africa's 950 million population was under 17 and that by 2050 there would be 2 billion africans. Quite a heave!

He intoned,rather passionately, that the wherewithal (resources and all) had to be made available to help Africa.

He said, "If we do not develop Africa, if we do not make available the necessary resources to bring about this development, these people will flood the world."

The French president stressed the need to tackle the issues with regard to immigration.

Delegates at the European-Africa migration conference in Morocco proposed tougher policing and action against human trafficking. They also proposed measures to deal with the poverty and conflict which drive Africans to seek a better life elsewhere.

Approximately 8,000 illegal immigrants aiming to enter the Euopean Union have arrived in Spain's Canary Islands since January this year. And about 1,000 would-be illegal immigrants have died attempting to reach the Canary Islands.

As this state of affairs forms and forments and unfolds, so many questions are left answered and, as I ruminate over it, I'm left in a quandary. What will come of it? Shouldn't we stop lending eye service to this issue and start thinking on its dynamics? Shouldn't Africans be given the help they yearn for instead of being'lambasted' every step of the way?

If your guess is as good(or as bad) as mine, then you'll agree with me that we've not heard the last of this yet.