Musings On Xenophobia

 As at now, one of the trending issues pertains to the repatriation of Malawians who are fleeing Afrophobia-based attacks in South Africa, which is viewed as the economic hub of the Southern African Development Community and, indeed, the whole continent.

Some half-naked people in South Africa have been venting their misplaced anger on innocent citizens from other countries, notably Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana, Somaria, among others.

As we are talking, some clueless South Africans have taken over shops that were owned by foreign nationals, some of whom have been maimed, killed or chased out of that country, leaving behind everything they worked so hard to build. Already, some property grabbers in that country have started running down shops because they do not have a clue about how businesses run.

Of course, some of the foreign nationals cannot be defended because they violated the laws of South Africa by using uncharted routes and entering that sovereign state without proper documents. They then live like rabbits, moving from one ‘hole’ to another as they duck police.

This is not the way things are supposed to run because laws are meant to be respected by everyone, irrespective of status.

However, some of the foreigners who are being targeted in South Africa have official documents that allow them to stay there.

However, under current circumstances, where almost every foreigner with black skin is being targeted, one cannot toy with life by staying put, hence thousands of people, including Malawians, are flocking back to their home countries.

The situation has culminated in some Malawians getting stranded at the Malawi Consulate in South Africa, where they have been sleeping in the cold, and sometimes on empty stomachs, while waiting for their government to bail them out.

We commend the government and non-State actors who have extended a helping hand to the Malawians who want to come back home. This is Ubunthu, which posits that one is because of others.

In the latest case, even the Secretary to the President and Cabinet has appealed to employers across Malawi to offer jobs to Malawians who are returning from South Africa. This, too, is commendable.

However, we feel that some of the returnees are turning into some of their own worst enemies.

Recently, some of them ran berserk at Joyce Chitsulo Stadium in Mwanza District after they became impatient with delays to give them some amenities. That was uncalled for, to say the least.

We, therefore, urge the returnees to be at their level best, behaviour-wise, if they have to secure employment in the country. They must not forget that, in Malawi, perception is reality.