Malawi January 2007 |
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| Slack Borders and National Security in Malawi: Opinion, (Nyasa Times, 2007-01-18):-Public debate in many quarters by Malawians on the sudden increase in the number of international immigrants especially in Lilongwe city has prompted me to stand on this platform. It is evident that over the past few years we have seen an increase of legal as well illegal nationals from other countries involved in several economic activities. These nationals are now all over the city including low-density residential areas such as area 47, Area 18, area 15. Some have even gone to the point of initiating faith based organisations that are siphoning and externalising our forex. A Malawian studying at the National Taiwan Ocean University commented that we are so docile (may be too friendly) that we are ready to offer shelter even to people whose identify we do not know even to the point of giving them our daughters most often at the cost of their/our lives. While I do appreciate the significance of their presence amongst us, their sudden increase in number is a threat to our country economically, socially, ethnically, religiously and of all to our national security. I do understand that several Malawian women have benefited through marriages; I do also comprehend that my cousins have been employed by them, I heard that they have been donating to charity institutions; I stand to argue and remind the government that the consequences of these benefits are much more than what the country will benefit. While I do appreciate the significance of their presence amongst us, their sudden increase in number is a threat to our country economically, socially, ethnically, religiously and of all to our national security. I do understand that several Malawian women have benefited through marriages; I do also comprehend that my cousins have been employed by them, I heard that they have been donating to charity institutions; I stand to argue and remind the government that the consequences of these benefits are much more than what the country will benefit. While I do appreciate the significance of their presence amongst us, their sudden increase in number is a threat to our country economically, socially, ethnically, religiously and of all to our national security. I do understand that several Malawian women have benefited through marriages; I do also comprehend that my cousins have been employed by them, I heard that they have been donating to charity institutions; I stand to argue and remind the government that the consequences of these benefits are much more than what the country will benefit. There was civil war in Mozambique and we hosted millions of our neighbours, but the number of Mozambicans residing in Chirimba and Soche East was very negligible. The economy of Zimbabwe has collapsed but Shonas plying their trade and residing in our location is insignificant. The declining of copper business in Zambia did not even force walongo wathu to come to Malawi in such numbers. Very few Tanzanians are amongst us in Area 18 or Area 10 not even in Chirimba. What is so special that thousands of people from Nigeria, Ghana, Somalia, India, and Pakistan should come and find refuge and conduct their businesses in a poor country like Malawi? Should our poverty attract people who are potential to intimidate our national security? There was civil war in Mozambique and we hosted millions of our neighbours, but the number of Mozambicans residing in Chirimba and Soche East was very negligible. The economy of Zimbabwe has collapsed but Shonas plying their trade and residing in our location is insignificant. The declining of copper business in Zambia did not even force walongo wathu to come to Malawi in such numbers. Very few Tanzanians are amongst us in Area 18 or Area 10 not even in Chirimba. What is so special that thousands of people from Nigeria, Ghana, Somalia, India, and Pakistan should come and find refuge and conduct their businesses in a poor country like Malawi? Should our poverty attract people who are potential to intimidate our national security? There was civil war in Mozambique and we hosted millions of our neighbours, but the number of Mozambicans residing in Chirimba and Soche East was very negligible. The economy of Zimbabwe has collapsed but Shonas plying their trade and residing in our location is insignificant. The declining of copper business in Zambia did not even force walongo wathu to come to Malawi in such numbers. Very few Tanzanians are amongst us in Area 18 or Area 10 not even in Chirimba. What is so special that thousands of people from Nigeria, Ghana, Somalia, India, and Pakistan should come and find refuge and conduct their businesses in a poor country like Malawi? Should our poverty attract people who are potential to intimidate our national security? Malawi has been the best place to generate money for resettlement in western countries, the country is fertilise niche for cheap passports, the best route for drug trafficking and the best place for labour exploitation and money laundering. Should Malawi be also a home to millions of nationals who are known for their appalling behaviours all over the world? In actual fact, illegal workers and businessmen do not save in terms of assets in the host country; instead they channel all their savings abroad. Malawians has been confronted with several economic and natural calamities in the last decades, but they have never resorted to migrate en-manse to other countries not even in neighbouring countries.. Why should social insecurity in their countries force them to come to Malawi? Should we pay for their own negative life styles because of poverty and our weak border management? Are we considering the health implications on our societies especially HIVAIDS and birds flu problems? Malawi has been the best place to generate money for resettlement in western countries, the country is fertilise niche for cheap passports, the best route for drug trafficking and the best place for labour exploitation and money laundering. Should Malawi be also a home to millions of nationals who are known for their appalling behaviours all over the world? In actual fact, illegal workers and businessmen do not save in terms of assets in the host country; instead they channel all their savings abroad. Malawians has been confronted with several economic and natural calamities in the last decades, but they have never resorted to migrate en-manse to other countries not even in neighbouring countries.. Why should social insecurity in their countries force them to come to Malawi? Should we pay for their own negative life styles because of poverty and our weak border management? Are we considering the health implications on our societies especially HIVAIDS and birds flue problems? Malawi has been the best place to generate money for resettlement in western countries, the country is fertilise niche for cheap passports, the best route for drug trafficking and the best place for labour exploitation and money laundering. Should Malawi be also a home to millions of nationals who are known for their appalling behaviours all over the world? In actual fact, illegal workers and businessmen do not save in terms of assets in the host country; instead they channel all their savings abroad. Malawians has been confronted with several economic and natural calamities in the last decades, but they have never resorted to migrate en-manse to other countries not even in neighbouring countries.. Why should social insecurity in their countries force them to come to Malawi? Should we pay for their own negative life styles because of poverty and our weak border management? Are we considering the health implications on our societies especially HIVAIDS and birds flue problems? Historically, Malawi has and is still paying massively due to the number of Mozambicans we hosted in the early 80s. Our natural resources were destroyed, our social security was pin holed, and our sisters are still nursing children whose fathers can not be traced. To date, armed robbery is still on the rise. While the country is recovering from such problems associated with slack borders, it shows that our immigration authorities and policy makers have forgotten how the country is still paying the economical and ecological over draft. Another economic woe traditionally is that the more we host these people, the increase in national security, the further we will scare potential and bona fide economic investors. In his preliminary findings on private investment in southern Africa a Malawian scholar at University of Leeds has found that security (captured using an economic freedom index that comprises porousity of the borders, fraud, efficiency of the police force, courts impartiality) have a significant role to play in investment decisions. Currently Malawi is striving or competing to get an increased portion of the private investment particularly FDI and portfolio therefore the emphasis to scrutinize international illegal immigrants should be the priority of the government. In his preliminary findings on private investment in southern Africa a Malawian scholar at University of Leeds has found that security (captured using an economic freedom index that comprises porousity of the borders, fraud, efficiency of the police force, courts impartiality) have a significant role to play in investment decisions. Currently Malawi is striving or competing to get an increased portion of the private investment particularly FDI and portfolio therefore the emphasis to scrutinize international illegal immigrants should be the priority of the government. In his preliminary findings on private investment in southern Africa a Malawian scholar at University of Leeds has found that security (captured using an economic freedom index that comprises porousity of the borders, fraud, efficiency of the police force, courts impartiality) have a significant role to play in investment decisions. Currently Malawi is striving or competing to get an increased portion of the private investment particularly FDI and portfolio therefore the emphasis to scrutinize international illegal immigrants should be the priority of the government. I do appreciate that Malawi is a signatory to several global conventions, but let me take this opportunity to politely ask our President, the cabinet and all relevant officials that safeguarding national borders and interest is the priority of each country including those championing democracy. Malawians cannot easily start and open businesses abroad, Malawians can not access some education centres, and they can not even open a bank account easily even if they have money. This is not an issue of segregation or hatred, or violating UN Charters, SADC protocols, AU agreements, nor ethnic exclusion, it is an issue of safeguarding our nation, protecting our children and culture-the fear of the unknown. Countries with large economies are now feeling the impact of illegal immigrants what more with a country like Malawi? I do appreciate that Malawi is a signatory to several global conventions, but let me take this opportunity to politely ask our President, the cabinet and all relevant officials that safeguarding national borders and interest is the priority of each country including those championing democracy. Malawians cannot easily start and open businesses abroad, Malawians can not access some education centres, and they can not even open a bank account easily even if they have money. This is not an issue of segregation or hatred, or violating UN Charters, SADC protocols, AU agreements, nor ethnic exclusion, it is an issue of safeguarding our nation, protecting our children and culture-the fear of the unknown. Countries with large economies are now feeling the impact of illegal immigrants what more with a country like Malawi? I do appreciate that Malawi is a signatory to several global conventions, but let me take this opportunity to politely ask our President, the cabinet and all relevant officials that safeguarding national borders and interest is the priority of each country including those championing democracy. Malawians cannot easily start and open businesses abroad, Malawians can not access some education centres, and they can not even open a bank account easily even if they have money. This is not an issue of segregation or hatred, or violating UN Charters, SADC protocols, AU agreements, nor ethnic exclusion, it is an issue of safeguarding our nation, protecting our children and culture-the fear of the unknown. Countries with large economies are now feeling the impact of illegal immigrants what more with a country like Malawi? Finally, it is my sincere hope that the President will walk the talk as per his speech when he was opening the current parliament session concerning our borders and security. Otherwise, I totally agree with Honourable Justin Malewezi that each and every ruling political party has its good and bad things. However, among the bad things I will record under DPP should not be failing to tighten our borders weaken our security and labour laws. Finally, it is my sincere hope that the President will walk the talk as per his speech when he was opening the current parliament session concerning our borders and security. Otherwise, I totally agree with Honourable Justin Malewezi that each and every ruling political party has its good and bad things. However, among the bad things I will record under DPP should not be failing to tighten our borders weaken our security and labour laws. Finally, it is my sincere hope that the President will walk the talk as per his speech when he was opening the current parliament session concerning our borders and security. Otherwise, I totally agree with Honourable Justin Malewezi that each and every ruling political party has its good and bad things. However, among the bad things I will record under DPP should not be failing to tighten our borders weaken our security and labour laws. | |
South African Migration Project (SAMP) - Queen's University - http://www.queensu.ca/samp |