Immigration 101

Following on from Ben Okri’s correct articulation: “When we have made an experience or a chaos into a story we have transformed it, made sense of it, transmuted experience, domesticated the chaos” I penned this around September 2015. I was angry, very angry. For being disrespected, to my face. Somehow, I gathered some strength to gather my thoughts, so to speak. Of course, its easier said, but yes, often, life will throw it all at you, use that, that’s your distinct weapon, to take on life.

・・・

#immigration101

At home, in Botswana – yes, Africa. Accordingly, in the event a Non-Citizen is employed, the employer is legally required to check the right to work documents of the said individual: resident permit, work permit, certificate of exemption. For example, my mother employs and is in personal business contracts with immigrants: Zimbabweans, Mozambicans, and Nigerians. She recently confirmed: “Of course, I do check!” Further, some of her work colleagues are immigrants: Filipino, Australian, Malawian, Chinese, Zambian and Zimbabwean. I believe the relevant checkers did check.

Although still very developing, Botswana has been offering Asylum (just) to the other dispersed African refugees, and even those from Yugoslavia (Makhema, 2009). It should be pointed out that there have been a lot of confirmed ‘human rights’ abuses by the trustfully employed Refugee Camp officials.

Recently, just the previous Tuesday, the not so mighty Botswana Zebras expectedly walloped the mostly broken men of Eritrea. 3-1 was the full-time score. In addition, the BTV Motswana match commentator accurately analysed and predicted the inevitable ’real life’ result of the Francistown hosted game.

It has since been confirmed by one of Botswana’s leading newspapers, Mmegi: 10 broken men of Eritrea, instead of leaving my born and raised country, the place I proudly and sometimes arrogantly call home, following the FIFAWorld Cup qualifying match; desperately sought asylum in the Republic of Botswana. The rest of the 24-man delegation flew back to Eritrea on Wednesday morning.

Of course, these events were met by mixed reactions from my people: “deport these ISIS members to their country”, “they are here to steal”, “We are not Europe!” some vented on Facebook. “Let us help them – love one another’’, “One day it could be us or our children”, “please, let us be human!” others pleaded.

As you know, I am an immigrant in Europe, to be more precise: an economic migrant. Perhaps, as a Motswana, I should be “human rights” abused and kicked out of the UK immediately; based on the very same reasons asserted by my countrymen in an attempt to get rid of the desperate #Eritrea10. #refugeeswelcome