EARLY THIS WEEK, it was reported that eight Cameroonian athletes at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, had gone missing. A week or so before, news sources reported that some Nigerians masquerading as journalists had managed to be included on their country’s delegation to the Games, albeit having had to part with at least $2,5000 for the favour. They were denied entry into Australia. Now on the list of disappearances has been added two Ugandans, a Ghanaian and … a Rwandan. There is no cause to worry for the “disappearances”, it is a deliberate attempt to remain behind. Most tend to seek asylum claiming persecution in their home countries; some succeed, others do not. The economic migration fever on the continent has seen a steep rise in the last few years, culminating in the Mediterranean Sea tragedy that has taken the lives of thousands braving the choppy waters to seek greener pastures in the West. The difference with the Gold Coast migration in that it was opportunistic and free. Not only did the wannabe migrants abuse their countries’ trust, they are bound to soil them more when they file for asylum and make up stories to back it up. Australians and other developed economies worked hard to take their countries where they are today. Where is the dignity of knocking on their doors with a begging bowl when one could have strived to help build their country so that they don’t have to degrade themselves? These are the people who contribute to giving this continent a bad name; that of beggars too lazy to work and build their economies and instead scramble to pluck low-hanging fruit. It is a shame
