Rwanda is progressively becoming a more important alternative for people who are in search of employment opportunities and better standards of living. This country is slowly but surely attracting peoples from various nationalities from all over the world. We need to keep an open mind lest we become xenophobic. When I speak of xenophobia I do not want to sound alien. Many of us have this fear but we at times bring it even closer on to ourselves and it turns out to be tribalism- the immature hate and insecure feelings that we tend to take on hating people that belong to other tribes and at times the feelings of thinking we are better than others. Like sexism, racism and homophobia, xenophobia and tribalism have a negative effect on people and the economy. Not so long ago, there was a xenophobic attack in South Africa and only the foreigners that live there can narrate to you how horrible and severe it was. These foreigners mainly included Zimbabweans, Ugandans and generally people from all over Africa, Rwandans inclusive. Innocent lives were taken and lots of people’s properties were destroyed. It’s not like anything changed because the foreigners in that country increase everyday. It was surely a waste of energy. Xenophobia is usually caused because some people are very insecure, especially when it comes to employment and educational opportunities. That can only tell you one thing, that there exists those who loathe seeing other people prosper. There is no good in xenophobia. This demonic attitude may create internal bonding among the citizens of the country or strengthen the cultures of those who are tribalistic, but the amount of damage created in the long run will destroy the whole economy and, the little progress that might have been achieved over the years might become history. This unreasonable fear of foreigners or people from different cultural backgrounds is most often elevated by the media. The media perpetuate unconstructive stereotypes about immigrants or foreigners, accusing them of being felonies, violent, and unemployed making them look like they are merely trouble to the country. Politicians and some government officers that hold high positions in society are also sometimes accountable for stimulating xenophobic tendencies. Without any shame of inciting violence among the citizens, some politicians have the audacity to blame the short comings of a country on the foreigners without bearing in mind that maybe they are not doing their duties. Ok, some might argue that there are those that seek refuge in foreign countries because they have committed some unspeakable crimes in their home countries or those they have been staying in. It is hazardous to have prejudice on foreigners; how about we look at them as a blessing in disguise. At some point, to have expatriates or people of better working experience do help a young economy such as this very one develop. After all, the so called foreigners are taxed and the money remains in the country. At the end of the day whose country is developing? Without sounding like am contradicting myself. I would like to bring to your attention my dear foreigners that like working in other peoples countries, that your own country is there waiting for you, and it will somewhat remain undeveloped because you prefer to develop other people’s countries. It reminds me of the man whose children never went to school because he was busy paying fees for his sister-in-law’s children. How silly! So how about if we learn to live in a global world. Truth be told, without accepting other people’s cultures and foreigners in our countries, where would we be? We would probably be still living in the 4th century. Anyhow, let us learn to accept and respect each others’ countries and cultures. In any case, we are foreigners ourselves every time we are not in our own countries. Would we want to be looked at suspiciously just because we are foreigners? And also those of us who cannot stay in our countries and develop them, maybe we should think twice. Just like Kwame Nkuruma said, East or West home is best. amamunanura@gmail.com
