How we can cure xenophobia

Last month I endeavoured to show the connection between xenophobia and leadership. This column suggests some long-term strategies for responding to xenophobia.

First, there is a need to recognise that it is the conditions prevailing in the countries of origin that drive the majority of immigrants to flock into South Africa. It is political and economic conditions that cause people in any part of the world to flee their countries of birth. A key factor in seeking a solution to xenophobia therefore is to find viable ways of helping to solve the problems of those countries.

Democracy, stability and economic development go together. In the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region we should work for a community that is peaceful, democratically governed and economically viable. A major consideration in this is support for forces that are genuinely working for positive change in the countries concerned.

Where there are political parties in conflict, it is appropriate for church groups and other countries to first go for interventions that are aimed at bringing about reconciliation between the parties in conflict. If that fails, the responsible thing to do is to identify the groups that are genuinely working for change and democracy and to strive to give such groups any form of support that is viable and legitimate and that accords with the Gospel message of Christ.

A guiding principle is that where it is clear that the state no longer represents the wishes of the people, the will of the people should be respected by all who seek to help.
In South Africa itself, we should facilitate the development of a new consciousness—an awareness of the fact that while any country in any part of the world is sovereign with its citizens having the right to be given first preference in relation to privileges and job opportunities, no nation is an island, no country can develop to its full potential independently of its neighbours.

Cooperation between states and neighbouring countries is key to both national and regional growth and prosperity. The European Union and the United States of America are a demonstration of their citizens’ recognition of this fundamental principle. The economic and political strength of those nations is a result of the realisation that there is great potential in pooling the resources of individual nations together, in helping the poorer members to grow economically, and ensuring that the members of the larger federation or union subscribe to the same democratic principles.

Organisations like the African Union, Nepad and the SADC are intended to achieve similar goals. However, it is a fact that big visions and structures designed by the leaders will not succeed until the vision of the leaders becomes a shared vision in the people’s minds. In this regard, there is a need to develop a new spirit of pan-Africanism through the education system, the media, the churches and other channels. An understanding of the role played by other African countries in helping to bring to birth a new democratic South Africa will do much to change the people’s minds in this regard.

The task of developing a new mindset among South Africans should not be regarded solely as a responsibility of government. The mission of the Church is not only to preach the Gospel in a purely religious sense. As “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world”, the Christian community should be actively involved in promoting the values of the kingdom in the broader secular world. Christians should join hands with government to bring about moral regeneration by cultivating a new spirit of love, compassion, tolerance and respect for the dignity of the human person.

The struggle to bring about an end to xenophobia cannot be divorced from the fight against crime; and the fight against crime can only yield positive and lasting results if it is a concerted effort involving different strategies.  These strategies must include: improving service delivery in disadvantaged communities and working hard to bring about development in those areas; changing people’s mindsets so that they can cherish positive human values; spreading the Gospel message in ways that make a difference to people’s lives; and working for positive change in the immigrants’ countries of origin.