NEARLY all the contestants of the forthcoming presidential election slated for January 20, 2015 have reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the declaration of Zambia as a Christian Nation.
And when it comes to the treatment of immigrants, these political leaders may equally be reminding Zambians of their obligation to wholeheartedly be compassionate and merciful towards their brothers and sisters from other countries, the immigrants.
Similarly, one point that could be made clear is that Zambia, as a Christian Nation, should be more compassionate and merciful towards its foreign guests, no matter where they come from.
During the United National Independence Party (UNIP)-era, this spirit was ably tested when the country, then under first Republican president Kenneth Kaunda, was turned into an effective sanctuary for refugees fleeing persecution in their own countries.
. Kaunda
KK, as he is still fondly known at home and abroad, is actually on record referring to foreigners, including freedom fighters, who sought sanctuary here as his guests, and not ordinary refugees.
For this reason, Dr Kaunda remains a darling of many people, especially our brothers and sisters in neighbouring countries who after years of liberation struggles with help from Zambia have now attained majority rule.
What, however, must be made clear is that these foreign nationals whom KK and other Zambians treated like eggs in the basket never violated Zambia’s borders. Neither did they transgress this country’s immigration laws.
Sadly today, the picture has taken on a rather different and dangerous dimension. Only this week, the Immigration Department rounded up 200 foreigners at Lusaka’s Comesa Market and arrested 43 Congolese for unlawful entry and stay in Zambia while in Isoka, the department nabbed 11 Ethiopians for unlawful entry.
And not long ago, Immigration and State police officers conducted raids in some urban townships, arresting hundreds of foreigners who had settled and had been doing business in the country illegally.
In other instances, foreign nationals have used Zambia as a transit point, and have been doing so in connivance with truck drivers who have been locking them in containers, like smuggled cargo.
Law-enforcement officers who penalised immigrants arrested during raids in townships, as well as those found hidden in containers, cannot be said to have been harsh, unfair or unjust with these illegal aliens.
Instead, they did the right thing – that is their action was in accordance with the law on immigration because these people were illegal immigrants, whether settled in this country’s townships or were in transit to other destinations.
This is because these foreigners did not obey the Zambian laws. In other words, they were illegal immigrants, and illegal immigration simply means breaking a Government law.
The world-over, there is absolutely no country with completely open borders, but all have immigration laws which outsiders should abide by to enable them stay or transit these countries safely.
Some people may argue that the action by Immigration and State police to round up immigrants staying in Zambia’s townships or conducting business here illegally was unfair or unjust, especially that as a Christian Nation, Zambia must show compassion and mercy to these people.
It is true some of these immigrants escaped poverty from their countries and came here for the purpose of having a better life and provide for their families.
The bottom line, however, is that laws of any country should not be broken at will. Even the Bible commands people to obey laws of any country, especially if such laws do not violet God’s Word.
St Paul in the book of Romans actually advocates for punishing law-breakers, whether this punishment is imprisonment or deportation, meaning Zambia’s Immigration and Police officers have been in order to punish illegal aliens.
