In the eyes of some bankrupt, beggared foreign nationals, Batswana are the worst scum under the sun. This insult is generally preached by some sweat-scented thankless foreigners who feign attachment to their countries of nationality but yet refuse to spend half day in their homelands mainly because theirs are worse that an animal sanctuary. Fundamentally, this popular fallacy violates the proverbial saying, if you want dinner, do not insult the cook.
A common refrain amongst some foreigners of the African stock living in Botswana is that Batswana are an unintelligent, brainwashed people with frightening levels of illiteracy and general social ignorance. I am pretty sure that many locals can stand insults from their fellow countrymen and women but will certainly find it hard to take insults from uninvited delinquents who create hollow fantasies about their importance and sophistication as border jumpers and purse-snatchers of repute.
For a very long time this column had resisted the temptation to wade into this offending and slanderous proposition propagated by some expatriates mainly because any discussion about the misconduct of foreign nationals is considered an unwelcome symptom of xenophobia. It is hard to discuss issues of immigration such as the morally reprehensible acts committed by foreign nationals or simply berating those foreign nationals who abuse or fail to respect the right to hospitality that Botswana granted them without being labelled a hater. It is a simple and widely accepted aspect of the moral realm for visitors to display an attitude which correspond to the loyal behaviour which is the basis of any right to hospitality.
Foreign nationals, irrespective of their visit and social standing, are expected to subject themselves to the rules of their host. It is a crass insult to Batswana for foreign nationals to violate our written laws and unwritten norms with impunity. Foreign nationals who express that Batswana are a stupid community should know that in expressing that view and whether it is true or not, they are in actual fact violating the unwritten law of good conduct whenever one is at their host’s place and in so doing are disqualifying themselves from remaining in the country. The universal unwritten rule is that a visitor must be polite and behave in a manner acceptable to their host.
Following a long period of silence on this topic about the rude and sickening behaviours of some visiting and resident foreign nationals, this column has resolved to delve into the issue with a view to provoking a discussion about it with the hope that it will contribute to a better understanding of what might be at stake if foreigners and locals respected each other. Perhaps it is true that Batswana are stupid people but it is not for visiting foreign nationals and scavengers to illegally sneak into our country for purposes of belittling us and boast about their superiority and exceptional criminality.
A visitor must be courteous failing which s/he could be dealt with for violating the right to hospitality. Foreign nationals who violate the right to hospitality should know that they are ruining their right to stay and thereby summarily renouncing their residency. Thus, whoever abuses the right to hospitality granted to them by the Government of Botswana should blame themselves when they are ordered to go back to their home countries and use their innate intelligence to survive.
They should know that their insults or recklessness diminish chances of being allowed to remain in the country because their behaviour implies that they are firmly attached to their country of nationality and may be predisposed to harming Botswana’s interests. It is pretty risky and inadvisable to have among us foreign nationals who are only attracted to our country due to the many opportunities for a better life and take our warm and friendly hospitality for stupidity.
I have always known that some foreign nationals especially the typical dirty scoundrels living comfortably in our country take us for idiots but I have never believed that such insults would find space in scientific literature that promotes national supremacy or ethnic nationalism. I have always believed that such stereotypes are propagated by small minded foreigners who create vulgar fantasies to gain some pride so that they appear to be in control of their miserable circumstances. Such insults perhaps give them a false sense of having a better life back in their home countries even as they trip over each other for dirty work in foreign countries.
After I have read a scholarly research article titled ‘They treat us like dogs: demographic claustrophobia and the Zimbabwean struggles for space on the streets of Gaborone, Botswana,’ published in the African Historical Review in 2012, I realized that the world possibly knows that Batswana are renowned idiots who are happy to be screwed by foreigners year in, year out. And this because some foreign nationals who abandoned their home countries because they cannot offer even the most basic opportunities for a simple life and therefore there is literally nothing to live for in those countries, have become far too comfortable after being given a warm welcome by compassionate and caring locals.
The article reveals that some Zimbabweans scavenging for jobs in White City in Gaborone see their marginal status in Botswana as degrading because they see Batswana as inferior and/or less civilized than Zimbabweans. Thus, they believe that it is against the order of nature for Zimbabweans to work for Batswana. They also hold the opinion that Batswana hate Zimbabweans because Batswana are illiterate and weak. The paper shares some offending sentiments expressed by some Zimbabweans who said that ‘They (Batswana) are not educated. They don’t know how to interact with other people. …They might not talk to you, but not because they don’t want to talk to you but because they don’t know how to speak English’.
This is unwarranted denigration of the host country and its people and should instantly causes one’s resident permit to be revoked if at all they do have any. Yet, it is said that an insult is but a short garment, it reveals the one who wears it. Granted Botswana has had one party in power since 1966 but we did not return one mad tyrant into office for over 37 years. We have never collectively or individually behaved as though our only reason for existence is to support a mad man who impoverished the entire nation and had to be pushed out by soldiers. We might be stupid but we do not export cheap whores, serial rapists and everything in between.
Obviously there are many polite and good mannered foreign nationals living in Botswana whose honour is being soiled by delinquents who discharge body scents that attract maggots. And the tragedy of it all is that the thugs who are the target of this tirade won’t read it. Essentially, foreign nationals who are compliant should not be offended by this rant but if they are, it is their choice.
Having strongly objected to the crass insults directed at us and by extension the Republic of Botswana as a sovereign state that has given hope to some smart arse fleeing from famine, the Badge of Courage challenges Batswana to wise up and petition their government to protect them from marauding aliens while at the same time recognizing that our excessive reliance on our country’s presumed former glory in ancient times as a prosperous and stable democracy evokes jealousy and hatred.
It is sad to imagine that we cannot be proud of ourselves to the extent that some flea-infested border jumpers would feel too comfortable and important as to start forcing us to be on the back foot. Unless if indeed we are stupid, unintelligent and inferior and we want to prove it, we ought to stand up and petition the government to review Botswana deportation laws so that there are provisions for the summary dismissal of pompous and disgusting uninvited mealtime visitors.
