Well, charity begins at home

Editor | Thursday March 1, 2007 00:00

For a variety of reasons, Botswana is playing host to a number of expatriates. Some came here as investors while others were recruited by government agencies or the private sector. But for whatever the pull or push factors that brought foreign nationals to our shores, it must be borne in mind that the country benefits from their contributions. Of late there has been a raging debate on what national services and provisions should be extended to foreigners living in Botswana. This is not a new debate as it has been debated and it keeps cropping up in other places including the developed countries like the United States of America.

There are those who are of the view that since expatriates came to Botswana on a mission that was found worthwhile by the government and potential employers, they should be allowed to enjoy basic services that are ordinarily extended to Batswana. This debate has been given impetus by a consultancy that was handed to the High Level Consultative National Council. Among other things, the report is said to have recommended the right to health and medical services. Ever since government decided to discontinue free medical service to non-Batswana, there has been a concern in some quarters that government was too harsh in its action.

The consultancy report has further recommended Botswana's practice of denying non-citizens access to anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs in violation of its international human rights obligations as contained in the African Charter and Peoples Rights.

We, however, beg to differ. We believe that the Botswana government has an obligation first of all to provide for its citizens. At the moment, thousands of Batswana are very sickly waiting to be put on ARV treatment while many more have succumbed to AIDS. Until many Batswana nationals can be assisted, it would be inappropriate for the government to extend the service to non-citizens.

We know this is not a popular position but we believe when resources are few and far between, we ought to exercise some positive discrimination. This is not an easier choice to make particularly that the expatriates have given their-all to our country, but the Botswana government's stance is consistent with international practice.        

Today's Thought
Bread for myself is a material question. Bread for my neighbour is a spiritual one.

- Nicholas Berdyaeva