The process of deportation has a nefarious history in this country. For one to understand our concerns with this system of deportation, there would have to be an understanding of the historical context from which this system was borne, and the the conditions under which it was applied.
Our immigration laws are a product of a very dangerous phase in the history of this country. Promulgated during the times of colonial rule when this country was a safe haven for liberation movements from the region, our laws partly played to the strategic concerns of our white minority governments. Summary deportations, when viewed through that historical prism may have sounded defensible, after all, the president could move any undesirable if the existence of that undesirable was deemed dangerous to this country's interests. However, we also know that this government has a history of abusing such powers to deport residents who happen to hold a different view to the elites. You do not have to be a political scientist to understand that societies are not amorphours organisms and thus class differences permeate each society, while the ruling elites hold sway over the mechanisms of the state. Indeed the deportations are decided upon by a few members of the political elite for reasons known only to the select few. The deportation of Kenneth Good for example, was never explained to the rest of this nation. But that is not all. This government has a history of such practices. Former editor at Okavango Observer, Caitlin Davies was almost deported in the mid 90s, had it not been the citizenship immunity she obtained after marrying former MP for Maun West, Ronald Ridge. Her sin was the objective reportage of the Basarwa rights issue at a time when it was unheard of to openly publish stories concerning one of our own. It is a very insecure political system that can be abused by a self-serving government with a presidency that is inclined to dictate and silence detractors. Indeed this Presidency cannot hold a monopoly over the interests of this society. The Presidency, of course has a responsibility to serve the interests of this country, but that is also the role of the three arms of this government: the legislature, the judiciary and the executive. Concentrating such sweeping powers in the hands of one individual goes counter to our democratic ethos. The most recent deportation of Francis Sakufiwa should not be a cause for celebration. A legal resident should have the right to justice. If Sakufiwa was such a bad element and there was overwhelming evidence against him as the executive and its media praise-singers have been quick to say, why did this government see it fit to deport him without due process? Now headlines are being shunted out explaining how bad the man was. If this democratic system of ours is to become real and true, we have to be able to deal with these matters in a transparent manner.
