Discarding Political Hypocrisy and Mystification of Xenophobia While Maximizing the Economic Weight of Immigrant Nationals in African Economies

Abstract

The chapter challenges existing political hypocrisy perpetrated by anti-immigrant proponents including politicians and governments in some purposively selected African countries which form part of this case study. The chapter selected South Africa, Nigeria, Libya and Kenya to provide background to investigate the identified problem. This chapter premises that in the selected countries, manifestations of xenophobia in society are perpetrated by hypocritical political speeches of politicians and government officials. These speeches mystifies xenophobia. Politicians and government officials denied existence of xenophobia to justify their xenophobic rhetoric. There is what others have called ‘denialism' with regard to xenophobia in countries such as South Africa where influential politicians including government officials would create theories such as ‘criminality' and influence of ‘third force' which lead to locals attacking immigrant nationals. The chapter presents that, indeed there have been historical xenophobic manifestations in the selected countries which were in the main sponsored by political hypocrisy of politicians and government officials. Political leaders used inflammatory political rhetoric during economic hard times to exonerate themselves from non-delivery of expected service by their electoral bases, and therefore resorted to xenophobic utterances. Contrary to some assertions, immigrant nationals were crucial for local economic growth and general development. Political leaders and government officials should enforce policies and practices that protect immigrant nationals from any harm or any type of violence. Locals should also be educated about the Human Rights of immigrant nationals in terms of domestic statutes and international obligations of states. Also, locals should be educated on the positive contributions immigrant nationals make in society. Locals could learn appreciation of diversity, and therefore be prepared to embrace multi-culturalism in the era of growing internationalization and globalisation.