Migration of people from Africa to EU irks senator

Matabeleland South senator for MDC-T Bheki Sibanda has expressed concerns over the the increasing number of immigrants from African countries to Europe when the continent is rich with resources.

Speaking in parliament Sibanda said the first issue he wanted wanted to deal with is the question of migration, particularly migration from Africa.

"I submit that Africa is endowed with a range of natural resources that are found below the surface of the earth. It also enjoys in some areas good rainfall that should ensure that we are self sufficient in food, therefore able to sustain a variety of industries that we should generate out of our numerous resources, both mineral and agricultural," he said.

"It is therefore sad, that a significant amount of immigrants that include women and children suffer the consequences of crossing the Sahara in order to look for what they consider to be a better life in Europe."

He said it is his sincere belief that as people develop as Africans, they should be seeking to change the direction of the trend of migration from Europe to Africa as they offer them sanctuary, because he believe that Africa is more endowed than Europe is, particularly with natural resources.

"It would also support our belief of avoiding or talking against neo-colonialism because I understand and I want to believe that neo-colonialism addresses our own self sufficiency; our ideological beliefs and identity as a people. Our cause is not supported when we lose the genius of our people who eventually move to Europe," he said.

"I therefore, urge that African governments concentrate their effort in utilising the resources that God has endowed our continent with. Secondly, that we improve our governance systems so that it is comfortable to remain in your own continent or country. Those of us who have lived as foreigners previously will testify that it is not an enjoyable situation to be a foreigner in any land. I strongly feel that we must do a lot of introspection as Africa and ensure that we create an environment that allows our children to remain within this continent."

He said if Zimbabweans look at their own country and the level of migration that has taken place, estimated at above or close to 5 million, they will note that a lot of the people who are migrating are well educated; that is their investment which is leaving its natural habitat and going to improve the economies of other countries.

 "I would like now to address the issue of the oversight role of Parliament over the Executive, which is dealt with adequately in the report. I do not have a lot of comments, but I have got questions that I think we must ask ourselves as Parliamentarians. Are we playing an effective role in our land in terms of our oversight role over the Executive? Are we not sometimes appendages of the same Executive that we should be performing oversight on? Thirdly, what does the whipping system do to our potential to exercise an oversight role on the Executive? I believe that it may compromise our role," he said.

"We are dependent on the financial resources that are collected and disbursed at the end of the day by the Executive. What does that do to our oversight role? Can we receive financial resources and be prepared to adequately put them to question. "