I want my followers to understand that you SHOULDN’T insult South Africa as a country based on a few loud voices on social media who express racist or xenophobic views. South Africa has provided numerous opportunities to the world, particularly to Africans. If South Africans were truly xenophobic, Africans would not be living there in such large numbers today. The majority of South Africans are welcoming to all foreigners who are legally in the country and do not commit crimes. These foreigners work with South Africans, live with them, and many are married to South Africans. There is nothing to worry about in South Africa if you are there legally and not committing crimes. South African citizens have the right to express concerns about illegal foreign nationals and those who commit crimes. In Zimbabwe, illegal foreigners are often placed in dilapidated jails, and refugees are housed in camps like Tongogara in Manicaland. Generalisations are dangerous, especially when they taint and insult a silent majority that is not xenophobic. Local communities in South Africa have protected foreign nationals from a small, violent minority on many occasions. The South African government is not xenophobic either. If it were, Zimbabwean women, who make up 70% of pregnant women giving birth at Musina Hospital in Limpopo, would not be allowed there. We should be grateful for the South African hospitality we have received for decades. It is important to recognise that while xenophobia and racism may exist in certain pockets of society, these attitudes do not reflect the majority of South Africans or the country as a whole. Respecting the rights of South African citizens to voice concerns about illegal immigration and crime is important, as these are valid issues. However, it is equally important to avoid generalising these concerns to portray the entire nation as xenophobic or unwelcoming. If South Africans were truly xenophobic, parties like PA and Action SA would be in power today. The four largest political parties in South Africa have never used xenophobia as a campaign platform, which should be telling. Do not judge a nation's character based on a few loud, yet inconsequential voices on social media. They do not represent South Africa accurately. Countries are a product of their history. We shouldn’t draw comparisons with where we come from and insist that our hosts should behave as we do. If South Africans were to follow our practices in Zimbabwe, refugees would be in camps and illegal foreigners would be in jail! In Zimbabwe, refugees are not even allowed to work, if you are found working, you are thrown into jail. South Africa, on the other hand, provides equal legal rights in its courts to foreigners as it does to South Africans. These actions are not those of a xenophobic country. Zimbabwe has refused to issue documents to people of Malawian and Zimbabwean origin, and it has revoked the citizenships of many Zimbabweans whose great-grandparents came from elsewhere. In any society, you are going to have opportunistic politicians and unemployables who think that all their problems are caused by foreigners, we have them everywhere, but they shouldn’t be used to define a whole nation!

Open borders which allow Africans to freely enter, live, and work in any African country, will remain unattainable until we achieve robust economies across the African continent, similar to those in the European Union. Anyone claiming that open borders are feasible without establishing a baseline standard for African economies is misleading you. Without this, a more developed country like South Africa would bear a disproportionate burden, effectively supporting the rest of the continent. For open borders to be viable, South Africans and others across the continent need to see tangible benefits and opportunities in other African nations too. Implementing open borders would require strong, stable economies and a certain level of economic integration, similar to what has been achieved within the European Union. Without this foundation, open borders would lead to unsustainable economic imbalances, as disparities between countries would prompt migration towards relatively prosperous economies. This influx could overwhelm South Africa’s resources and infrastructure, creating social and economic strain. To make open borders feasible, citizens must see opportunities beyond their borders. This would facilitate balanced movement and economic exchange, fostering growth and development across the continent without overburdening any single country. Many who advocate for open borders do so as a catchy political slogan, often without examining the data that highlights why it is currently unachievable. Numerous “fashion Pan-Africanists” call for open borders without addressing the economic barriers or confronting the tyrants responsible for obstructing this vision. Some of these advocates even label dictators like Mnangagwa as Pan-Africanists, despite the fact that such leaders perpetuate the conditions that make open borders unattainable. While the idea of open borders sounds appealing as a political rallying cry, it remains an elusive ideal, forever pursued but never truly within reach unless we tackle the economic issue first.