What's missing in the global debate over refugees | Yasin Kakande

Translator: Clarence Bitegeko Reviewer: Nelson Simfukwe

I am an immigrant from Uganda living in the United States

Mimi ni mhamiaji kutoka Uganda Naishi Marekani

while waiting for my asylum application

nikisubiri ombi langu la hifadhi

to go through.

kupita.

Migrants do not enjoy much freedom of movement

Wahamiaji hawafaidi sana Uhuru wa kutembea

in our world today.

Katika dunia yetu leo.

This certainly applies to those who are desperate enough

Hii hasa huwahusu wale walio tayari kwa lolote

to navigate choppy and stormy seas in boats.

hata kusafiri kwenye bahari yenye mawimbi na dhoruba kwa mashua.

These are the risks my cousins from West Africa and North Africa face

Hizi ndizo hatari ambazo ndugu zangu wa Afrika Magharibi na Kaskazini huzipata

while trying to cross over to Europe.

wanapojaribu kuvuka kwenda Ulaya.

Indeed, it is a rare but fortunate opportunity

Kweli, ni nadra lakini ni fursa ya bahati

for a migrant to address a gathering like this.

kwa mhamiaji kuhutubia kusanyiko kama hili.

But this also signifies what often is missing

Lakini hii pia inaonesha kitu gani hukosekana mara nyingi

in the global debate over refugees,

katika mdahalo wa kidunia juu ya wakimbizi,

migrants and immigrants,

wahamaji na wahamiaji,

voices of the disenfranchised.

sauti za wasio na haki ya uraia.

Citizens of many host countries,

Wananchi wa nchi nyingi wenyeji,

even those that previously welcomed newcomers,

hata zile ambazo mwanzoni zilikaribisha wageni,

are uneasy about the rising numbers of individuals

wana wasiwasi juu ya ongezeko la namba ya watu

coming into their countries.

wanaokuja kwenye nchi zao.

The immediate criticism is that the newcomers upend the stability

Kasoro ya kwanza ni kuwa wageni wataangusha uthabiti

of social welfare and employment in their countries.

wa huduma za kijamii na ajira katika nchi zao.

Uncertain and skeptical citizens look towards politicians

Wanachi wenye mashaka na shuku huwaelekea wanasiasa

who are competing against each other to see who can claim the prize

wanaoshindana wao kwa wao kuona nani anaweza kushinda

of the loudest voice of populism and nationalism.

sauti kubwa kabisa ya uwingi na utaifa.

It is a contest of who is the toughest on migrants,

Ni ushindani juu ya nani ni mkali zaidi juu ya wahamaji,

the most willing to impose travel bans

aliye tayari zaidi kuamuru mazuio ya kusafiri

and the most eager to propose projects in building walls.

na mwenye hamu kubwa ya kupendekeza miradi ya kujenga kuta.

All these restrictions simply address symptoms of the problem,

Vikwazo vyote hivi vinatatua viashiria vya tatizo

not the causes.

sio visababishi.

Why are they coming?

Kwa nini wanakuja?

Migrants can share perspectives,

Wahamaji waweza kutoa mitazamo yao,

if only politicians would be willing to listen.

ikiwa tu wanasiasa watakuwa tayari kusikiliza.

In Dubai, I chronicled injustices and inequalities inflicted regularly

Nikiwa Dubai, nimeandika ukiukwaji wa haki na usawa unaofanywa mara nyingi

on the migrant labor force.

kwa wafanyakazi wahamiaji.

As a result, pressures from the governments

Matokeo yake, mashinikizo toka serikali

of the respective countries

za nchi husika

led to me being forced out of my career as a journalist in the Middle East.

zimepelekea mimi kuacha kazi yangu ya uandishi habari katika Mashariki ya Kati.

I was deported to Uganda,

Nilirudishwa Uganda,

where economic deprivation puts everyone at the risk of starvation.

ambapo uchumi uliokengeuka humweka kila mtu katika hatari ya kukosa chakula.

I fled Uganda to come to the United States

Nilikimbia Uganda kuja Marekani

in the hope of sustaining a voice for my brothers and sisters

Katika tumaini la kudumisha sauti ya kaka na dada zangu

who experience a more serious plight as migrants.

ambao wanapata majanga makubwa zaidi kama wahamiaji

My father told me he was not happy about me writing a book

Baba yangu aliniambia hakuwa na furaha kwa mimi kuandika kitabu

that risked deportation and unemployment.

kilichohatarisha kurudishwa nyumbani na kukosa kazi

He had been diabetic for many years when I still worked in Dubai,

Alikuwa na kisukari kwa miaka mingi nilipokuwa bado nikifanya kazi Dubai,

and my salary was always sufficient to pay for his treatments.

na mshahara wangu ulitosha wakati wote kulipia matibabu yake.

After I was expelled,

Baada ya mimi kufukuzwa,

I could not afford to sustain his treatment,

Sikuweza kugharamia matibabu yake,

and even in the last days of his life,

na hata katika siku zake za mwisho,

I could not afford to take him to a hospital.

sikuweza kumpeleka hospitali.

As I carried his body in my hands to lay it in the ground

Nilipobeba mwili wake mikononi mwangu kumlaza ardhini

in June of last year,

Mwezi juni mwaka jana,

I realized I had paid a profound price

Nilitambua nimelipa bei kubwa sana

for amplifying my voice.

kwa ajili ya kukuza sauti yangu.

The act of speaking up against injustices that are multilayered is never easy,

Kitendo cha kuongelea juu ya udhalimu ulio na matabaka mengi si rahisi,

because the problems require more than just rhetoric.

sababu matatizo haya huhitaji zaidi ya elimu ya usemaji.

So long as gold mines, oilfields and large farms in Africa continue to be owned

Iwapo migodi ya dhahabu, visima vya mafuta na mashamba makubwa Afrika yataendelea

by foreign investors

kumilikiwa na wawekezaji wa kigeni

and those vital resources are shipped to the West,

na zile rasilimali muhimu zikisafirishwa magharibi,

the stream of African migrants will flow continuously.

mkodo wa wahamaji wa Kiafrika utaendelea bila kukata.

There are no restrictions that could ever be so rigorous

Hakuna mazuio ambayo yangeweza kuwa madhubuti sana

to stop the wave of migration that has determined our human history.

kuzuia wimbi la uhamaji ambalo limeamua historia yetu ya binadamu.

Before border controls can be tightened

Kabla ulinzi wa mipaka haujaimarishwa

and new visa restrictions imposed,

na masharti mapya ya viza kuwekwa,

countries that have long received migrants

nchi ambazo zimekuwa zikipokea wahamiaji

should engage in a more open discussion.

zinatakiwa kujishughulisha na majadiliano ya wazi zaidi.

That is the only practical start for reconciling, finally,

Huo ndio mwanzo pekee wa kitendaji wa kupatanisha, hatimaye,

a legacy of exploitation,

hiba ya unyonyaji,

slavery,

utumwa,

colonialism

ukoloni

and imperialism,

na ubeberu,

so that together, we can move forward in creating a more just global economy

ili sote kwa pamoja, tuweze kwenda mbele kujenga uchumi wa dunia wa usawa zaidi

in the 21st century --

katika karne ya 21 --

one that benefits all.

ambao unanufaisha wote.