As the country’s economy is in shambles, there is a dire need for foreign investment to revitalize the economy. Zimbabweans in the diaspora are no longer able to keep turning a blind eye towards the situation pertaining to the Zimbabwean economy.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Southern Africa, Zimbabweans working and living in the diaspora are ready to invest back home and boost the economy, as long as there is a good environment.
This willingness to assist coupled with the IOM’s charitable works is expected to help more Zimbabweans combat problem that arise as a result of economic challenges. Such assistance has been manifested in their endeavours in partnering with a farming foundation in Zimbabwe that aims to help train migrant returnees and rural communities to generate an income.
The organization is also assisting the country by providing personal protective equipment, sanitisers and water at all border posts regarded as high-risk areas for COVID-19.
Statics show that Zimbabweans in the diaspora amount to an estimated two million. They reside in the neighbouring South Africa and Botswana, while thousands are based in the UK, Australia, and Canada among other nations.
Charles Kwenin, the IOM’s Southern Africa regional director, met with Zimbabwean government officials and stated that citizens outside the country want to spend money back home. He said:
“Zimbabwe has very huge human resources capacity in neighbouring countries abroad and everywhere. And there are really very willing and to support and make a contribution to their home country.
Their contribution is welcome whichever way through remittances, skills transfers, social remittances and even foreign direct investments in the country. So these are things we think it’s important but it will also be important that before we do this we get the right environment.”
Kwenin recognizes that cross boarder trading supports many families in the country and therefore acknowledges the major impact the corona virus pandemic has had on the population. On the matter the shared the following sentiments:
“there are a lot of income and support source of livelihoods that migration provides through informal cross border traders most of them are women and this corona that has resulted in lockdowns and closure of borders has serious social-economic impact on cross-border traders”
Do you see this being beneficial in solving the economic crisis?
Is there reason to believe that they’ll follow through with this or is it a matter of, as the shona adage says “totenda dzanwa mombe dzaswera nebenzi.”
What are your thoughts on the matter?
Let us know below.