Critical Conversations with Zimbabwe’s Diaspora: Beyond the Money

By Takura Zhangazha*

It is an interesting historical fact that most of the newer/modernist thinking around Zimbabwe’s liberation emerged from the Diaspora.  Or at least from experiences by those who were to become leaders of the same either as nationalists, war veterans and activists in one form or the other.  This was mainly via them either getting their education, military training or in some cases jobs (such as in hotel and catering, teaching) outside of the country.   

In their lived experiences of being in the Diaspora many liberatory ideas, experiences and new understanding of the situation back home emerged. So if you are looking at the first major waves of emigrants from Zimbabwe to South Africa mainly to work in the mines, hotel and catering as well as in some cases to get an education at for example Fort Hare university among other vocational training institutions that were allowed to enroll black students, you find a new consciousness.  

It was from this first wave of our Diaspora, upon their return to then Rhodesia that we encountered more and more waves of unionism (for example Clements Kadalie or subsequently Benjamin Burombo), nationalism and even by the 1950’s a youth led urban radical nationalism (crosscheck the City Youth League).   

Even as the liberation struggle progressed and changed formats from nationalism to ideologically socialist guerrilla warfare, the Diaspora not only as a community but in relation to actively being hosted by friendly neighboring (Botswana, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia) and distant countries (USSR, China, Egypt, Algeria, Yugoslavia, selected communities in the United Kingdom, the United States of America and the Nordic states, among others). 

In post independent Zimbabwe, there was an initial natural return back home for many of those based in the Diaspora.  Not just as former liberation fighters or activists but also those that found hope in the promises of independence.

By the early to mid-1990s however this confidence in the post-independence project had begun to wane largely due to difficult economic conditions as caused by the World Bank sponsored Economic Structural Adjustment Programme (ESAP). Combined with an attendant repression of political dissent by the state. 

It is around this time, and in particular at the turn of the century (2000s) that a significant wave of emigration by Zimbabweans to countries such as Botswana, South Africa, Australia, the United Kingdom, USA and some Middle East states began. And has not really stopped ever since. Save for when the aforementioned countries have fortified their borders against immigrants. 

For a greater majority of those who left Zimbabwe during that time it was the definitive desire for better livelihoods, job remuneration and opportunities that motivated their departure. A significant number nevertheless left on the basis of seeking political asylum, particularly if their intended destination were countries in the global north. 

And this contemporary Zimbabwe Diaspora has done wonders in relation to sending remittances back home and also investing in housing and other properties. To the extent that they are now a very important player in our national economy and the everyday lives of many Zimbabweans. 

I have given this elaborate historical background largely because it is important to try and put issues into some sort of historical perspective.  But more importantly and in the contemporary, recent conversations with colleagues and friends based in the Diaspora have indicated a visceral anger at what is currently obtaining in Zimbabwe.  Particularly in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.  Questions such as ‘what sort of country is that?’ Or in other instances highly personal and emotional narratives about how relatives and friends are unable to access health care despite having received money sent to them for treatment. And it is all understandable. 

These conversations inevitably take a political turn with a majority insisting that only a change of government will make Zimbabwe better.  But at the same time expressing misgivings or even disappointment about divisions in the mainstream opposition.   All the while trying their best to push specific pro-change narratives on social media, particularly WhatsApp, where they get more immediate information on what is happening politically or with their own families.  

In some of these conversations however I have begun to ask questions about their holistic vision for Zimbabwe.  Because the colleagues are wont to comparative analysis of the societies they currently live in, I also ask about whether the equivalent of what they experience around say for example, if they are in the UK, how a National Health Service (NHS) would work in Zimbabwe?

Or their views on public education, public transport, land,  national housing and even social welfare programmes for the poor.  In most cases the answers I get are ambivalent but again understandable. Mainly because there is a deep mistrust of the Zimbabwean government and also government led initiatives to engage the Diaspora.  Most of it based on their experiences with  Homelink or the latest  Diaspora Zimbabwe initiative  administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. 

The key issue that emerges for me is that the positioning of the Diaspora as important primarily in relation to their ability to send remittances is unsustainable and unjust. Especially given the fact that a majority remain either technically or at heart Zimbabwean citizens.  Even more significantly is that historically the Diaspora has always led to new perspectives on an envisioned better Zimbabwe for all.

This entails interacting with the Diaspora beyond remittances and beginning with values and principles around a fair Zimbabwean society for all.  A proposition that would also require the Diaspora itself to begin to interact more with values and principles as the Zimbabwean opinion leaders that they are.  This entails outlining their propositions on for example health, education, transport and social welfare in Zimbabwe.  Either as they have experienced it in better frameworks in the countries they reside or as they ideally and pragmatically prefer it to be back home.  More like the equivalent of establishing a Zimbabwe Diaspora Charter of values and principles to share with those back home.  Given the diversity of our Diaspora, this may be a hard ask but it is worth a try.

*Takura Zhangazha writes here in his personal capacity (takura-zhangazha.blogspot.com)