Zimbabwe Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Dr. Fredrick Shava has implored the diaspora community to take advantage of several investment opportunities opened up in Zimbabwe. He expressed gratitude for the immense contribution the diaspora community has made through remittances which turned out to be the second largest source of foreign currency. Remittances reached more than USd420 million in the first quarter of this year which is an increase of about 8,5 percent from same period last year. This contributed highly to the growth and stabilization of the economy which has been facing challenges for some years.

Hon. Shava encouraged Zimbabweans to continue using formal channels of remitting funds to avoid feeding the parallel market which is crippling and sabotaging government efforts to stabilize the economy.
The minister made the remarks during his meeting with the Zimbabwean community in China. He said the government was elated by the commitment that the Zimbabwean diaspora community was exhibiting in preserving their social, economic and cultural ties with their home country. He said President Mnangagwa recognizes the contribution of the diaspora community towards the development agenda of the country.

“May I also take this opportunity to inform you that Zimbabwe’s national policy of 2016 is currently under review, to align it with the aspirations of the NDS1 of improving diaspora participation in national development. Engagements with our diaspora has informed the need to review the diaspora policy to ensure that priorities, issues and concerns of you were captured and attended to in a predictable manner. As such, I wish to encourage you to participate in this exercise and provide your inputs in the new policy through our diplomatic missions, associations and outreach programs. We reviewed the policy to reflect the needs and expectations of the diaspora as well as provide the enabling framework for continuous interaction with the motherland. As we continue to rebuild our beautiful nation brick by brick, stone by stone, as my President and your president would say, and looking ahead to realize in our national vision of Zimbabwe to be an upper middle-income society by 2030.”

Sectors like agriculture, mining, tourism, value addition were identified as areas with vast investment opportunities for Zimbabweans abroad. Stocks from the Harare Stock Exchange and Victoria Falls were also noted as a viable way to invest.
Several issues that affect Zimbabweans living abroad were raised with the minister assuring that the government will continue to engage their counterparts China to come to the resolution of some of the challenges. Challenges faced by Zimbabweans in China include issuance of national documents, money remittances and the recognition of Zimbabwe as an English-speaking country to facilitate the recognition of qualified Zimbabwean teachers in China. Currently, Zimbabwe is not considered a native English-speaking country but their neighbor South Africa is. This makes it difficult for Zimbabwean teacher to acquire required work permits in the country.
Responding to the issue of diaspora vote for general elections in Zimbabwe, it was stated that one has to be in the constituency they registered in order to vote. Currently, there is no diaspora vote and any citizen willing to fulfill their constitutional right, will have to travel to Zimbabwe to register and subsequently vote.

A citizen raised concerns over the road situation in Zimbabwe to which it was explained that road rehabilitation has been the priority of the second republic led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa. He pointed out that Zimbabwean companies were proudly working on road projects using resources from within the country. He gave reference to the Beitbridge-Masvingo road, Harare-Chirundu, Beitbridge-Gwanda-Bulawayo road which have been rehabilitated and already functional.
The majority of Zimbabweans in China are students in various higher learning institutions across the country. They were challenged to embrace new technology and skills that would see them be part of Zimbabwe’s growth towards vision 2030.
He concluded by calling on the Zimbabwean community in the diaspora to look at how best they can increase their resources back home.
Minister Shava is in China leading a delegation for the Zimbabwe-China Business Forum organized by ZimTrade which is running from the 30th of May to the 1st of June.