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Martin Kadzere
Zimbabwe’s macroeconomic stability is triggering a significant shift in sentiment among the country’s diaspora, with some looking beyond the traditional remittances towards capital investments.
After years of being a primary source of social welfare support, the Zimbabwean diaspora community abroad is increasingly eyeing the economy, spurred by the continued strong performance of the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency, sharp inflation drops and stable exchange rate.
The introduction of the gold-backed ZiG in 2024 has served as the bedrock of the growing stability.
According to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, the exchange rate has maintained a tight corridor throughout 2025, ending episodes of wild fluctuations that previously discouraged investments.
The interbank market has seen increased liquidity, narrowing the gap between the parallel and the official market foreign exchange rates.
Mr Omalli Jani, a prominent South Africa-based Zimbabwean entrepreneur and founder of Garage & Forecourt, has lauded Zimbabwe’s current macroeconomic stability as a powerful catalyst for the diaspora community to transition from “passive supporters to active direct investors.”
Mr Jani’s perspective highlights the growing confidence among Zimbabweans in South Africa — the country’s diaspora hub — who are looking to leverage their expertise and capital back home.
Mr Jani said the stabilisation of ZiG and the cooling of inflation have transformed Zimbabwe into a viable destination for serious capital. He noted that for those living abroad, the current environment serves as a clear “avenue” to contribute to the country’s economic growth.
“The stability we are witnessing is more than just a metric; it is a signal to our brothers and sisters abroad that their capital is safe,” Mr Jani said.
“It is time to move beyond survival-based support and look towards direct investment in the sectors that drive our economy,” he added.
Mr Vhusi Phiri, chief executive of BridgeFort Capital Group — a diversified investment firm with assets in Zimbabwe and South Africa — has urged Zimbabweans in the diaspora to leverage the current macroeconomic stability by aggregating resources and investing back home.
He noted that investors from neighbouring countries, including South Africa and Mozambique, are already establishing popular brands within Zimbabwe.
Mr Phiri warned that if the diaspora remains hesitant, they face the risk of being economically excluded from their own home market as regional competitors take the lead.
“The economy is on the right track, presenting a window of opportunity that those in the diaspora cannot afford to miss,” said Mr Phiri.
“With numerous prospects currently being showcased by Zida (Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency), now is the time for individuals to pool their resources and invest back home.”
BridgeFort is set to launch a Delaware-based investment firm that empowers the global African diaspora to invest in Africa.
Through BridgeFort Capital (financial services and fintech innovation), and BridgeFort infrastructure Group, the group plans to channel diaspora significant capital into profitable, high-impact projects.
Since its introduction on April 5, 2024 as a structured currency backed by gold and foreign currency reserves, ZiG has achieved remarkable resilience, tamed inflation and stabilised the exchange rate.
It has firmed by 1,5 percent since the beginning of the year to 25,5902 from 25,9807 against the US dollar.
Zimbabwe officially legalised the continued use of the multi-currency system until December 31, 2030, providing a clear legal framework for the use of the US dollar alongside the local currency.
The earlier deadline (2025) had created significant monetary policy uncertainty. Banks reportedly became hesitant to offer long-term loans extending beyond 2025, which threatened to stifle credit growth.
Zimbabwe’s monetary policy achieved landmark successes in 2025, with annual ZiG inflation plummeting to 15 percent from a peak of 95,8 percent in July, significantly outperforming the December 2026 target of 30 percent. Monthly inflation remained remarkably steady, averaging 0,4 percent since February.
Looking ahead, the central bank anticipates that upcoming January figures may reach single digits, aligning the nation with SADC regional benchmarks of three percent to seven percent.
The ZiG exchange rate maintained a consistent peg of approximately ZiG26 per US dollar, while the parallel market premium was contained below 20 percent. The stability was underpinned by controlled money supply growth, which was slashed from 10 percent to an average of just 2 percent.
For the first time in recent history, the RBZ reported zero central bank financing of Government expenditure.
Driven by record-breaking gold prices, foreign currency receipts surged to a historic US$16,2 billion, up from US$13,3 billion in 2024.
Current account surplus is expected to double to US$1 billion, foreign reserves climbed to US$1,2 billion by year-end, providing 1,5 months of import cover. These reserves now cover the local reserve money stock six times over and represent double the value of all total deposits.
While praising the current economic trajectory, Mr Jani urged the Government to capitalise on this stability by introducing specialised financial instruments.
He highlighted a gap in the market for structured opportunities that allow the diaspora to pool resources for large-scale national development.
He proposed the creation of infrastructure bonds, specifically tailored for the diaspora to fund roads, energy, and water projects. “Being based in South Africa, I see the immense potential and the desire of our community to build something lasting,” Mr Jani said.
“We have the stability; now we need the formal instruments to ensure the diaspora can help build the infrastructure.”
This aligns with NDS2 to harness global expertise and financial capital from Zimbabweans living abroad. The structured frameworks will facilitate the active participation of diaspora professionals and investors, serving as a catalyst for domestic job creation and national development.
Online Reporter