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Trust Freddy –Herald Correspondent
With the latest statistics showing that the country received US$2,2 billion in annual remittances, Zimbabwe should reframe its narrative around brain drain.
The economic benefits of Zimbabweans living and working outside the country cannot be ignored.
Last year, Zimbabwe witnessed a surge in Diaspora remittances, with inflows reaching a record US$2,2 billion, representing a 22 percent increase from the US$1,8 billion recorded in 2023.
In his 2025 Budget presentation to Parliament, Finance Minister, Mthuli Ncube said Diaspora remittances accounted for 25 percent of Zimbabwe’s total foreign currency earnings between January and September 2024.
Remittances from Zimbabweans living abroad reached US$1,9 billion between January and September 2024, marking a 16,5 percent increase compared to US$1,6 billion during the same period in 2023.
These funds account for 25 percent of the country’s total foreign currency earnings, which stood at US$10 billion over the nine months.
The remittances come from a large pool of Zimbabweans living and working outside the country, including South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Canada and the United Arab Emirates.
Recently Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Prof Amon Murwira told the Parliament that the Government will continue to train nurses, despite the ongoing exodus of healthcare professionals.
The Government reckons these nurses are part of the diaspora community that sends back US$2 billion in remittances.
He was responding to legislators who were complaining that a lot of nurses are being trained here, but they end up going out of the country for greener pastures.
“It is not bad at all to educate people,” he said.
“We continue educating people. If they stay in, or if they go out of the country, we continue educating them and teaching them because as I am speaking, the Minister of Finance can simply tell you, like now, these people whom we trained here are the people who are bringing in US$2 billion which comes annually.
“If we had not taught them, they would not have gone out of the country. So, as they go out of the country, we said we do not continue speaking to going to foreign countries as a bad habit, no. I will simply say, country X, if somebody goes from this country and comes, goes to the other country, that person will be called an expatriate. If a skilled someone comes from this country, they will simply say you are running away from the bad economy in this country. No, that is not it. He/she is an expatriate from this country,” he said.
Professor Murwira added that Zimbabwe should take pride in having highly skilled workers who compete at a global level.
“We should continue saying we have our very own engineers, we have our very own nurses, who are forking in US$2 billion, which will ensure that we have enough electricity in this year.
The second issue is that we will continue teaching and training those Zimbabweans to ensure that if they feel like they want to work in this country, they can work in this country. If they want to go out of the country, they can simply go.”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs was spot on because by recognising the economic value of its diaspora, Zimbabwe can tap into a potential goldmine, creating opportunities for citizens to thrive both at home and abroad.
Diaspora remittances are crucial for the economic and social well-being of countries of origin, acting as a lifeline for families and communities, and contributing significantly to development by supporting basic needs, education, healthcare and even investments in agriculture and businesses.
In Zimbabwe, remittances continue to offer a reliable source of extra income to millions of local people who depend on their diaspora relatives for financial aid back home while at the same time ensuring that inflows of foreign currency are greater than outflows, even when imports outnumber exports.
Less than 2 million Zimbabweans live in the diaspora, with South Africa being the most popular destination.
A Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency’s (ZimStats) 2022 census states that about 908 913 Zimbabwean migrants live and work in South Africa, while 47 928 are domiciled in Botswana, 23 166 in the United Kingdom, and the rest are spread around the globe.
India, Mexico, and the Philippines, for example, have acknowledged the economic benefits of their diaspora communities, with remittances totalling billions of dollars annually.
For example, India’s remittances from the Indian diaspora totalled US$79 billion in 2020, making it the largest recipient of remittances in the world.
Again, in the financial year 2023-24, Indians residing abroad sent an unprecedented $107 billion in remittances to their families in India, surpassing the $100 billion threshold for the second consecutive year, according to a report by The Economic Times.
This amount of net remittances nearly doubles the combined total of $54 billion from foreign direct investments (FDI) and portfolio investments during the same period.
According to the balance of payments data, remittances from the Indian diaspora, categorised as private transfers, reached a gross figure of $119 billion in FY24.
After accounting for repatriation of income by foreign residents and other related expenses, the net private transfers amounted to $107 billion, the news report said.
The Mexican diaspora also sent back US$38 billion in remittances in 2020, accounting for approximately 3 percent of the country’s GDP.
Philippines remittances from their diaspora totalled US$34 billion in 2020, supporting the country’s economic growth and development.
From the above figures, it is clear that migrant workers make an invaluable contribution to SDGs through remittances and investments.
It’s time for Zimbabwe to follow suit and unleash the economic power of its diaspora.
This reframed narrative has the potential to unlock a more sustainable and prosperous future for all Zimbabweans.
By embracing this shift in perspective, Zimbabwe can turn a perceived weakness into a strength, harnessing the economic potential of its diaspora to drive growth and development.
Online Reporter