“Zimbabweans . . . go back home”

Stephen Mpofu, [email protected]

THE headline above, which resonates with the saying “South, East, West, home is best”, reflects a growing reality that continues to weigh heavily on many Zimbabweans living and working abroad.

For those who have built lives in foreign countries — whether through employment, farming, or running small businesses — there is increasing pressure to return home, as tensions rise in host nations where locals feel jobs should be reserved for citizens.

One Zimbabwean, who keeps poultry and grows vegetables for resale and frequently travels back home, said sentiments on the ground in South Africa have grown increasingly hostile.

He noted that many South Africans are unhappy with black foreign nationals whom they believe are taking up employment opportunities meant for locals.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the man said South Africans believe Zimbabwean and other foreign governments should create employment for their own citizens instead of leaving them “wondering” across the world in search of jobs, which they argue results in the displacement of local job seekers.

He pointed out that Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has, however, previously expressed support for the role played by Zimbabweans in South Africa, describing their contribution as beneficial to fellow Africans and “members of the race”.

The man also highlighted underlying push factors that continue to drive Zimbabweans out of the country.

He said the continued lack of dipping chemicals, which has led to livestock losses through disease in rural areas, has forced many to seek opportunities in neighbouring countries in order to support their families back home.

The availability of dipping chemicals across the country could not be confirmed by the time of going to press.

However, the broader message emerging from these experiences is that Zimbabweans in the diaspora are being reminded of the importance of investing in and developing their homeland wherever possible.

As the saying goes, South, East, West, North, home is best.