In a significant shift from rhetoric to structured engagement, the Zimbabwean Government has formally launched a ambitious strategy to channel the vast skills and capital of its overseas diaspora directly into national development projects. The Zimbabwe Diaspora Business Forum, held at the country’s embassy in London recently, unveiled a new project-focused platform designed to transform the “brain drain”of the past decades into a tangible “gain”. Convened by the Financial Markets Indaba in collaboration with the Embassy of Zimbabwe in the UK, the forum brought together diaspora professionals, investors, and government representatives under the theme “Leveraging Diaspora Expertise for Sustainable Development.” In his address, Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Britain Colonel (Retired) Christian Katsande emphasised a strategic pivot.
“The potential of our diaspora has long been acknowledged,” he said. “This forum marks our deliberate move from informal recognition to a structured outcomes-driven partnership. We are creating pipelines to connect your expertise directly with bankable opportunities at home.” The event positioned the diaspora as “transnational development partners,” moving beyond their traditional role as sources of remittance income.
The new model calls for equity investment, technical assistance, advisory roles, and the formation of professional consortia to tackle large-scale initiatives. Central to the new approach is the official launch of Diaspora Professional Sector-Based Clusters. These institutionalised working groups—spanning health, finance, mining, agriculture, and infrastructure—aim to coordinate expertise, facilitate deal flow, and act as formal liaison points with Harare.
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Their mandate is to ensure sustained collaboration and measurable impact long after the forum concluded. The strategy is framed within the context of Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2 2026–2030), the national blueprint to achieve upper-middle-income status by 2030. NDS2 explicitly identifies diaspora engagement as a critical strategic enabler.
A Government representative at the forum outlined supporting mechanisms, including the operational Diaspora Skills Database and the draft Zimbabwe Diaspora Policy (2025–2030), which aim to create transparent pathways for skills transfer and investment. “The clarion call is clear,” said a forum organiser. “We are asking Zimbabweans abroad to step forward into these sector clusters. This is about converting patriotism and professional goodwill into structured partnerships that build the nation.” The initiative acknowledges the pressing need to reverse the long-standing exodus of skilled professionals.
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