Harare, (New Ziana) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade on Tuesday signed a cooperation agreement with a diaspora-based group, ZimThrive aimed at encouraging Zimbabweans living outside the country to invest more back home to help develop the country.
Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary, James Manzou and ZimThrive’s regional coordinator, Farai Madziwanyika signed the Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of their respective institutions.
ZimThrive says its mission is to give the Zimbabwean diaspora a platform to fully participate in the country’s future and to see it thrive.
Ambassador Manzou said the government, under President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s leadership, “values the diaspora.”
“The diaspora is very important in terms of the development of the country. You have a key role to play in terms of (us) achieving the vision – Vision 2030.”
The government is aiming to expand the economy to upper middle income
level by 2030.
Madziwanyika said ZimThrive was an apolitical platform where Zimbabweans come together under one common denominator – “we are Zimbabweans and love our country.”
Instead of Zimbabweans attacking each other, spewing hate and negativity, the platform allowed diasporans to come together for a developmental cause.
“We continue to be ambassadors of the country wherever we are,” he said.
In terms of the MoU, the government and ZimThrive will partner in
encouraging those living and working outside the country to take up
opportunities to invest back home.
Diaspora remittances are one of the biggest sources of foreign currency for Zimbabwe, although there are concerns about disinterest by the country’s citizens abroad to invest in economic projects back home.
The partnership, among other things, also advocates for better engagement
by the government with the diaspora, as well as forge a united front to
project a positive narrative about Zimbabwe to the rest of the world.
With Zimbabwe celebrating its 40th independence celebrations next month, the partnership will also mobilise the diaspora for a series of “homecoming” events that have been lined up to celebrate the milestone
during the month of April.
New Ziana
