Zimbabwe woos diaspora home

JOHANNESBURG, – THE Zimbabwean government has reassured citizens living abroad that they may return home with their personal belongings, including one motor vehicle, duty-free, a move welcomed by diaspora groups amid rising concerns over the safety and welfare of Zimbabweans living in neighbouring South Africa.

The announcement comes against the backdrop of recurring anti-immigrant tensions in South Africa, where many Zimbabweans have sought refuge from economic hardship and political uncertainty over the past two decades.

Migrants have frequently reported discrimination, violence, job insecurity and limited access to public services, despite contributing significantly to the economies of their host countries.

Earlier this week, the newly formed Citizens Watch Zimbabwe (CWZ) urged authorities in Harare to create favourable conditions for Zimbabweans wishing to return home.

The pressure group said many citizens had been reluctant to leave South Africa because of fears that property accumulated through years of hard work would attract hefty duties at the Beitbridge border.

CWZ President Patience Chard welcomed the government’s decision, describing it as a positive step towards encouraging the return of skilled and hardworking Zimbabwean citizens.

“Many Zimbabweans have spent years building their lives abroad under difficult circumstances. Allowing them to return with their possessions and investments without punitive costs is an important gesture,” Chard said.

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) has also confirmed the arrangement.

However, Chard stressed that incentives alone would not be enough to reverse decades of outward migration.

She said returning citizens needed confidence that they would find economic opportunities, reliable public services, respect for democratic rights and a stable investment environment.

Experts note that countries that successfully attract their diaspora back home typically offer policy certainty, strong institutions, quality healthcare, reliable electricity and water supplies, modern infrastructure, employment opportunities and respect for the rule of law.

Many governments actively court returning professionals by providing tax incentives, business support and pathways for skills transfer.

Conversely, poor governance, corruption, unemployment, weak service delivery, political instability and deteriorating infrastructure often drive citizens to seek opportunities elsewhere.

Chard argued that Zimbabwe must confront these challenges if it hopes to benefit from the vast expertise and capital accumulated by its citizens abroad.

She cited corruption, poor service delivery and inadequate infrastructure as key obstacles to economic growth and investor confidence.

“Zimbabweans abroad should be embraced as valuable national assets whose skills, experience and investments can contribute meaningfully to national development,” Chard told CAJ News Africa.

More than three million Zimbabweans are estimated to be living outside the country, many having left in search of economic opportunities, political stability and a better quality of life.

Analysts believe that creating an environment where citizens can prosper at home remains the most sustainable solution to migration pressures and an essential step towards unlocking Zimbabwe’s full economic potential.

– CAJ News