Zimbabwe is waiting for you

The Rabbit of Truth’s comment on the 'starting point' is interesting. She makes a case for hope and progress.

A lot of us in the diaspora are hoping and waiting for things to change in Zimbabwe before we can go back and contribute to the development of Zimbabwe. The assumption is that those who will takeover will be better than those in charge at the moment. I am not sure, at evidence on the ground actually shows that we should be extremely carefull.

I am aware that many Zimbabweans are in fact already contributing in a big way wherever they are. In globalisation you do not have to be present in order to contribute. There is always an assumption that because of ‘brain drain’ things are at a stand still in Zimbabwe. Not everyone can and/or should live the country and those who are on the ground have to make things work because they have to live.

There is a phenomenon called ‘brain circulation’ which means people do share ideas, technologies and even return home to contribute even better. Of course at the moment not many Zimbos are thinking of going back home. In any case those at home tell us not to come back because things are terrible. Many have given up hope on things ever changing, and they are looking forward to leaving the country as well.

Very often I read views on assumptions of life being cosy in the diaspora. It is not always the case, but as they say the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

I wish to make the point here that, the dominant discourse of Zimbabwe being undesirable is not very helpful. The truth should be said about Zimbabwe but points can be made without exaggerating things. It appears somethings things are changing anyway; for instance, there are companies like Lonrho looking at investing in Zimbabwe. These are very informed investors; they do thorough research before they move into a country, so what do they know?

The interesting thing is that not many Zimbabweans in the diaspora are taking advantage of investment opportunities in their homeland. Of course people like Strive Masiyiwa and Nigel Chanakira are adding value to their business interests in Zimbabwe, embarking on aggressive business expansion while some of us are waiting for things to get better. Zimbabwe is waiting for you! http://africa.reuters.com/business/news/usnL02337771.html

At times we take too much time focussing on what is going wrong and miss the great opportunities that are always found in challenges. The fact that some people are people already exploiting opportunities in Zimbabwe means that when the Zimbabwean story is being told we not being told about everything. Tikatamba ngoma yemuroyi hameno zvedu!