Introduction & Context
Successful countries have realised the importance of mainstreaming their global Diasporas as partners in nation building. To facilitate the partnership between Home Governments and their global Diasporas, it has become needful to script respective Policies that set out the parameters of partnership between Home Governments and their Diasporas.
In the Zimbabwean case, there is a current Diaspora Policy that was adopted in 2016. After the first 5 year cycle since its inception, that Policy is now due for review/revision. Through the assistance of the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) (a United Nations Agency), the Zimbabwean Government has established a Diaspora Directorate in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade that has as one of its remits engaging the global Zimbabwean Diaspora in nation-building.
In early August of 2021, the Zimbabwe Diaspora Nation Building Initiative was requested by the Government of Zimbabwe (GoZ), through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, to lead in consulting the global Zimbabwean Diaspora, in the review of the current Diaspora Policy (2016 version). It is envisaged that the output of this policy review, will provide the basis on which the GoZ, will proactively seek to harness and mobilise the socio-economic resources inherent within the Zimbabwe global diaspora. In addition, it will inform strategies to further the interests and rights of diasporans. The partnership between the ZDNBI and the GoZ on this important policy work is a culmination of high-level engagement between the two stakeholders, which are focused on nation-building.
The Diaspora Policy Review is in line with section 708 of the GoZ’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
Brief Summary on Origins & Structure of ZDNBI
The Zimbabwe Diaspora Nation Building Initiative (ZDNBI www.zdnbi.com) was formed in July 2020 with a full Executive Committee starting office in August 2020. ZDNBI exists to coalesce the global Zimbabwean Diaspora voice and works through 10 Regional/Country Apex Associations:
- Australia
- Botswana
- Canada
- European Union
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- United Kingdom
- USA
- Rest of Africa
- Rest of the World
The Apex Associations will be reviewed and increased as needed. There is an 11th Region/Apex Association that was formed: the AmaZimbabwe Association based in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia).
ZDNBI, a non partisan global Zimbabwean Diaspora Apex Association, has been recognised as one of the principal conduits, through which Zimbabwe’s Diaspora can be engaged. It is for this reason that ZDNBI is extending this invite to the wider Zimbabwean Diaspora.
We all have an opportunity to input into the reviewing of the current, 2016 version of the GoZ’s Diaspora Policy, a document which speaks to the shared interests that we have as Zimbabweans in the Diaspora. There are several themes/strands in the policy, that Diasporans can contribute to.
At the end of the Consultation Process, recommendations will be collated as the Zimbabwean Diasporas contribution to the Diaspora Policy Review Process. ZDNBI will share a final version of the reviewed policy document once it is launched. Current indications are that this will be in January 2022.
To submit your views, we recommend that you firstly read through the 2016 version of the Policy under review, which can be downloaded here:
The survey will take no more than 10-15 minutes to complete, though you can take longer if you wish to submit across many themes. Use the drop down menu in question 5 to choose the theme you wish to have a say on and then type in your submission.
Thank you for participating.
Any queries, please send an email to info@zdnbi.com