ZIMBABEANS in the diaspora are increasingly playing a significant role in the development of the economy.
According to the 2026 national budget statement, they are the third biggest foreign currency earner through remittances back home.
However, they still remain without a vote to determine how the country is run.
Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion minister Mthuli Ncube told Parliament that Zimbabweans in the diaspora are sending back nearly US$2 billion annually.
This amount is nearly equal to all the gold export receipts in 2025.
Let’s us look at who is in the diaspora.
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There are lots of academics scattered at universities in the United Kingdom, United States, Nordic countries and South Africa.
These are men and women who are in the knowledge manufacturing industry.
Zimbabwe has engineers, accountants and artisans across the developed world.
These are men and women driving real development in the countries they have chosen to call home.
The last big group of migrants from Zimbabwe are those from the health sector.
These are doctors, nurses and those working in the care industry.
They are the backbone of the health sector primarily in England and Ireland.
Some are in Australia and the United States.
Zimbabwe also has a sizeable number of athletes plying their trade across the world.
These are men and women playing in lucrative leagues and athletic championships.
They earn big money.
What prompted them to migrate?
They were seeking better future for themselves and their families.
They did not see a future for themselves in Zimbabwe, particularly after 2000.
The biggest migration took place post 2000 either running away from a deteriorating economy or political violence.
They left seeking peace and fortune or even just to live.
Despite the cause of their migration, many Zimbabweans still see Zimbabwe as their home.
They have immediate and extended families here.
They send money back to support family.
Some are investing back in Zimbabwe.
They are building houses.
They are starting small enterprises.
They are investing in farming.
They are buying stocks on the stock exchange.
In short, they still believe in the country.
It is apparent that the diaspora is playing a significant role in reviving Zimbabwe’s economy.
They see their future in the country.
They would want to come back and settle here at some point in their lives.
Of course, some would enjoy their permanent residence status in the countries the migrated to, hence they will have two homes in a sense.
Citizens have rights.
These rights include electing a government to run the affairs of their country.
They have a say on who occupies what public office.
However, the Zimbabwean diaspora community do not enjoy these rights.
They are not allowed to participate in Zimbabwean electoral processes.
Zimbabwe does not have diaspora vote.
The government argues the process is complicated and needs lots of financial and human resources.
This is a weak and lame argument.
Subsequent paragraphs will demonstrate this.
As earlier stated, the diaspora is bringing in US$2 billion into the economy and the figure is rising.
Yet, they are denied the right to vote.
Surely, the diaspora is being taxed without representation.
This is wrong on all fronts.
Ncube said Zimbabwe’s GDP now is US$52 billion. This number is huge.
It makes Zimbabwe the second biggest economy in Sadc after South Africa.
Contrasting Zimbabwe’s economic size against Mozambique or Botswana, the difference is
stark.
And the surprise, smaller economies like Mozambique and Botswana have a diaspora vote.
Their citizens participate in their countries’ electoral processes.
It is, therefore, conceivable that Zimbabwe does not have diaspora vote for some other political reasons than lack of resources.
The government is afraid of its diaspora population.
Afraid that they will vote against it and the population is significant to tilt an election one way or another.
Is it not, therefore, true that Zimbabwe’s GDP is overstated?
If its GDP is bigger than that of Mozambique and Botswana then why do these two afford diaspora vote while their richer cousins, Zimbabwe, cannot?
In other democracies, budget processes also include and involve negotiations for other legislative changes.
Can Zimbabwe parliament use the 2026 budget to negotiate for diaspora vote?
Can they not argue that it is irrational and unfair to receive US$2 billion from the diaspora and continue to deny them the right to vote?
Diaspora vote is not about changing governments.
It is about equality and equity among citizens.
Those in the diaspora deserve to be heard as much as they, too, deserve to elect their own representatives.
It has to be acknowledged that there are some in the diaspora who are aggrieved by State excesses in violence or persecution of political activists.
However, it is a fact that the majority of diaspora community went outside in search of better economic fortunes not running away from violence or persecution.
MPs from across the aisle should make this a bipartisan issue.
They should debate it in the spirit of making Zimbabwe great.
They should debate it in the spirit of making diaspora community full citizens of Zimbabwe with the same right as other citizens in deciding and voting for a government of their choice.
It should also be debated in the prism of how can a people contribute US$2 billion and denied the chance to elect stewards who shepherd the economy.
This is an important question, especially where locals who contribute nothing to the economy participate in the election of a government.
If they fail to debate it this year, this point should be found in subsequent budget debates as we move towards the 2028 general
elections.
There is a chance with sober and fair minds looking at the question is voting right not an incentive to the diaspora community to increase their contribution to the Zimbabwe economy.
Time diaspora vote should be on the agenda.