Foreigners stampede for Zimbabwe citizenship?

An increasing number of foreigners are applying to live in Zimbabwe permanently following a major improvement in the economy since 2009.

This comes as Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr John Mangudya said indicators like stable pricing and sound financial services pointed to economic stability.

In recent years, Europeans and Asians have made a bee-line for Zimbabwean citizenship.

Among them are investors, pensioners and students. Many foreigners who complete NGO and diplomatic service in the country are applying to continue residing in Zimbabwe.

Information from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) indicates the country's stable economy underpinned by the multi-currency system has previously attracted immigrants.

Immigration Department Assistant Regional Officer (compliance control) Mr Francis Mabika told The Sunday Mail: "The Department has seen a notable increase in the number of applicants wishing to reside in Zimbabwe. Applications are common in the category of investment-related; employment and spousal permits.

"Despite negative publicity in various media, Zimbabwe remains an attractive destination for most foreign nationals — mostly from Asia and Europe — who often enter as visitors or seek residence. Interestingly, applications are often received from some officials working for international organisations and consulates after their tour of duty in Zimbabwe."

Zimstat's 2012 report on immigration and tourism states that many immigrants came to Zimbabwe after the multi-currency system's adoption in 2009.

Statistics show that 1 197 applied for citizenship/residence permits in 2010, up from 478 in 2008.

There was a corresponding increase in tourist arrivals as well as African refugees during that period.

Part of the 2012 report reads, "The introduction of the multi-currency system in 2009 has resulted in the stabilisation of the macro-economic environment, which has seen the annual inflation rate declining from a peak of 231 million percent in July 2008 to a single digit of 3,2 percent as at December 2010.

"Improvement in the macro-economic environment has seen the number of immigrants coming to Zimbabwe steadily increasing from 478 in 2008 to 1 197 in 2010. The period 2008 to 2010 witnessed a general increase in the number of tourist arrivals. Tourist arrivals increased by three percent from 1 956 442 in 2008 to 2 016 264 in 2009. Figures for 2010 (2 238 165) show an 11 percent increase from 2009."

It goes on: "There were 4 437 refugees in Zimbabwe as at 31 December 2010. The majority of the refugees were from the Great Lakes region; the Democratic Republic of Congo (3 075), Rwanda (688) and Burundi (533). In 2010, there were 415 asylum-seekers of whom 306 were from the DRC.

"During the year 2009, there were 785 foreign nationals who were given work permits by the Ministry of Labour and Social Services to work as expatriates in either Non-Governmental Organisations or the private sector. Of these, 262 were working in the NGOs (sector) while 523 were in the private sector."

Officials from the Registrar-General's Department declined commenting.

However, the RG, Mr Tobaiwa Mudede, in 2014 told Parliament that his office was inundated by citizenship inquiries from around the globe.

He attributed this to Zimbabwe's Constitutional provision on dual citizenship.

Zimbabwe's immigration laws provide study, dependant's residence, investor's residence, permanent residence, temporary residence, temporary employment, business visits and missionary permits.

A person who has lived in the country for five consecutive years on a residence or dependant's residence permit is eligible for permanent residence.

And in an interview with The Sunday Mail, Dr Mangudya said the economy was stable despite low productivity.

He attributed this stability to involatile prices, introduction of bond coins, a sound financial services sector and capitalisation of the RBZ.

"The economy is stable; what we need is to increase productivity. We need to do more and it is us and us alone who can make our economy tick.

"The introduction of bond coins is of paramount importance because the exchange rate is now one-to-one and the currency we are using is not volatile."

Economist Mr Luxon Zembe said there were many economic positives.

"The economy is relatively stable; our financial sector is fine with inter-banking starting in March. However, more still needs to be done in terms of increasing productivity.

"The introduction of bond coins was brilliant and needs to be supported. This played a critical role in plugging leakages as people were forced to buy things they didn't want, or retailers were forced to round off prices. Every cent counts; (the system) has created competitiveness, thereby stabilising the economy."

University of Zimbabwe Economics Department chair Dr Pheneas Kadenge added: "Continued recapitalisation of the RBZ will bring stability to the financial sector. A well-capitalised Central Bank will, in turn, help bring about economic stability as it will play its role of lender of last resort.

"Some banks might have gone under in recent times, but our financial sector is sound as there are banks that are well-capitalised to the tune of US$100 million. Government continues to recapitalise the bank, bringing stability."