Opinion / Columnist
Diasporans be warned!
01 Oct 2015 at 07:50hrs | Views
"We want your money but we don't respect your rights as legitimate citizens" - that to me is the message that ZANU (PF) is sending to the the millions of our brothers and citizens who left the country in disgust in order to make a living abroad.
I am all for Diasporans investing at home. Countries such as the Philippines have done well in harnessing remittances from abroad. I note that this government has launched a Diaspora investment policy but let us be very honest, this very government has not only scorned and disrespected them in the past, but has denied them their right to vote. I remember President Mugabe ridiculing them for going overseas to look after old people and today his government now wants their money. How ironic.
This government has failed to come up with viable economic policies that create jobs and build a better quality of life for its citizens, pouring more money into it will not necessarily result in them changing their values. We first need a fundamental shift of attitude and management style before we can throw good money into a cesspit of toxic patronage and corruption. We need substantive political and economic reforms first.
In my opinion, the conditions and principles for foreign investment apply to all whether citizens or not. These include respect of the rule of law, protection of private property ownership, an accountable government, free enterprise, preferential tax and immigration conditions, the right to remit profits outside the country, a modern and working infrastructure, flexible labour conditions and stable well managed institutions. All these do not yet exist in Zimbabwe and will not exist until we have a new leadership in place.
In fact we have a capitalist predatory rent seeking state which professes to hate corruption but turns a blind eye and does nothing when cronies commit fraud and steal. That is the reality.
So to my brothers and sisters in the Diaspora, please don't be duped. If at all Zimbabweans in the Diaspora want to invest in this country they should freely do so by engaging the business sector directly and targeting companies where they want to invest. It should be a business relationship with local entrepreneurs and the government should not be part of it at all. Let the government focus on consistent economic policy, the provision of public services and the creation of an environment conducive to economic growth.
I fact, I would add that Diasporans who want to invest in Zimbabwe should demand that democratic reforms be undertaken first. They can indeed use their clout to do so if they are organised and speak with one voice.
Having said the above, it is critical that those in the Diaspora contribute to development; there is no question about that. But the reasons they left the country have not yet been addressed, in fact things are getting worse, so why contribute to entrenching the interests of a political party which has not reformed?
Zimbabwe presents huge investment opportunities going forward; there is no question about that. However, until this government recognises and acknowledges that running an economy is based on consistent application of fundamental universal economic principles, it would be stupid to expect different results.
In the Zimbabwe we want, we will attract those in the Diaspora back into the country by creating soft landing mechanisms including tax breaks for them to return because we need their brains and experience more than their money. However, what will be more important is that, once they are back home, it is the quality of life that they can expect and the ease of doing business that will matter. These need to be addressed first. This of course includes their constitutional rights as citizens which cannot be manipulated by any political party at their whim.
I was in a debate with the new Minister of indigenisation a couple of weeks back where he has this romantic view that we can attract $50 billion from Zimbabweans in the Diaspora. I don't believe that number but that's beside the point. The issue here is about governance and the respect of our rights something that he seems to overlook.
In my opinion, hardworking Zimbabweans all over the world deserve respect first for they have suffered much under the ZANU (PF) regime. They can indeed make a huge difference but to what end? Be rest assured though that they will not be rushing back to Zimbabwe just yet until Mugabe goes, that's the truth.
Vince Musewe is an economist and author based in Harare. You can get hold of him on vtmusewe@gmail.com
Source - Vince Musewe
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