Zimbabweans returning home in droves?

Formerly exiled Zimbabweans have been returning home in droves since the ousting of former president Robert Mugabe.

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government is also considering ways to enable millions of its citizens based in other countries to cast their votes, consul general Batiraishe Henry Mukonoweshuro told nationals at belated Zimbabwe 38th Independence Day commemorations in Johannesburg.

Mukonoweshuro, however, hastened to say the diaspora vote, which Zimbabweans living in other countries have been calling for, would not be logistically possible for the imminent presidential elections, expected in June.
"I know there is a lot of clamouring for the diaspora vote; it is a thing the government is thinking about. I think there is going to be an alignment of the electoral laws and the Constitution, [but] in terms of logistics it just may not be possible this year," Mukonoweshuro told the gathering of diverse Zimbabweans on Friday.

"I think in the next five years, definitely. You will find that embassies and consulates, wherever we are domiciled, would be the areas where we will be able to vote as children of Zimbabwe. There are places where we don't have representation, we will have partnership with those governments to ensure that people in the diaspora will be able to vote."

Last month, the Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe reserved judgment in the diaspora-based Zimbabweans' bid to participate in the upcoming elections from their foreign bases around the world.

Currently, only Zimbabweans out of the country on official national duty are eligible to vote, while millions of their compatriots in those countries can only participate if they return to Zimbabwe to register, and on voting day.

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, the Southern Africa Litigation Centre, renowned Zimbabwean human rights lawyer based in South Africa Gabriel Shumba, another Zimbabwean based in South Africa Sibonile Mfumisi, and United Kingdom-based political strategist and writer Darlington Nyambiya asked the court to instruct the Justice ministry and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to facilitate the amendment of the Electoral Act.

Shumba, who was also at the belated 38th Independence Day commemorations hosted by the consulate, told the African News Agency (ANA) his Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF) was "excited" by the new administration in Zimbabwe's exploration of the diaspora vote.

"The ZEF is excited that the new dispensation considers the diaspora one of the bastions for meaningful development in Zimbabwe. We in particular welcome the statement made by the CG (consular general) today in Johannesburg that the diaspora vote is being considered by the government, and that the electoral laws will be aligned to make this a reality," said Shumba.

"Although he mentioned that modalities may make this impossible [for] now, we remain hopeful and will continue to engage."

Earlier, Shumba – a victim of torture who has been living in South Africa for the past 15 years – told ANA that Zimbabwe was now seemingly on the rebound.

He also cited the political tolerance currently in Zimbabwe, which saw main opposition MDC-T leader Nelson Chamisa receiving a thunderous welcome at the official Independence anniversary celebrations led by Mnangagwa at the National Sports Stadium in Harare this month. Shumba also revealed he would travel to Zimbabwe this weekend.