Zim diasporans could be home once the National Gross Happiness Index Increases

I just read a compelling news piece by the Honorable Information Minister  Jonathan Moyo on Government plans to appeal to the Diaspora Community to return home and serve the country through diverse skills and committed engagement.

Such a noble cause could also help cure the brain drain and enhance our fledgling human capital base in our lovely country. If all was balanced on the ground, this would be a timely undertaking. It's just that currently it's an uphill struggle to appeal to so many of our citizens who have over the past decade found comfort and joy through reliable employment options, markets replete with better quality products and well-tended infrastructure abroad.  

Currently, for the ordinary soul, there seems to be more incentive abroad than at home because many now have witnessed and appreciated the true value of their tax dollars at work in mainly corruption-free environments. That said, any citizen will aspire that such a status quo be prevalent in one's country of origin for there to be a guarantee of peace, liberty, property rights, right to livelihood and uniform pursuit of opportunities of advancement, comfort and happiness.

While I am not the spokesperson of the Diaspora people, I hereby air my personal opinion on what I feel could trigger the Diaspora people to head home. I totally support the sense of patriotism and would love to be settled home and spend some quality moments in the sweet sunshine and the wonderfully cheerful company of friends and family.

For that to happen on a serious note, there is some basic house-keeping that must be addressed.

The corruption bug must be fumigated intensively.  With salary disparities where some are earning hundreds of thousands a month as some earn a few hundreds, the general loss of public confidence compromises the spirit of patriotism. The widening gap between the rich and the poor is now so shocking that it would not trigger any confidence with the system. In any case not many would be comfortable to be home as cheerleaders for a few thousands of wealthy people occupying the top apex of the national wealth and comfort pyramid as the majority keeps wallowing in squalor. As I write many keep scrounging for basics like healthcare, food, clean water, good clothes and entertainment.

The infrastructure has not changed much as it has remained stagnant if not deteriorating in equity and purpose. School s, roads, hospitals, bridges and waterworks have generally gone down the drain. There seems to be so much talk on how to do things better on paper with less visible or tangible efforts to justify the paper plans. With that, for as long as the infrastructure remains dilapidated, many would prefer to return home to settle after England gets a black Queen.

Without enough industrialization or incentive to support even the home-based employable citizen amid the escalating population of college graduates plying the streets looking for jobs, the appeal does not match the reality on the ground. Not many would be keen to take a nose dive onto a hard rock in returning home where jobs are scant, hospitals have no equipment and conditions are not colorful as expected.

A great threshold could be to cut back on corruption, create accountability on collected revenue, focus on really serious infrastructural needs countrywide, develop a stable energy base, explore stable clean water supplies and sewer systems, and decently meet the needs of the current home-based workers. Once the home-based jobless start getting jobs and stable remuneration, that could  trigger many to want to be home. With that, a supported industrial base on a polished infrastructure could reflect some serious commitment by the leaders to justify a deserving relocation.

On education, once the systems get back on track to support the majority of public schools nationwide, many could be tempted to withdraw their children from good schools and colleges abroad and bring them home for school. Without that, no one wants to take a chance. The few good private schools with impressive facilities are currently jammed with backlogs. Many abroad are therefore simply sacrificing for the sake of their children to be in well-catered schools and college systems where there is less pressure and anxiety on conditions.

This is a winding path and it will require serious commitment and a revision of current policies en masse. While many now occupy comfortable jobs with staid long term benefits, the desire to solemnly return home will require a much more serious justification because the cost-benefit analysis will require some sober thought into it. And with so much paper plans that lack practically-matching action, many would rather be in menial or indescribable jobs abroad as they defend their stay amid replete markets with pleasant or fashionable products. It is just a sad reality to mark calendar days a month when electricity was available. That said, any serious plan to attract the Diaspora community should start with serving the interests of our home based brothers and sisters who are yearning for jobs and comfortable lives by the day.

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Tapiwa Kapurura writes from his website: http://myafricantales.com.