Enhancing Development Potential of Diaspora Communities, Experiences of Zimbabweans Living in Botswana
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Date
2022
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Abstract
The study examined the development potential of the
Zimbabwean diaspora communities living in Botswana. The
current study sought to fill a gap in the interrogation of the
willingness and capacity of Zimbabweans living in Botswana to
participate in development projects in Zimbabwe. The research
was carried out in Botswana using mail and electronic
questionnaires, in depth interviews and ethnographic data. Fifty
mail survey respondents, 7 electronic survey respondents and 12
in depth study respondents were used in the current study. The
mixed method approach used yielded data that could not have
been obtained with one method only. Using the transnational
capability framework, the research established the existence of
both skilled and unskilled Diaspora in Botswana. The study
observed that the Zimbabwean community in Botswana is
actively involved in transnational activities. The study
established that there is willingness to participate in the
advancement of their families and communities in Zimbabwe.
There are some challenges that hinder the full participation of
the Diaspora community that were noted in the study. The
shorter periods covered by permits affect the migrants’ capacity
to access loans from banks or engage in long term planning as
they risk non-renewal of permits. On the Zimbabwean side the
economic and political uncertainty affect the commitment by
some Zimbabweans in the diaspora to invest in Zimbabwe. The
possibility of engagement between Zimbabweans in the diaspora
is affected by lack of trust between the current government and
the citizens in the Diaspora. The study recommended that the
government of Zimbabwe should create a database of
Zimbabweans living in Botswana to determine and tap the
available skills base for capacity building. The Governments of
Botswana and Zimbabwe are recommended to discuss extension
of permits and granting of dual citizens to Zimbabwean
applicants for the benefit of both countries. There is also need for
the Zimbabwean Government to reduce duty on capital goods to
allow the Diaspora community to bring productive capital for
investment.
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Citation
Sibanda, K. (2022) Samantha Shonhiwa5Enhancing Development Potential of Diaspora Communities, Experiences of Zimbabweans Living in Botswana. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), v. VI(III).