Story by Stanley James
VICE President General (Rtd) Dr Constantino Chiwenga has called on Zimbabweans living abroad to increase investment back home, particularly in the housing sector, as Government intensifies efforts to mobilise resources for national infrastructure and urban development projects.
Speaking in Baku, Azerbaijan, on the sidelines of the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), Vice President Dr Chiwenga met Zimbabweans living and working in the country, where he underscored the strategic role of the diaspora in driving Zimbabwe’s socio-economic transformation.
The Vice President said Zimbabweans abroad possess critical skills and expertise that remain essential to national development.
“I realise that you represent a diverse spectrum of disciplines that include education, international relations, business, science and medicine, each of which is indispensable to the advancement of our country. As you are aware, Zimbabwe has already taken decisive steps under the Ministry of Skills Audit and Development with the launch of the Retired Experts and Skills Database in December 2025. The Ministry works with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to come up with a database of Zimbabweans in the diaspora,” he said.
Vice President Dr Chiwenga said Government remains committed to creating a conducive investment environment through ongoing Ease of Doing Business reforms aimed at attracting both diaspora and foreign direct investment.
“As a government, we are fostering an environment where Zimbabweans in the diaspora are afforded an opportunity to use their skills and experiences gained, and together we can build a stronger, more prosperous Zimbabwe. Currently, Azerbaijan is covered by our Embassy in Moscow, which will ensure that there will be a trade attaché to promote trade, facilitate investment and coordinate diaspora engagement,” he said.
Official figures show that diaspora remittances to Zimbabwe exceeded US$2.5 billion last year, making them one of the country’s leading sources of foreign currency inflows.
Zimbabweans based in Azerbaijan also expressed their willingness to contribute towards national development through trade, investment and skills transfer.
“This country has a lot of potential for Zimbabwe to benefit in areas like beef, horticulture, tea and tobacco to the extent that if Zimbabwe explores this market in terms of the commodities that I have mentioned, Zimbabwe really stands to benefit. So our proposal is a platform to document our skills that we have for Zimbabwe to tap into all countries where its people are located can contribute to the nation’s skills retention base,” Founder of the Africa Caucasus Forum Azerbaijan, Mr Predict Mutepfe, said.
According to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, diaspora remittances are now ranked second among the country’s annual foreign currency inflows, underlining the growing importance of Zimbabweans abroad in supporting the national economy.
