The Zimbabwean Diaspora

The Government of Zimbabwe values the vital role that the Zimbabwean Diaspora plays in terms of the economic development of the country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade is mandated to formally mainstream Zimbabwe’s Diaspora into the national development agenda by creating an enabling environment for effective diaspora integration. A Diaspora Unit was created within the Ministry and is tasked to enhance the capacity of the Government of Zimbabwe to coordinate diaspora affairs and mobilize the Zimbabwean diaspora.

Various Diaspora Engagement activities are envisaged in targeted destination countries, such as the USA.

These engagement activities are expected to:

  • Build trust and confidence between the Government and the Zimbabwean Diaspora Communities with a view to developing a mutually beneficial relationship;
  • Acknowledge the Diaspora’s contribution to the Zimbabwe economy through investments in the national economy, remittances, philanthropy and social support;
  • Assure the Diaspora of the Government’s commitment to enhance the protection of their interests;
  • Facilitate dialogue and information exchange between the Government and the Diaspora;
  • Identify ways of incorporating Diaspora participation in Zimbabwe’s economic and social development;
  • Mobilise members of the Diaspora to complement the Government efforts in provision of community development projects;
  • Tap into the Diaspora resources and encouraging the use of formal channels for remittances, as well as encouraging them to undertake investment, trade and tourism projects in Zimbabwe;
  • Facilitate exports of value-added products using Diaspora communities as a conduit to foreign markets;
  • Create a platform for skills and knowledge transfer, leveraging on the presence of diaspora communities in key markets;

It is envisaged that through engagement, these initiatives will catalyse enhanced and effective Diaspora participation in the Nation’s cross-sectoral growth and development.

The Embassy has therefore embarked on an initiative of engaging the Zimbabwean community in the US with a view to sharing information and ideas as well as discussing investment opportunities in the country.

To achieve this engagement, the Embassy would welcome all Zimbabweans in the countries of accreditation to contact us on any issue of interest to our country. Fellow citizens are encouraged to register their contact details on the registration form to assist the Embassy in creating a database through which you can be contacted on any issues of interest and be able to invite you to any functions that the Embassy might organise. Please click on the registration form link and fill in your details.

Registration Form

The 2023 to 2025 Diaspora Remittances by Corridor

TABLE 1: 2025* REMITTANCES BY CORRIDOR (TOP 20)

COUNTRYUSD AMOUNT% CONTRIBUTION
SOUTH AFRICA301,284,69528%
UNITED KINGDOM313,020,96329%
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA122,995,61311%
AUSTRALIA60,164,7786%
CANADA22,704,9752%
BOTSWANA21,552,6112%
IRELAND19,552,9682%
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES14,595,2431%
MALAWI6,527,3731%
GERMANY8,405,8921%
POLAND7,912,9751%
NEW ZEALAND5,456,2071%
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO5,159,5710%
ZAMBIA3,588,9060%
SAUDI ARABIA3,211,0390%
NETHERLANDS2,818,5200%
SWITZERLAND2,110,6340%
QATAR2,836,6020%
TANZANIA1,863,1950%
LITHUANIA1,676,2000%
OTHER COUNTRIES53,979,9675%
TOTAL MTAs981,418,92790%
BANKING CHANNEL107,226,11510%
GRAND TOTAL1,088,645,042100%

*2025 FIGURES ARE UP TO 30 JUNE

TABLE 2: 2024* REMITTANCES BY CORRIDOR (TOP 20)

COUNTRYUSD AMOUNT% CONTRIBUTION
SOUTH AFRICA642,939,34730.0%
UNITED KINGDOM586,603,29827.3%
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA217,858,88910.2%
AUSTRALIA117,323,1995.5%
BOTSWANA43,073,3132.0%
CANADA42,790,0102.0%
IRELAND32,374,6901.5%
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES20,756,0681.0%
GERMANY15,572,4710.7%
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO10,060,4350.5%
NEW ZEALAND11,250,5910.5%
MALAWI11,334,1890.5%
ZAMBIA6,527,0350.3%
POLAND8,240,6800.4%
ITALY4,582,3540.2%
QATAR4,357,3930.2%
NETHERLANDS5,066,2840.2%
SAUDI ARABIA4,211,7460.2%
SWITZERLAND4,261,9130.2%
MOZAMBIQUE3,430,2390.2%
OTHER COUNTRIES112,838,6655.3%
TOTAL MTAs1,905,452,80988.8%
BANKING CHANNEL239,910,68911.2%
GRAND TOTAL2,145,363,499100.0%

TABLE 3: 2023* REMITTANCES BY CORRIDOR (TOP 10)

COUNTRYUSD AMOUNT% CONTRIBUTION
SOUTH AFRICA570,089,55431.6%
UNITED KINGDOM447,846,40324.8%
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA179,643,20710.0%
AUSTRALIA92,166,1405.1%
CANADA38,786,5042.2%
BOTSWANA34,171,3951.9%
IRELAND24,293,6661.3%
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES13,476,4530.7%
GERMANY12,520,4470.7%
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO9,863,6570.5%
OTHER COUNTRIES153,522,2008.5%
TOTAL MTAs1,576,379,62687.4%
BANKING CHANNEL226,616,96212.6%
GRAND TOTAL1,802,996,588100.0%

Source: Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe