Role of Zimbabweans in the Diaspora put under the spotlight

By Lance Guma
05 October 2006

What started off as a debate on the role of Zimbabweans in the Diaspora on our Behind the Headlines series has turned out to be a very controversial if not sensitive topic for many. Alois Mbawara a coordinator with the Free-Zim Youth UK pressure group and Duran Rapozo from the Zimbabwe Development Network based in Manchester started off the debate last week. SWRA has been inundated with submissions on why many Zimbabweans do not participate in political gatherings. And the contrasting arguments reveal a very divided community.

Rapozo had strong words of criticism for the opposition who he feels ignored the diaspora for too long without recognising their political potential. Mbawara on the other hand argued that people could still show a commitment to their motherland without necessarily being a member of an opposition party. His group Free-Zim Youth UK has organised aggressive campaigns in the United Kingdom over various issues including a solidarity demonstration for Zimbabwean students, a protest at the offices of the British prime minister in Downing street and several other forms of action. Mbawara urged pressure groups to change tact and become more militant because an over-reliance on old strategies was discouraging people.

Bekithemba Mhlanga, an academic, believes over 90 percent of people in the diaspora are economic migrants and not political activists, ‘A good number of them still hold the man in charge of Zimbabwe's mess in high esteem.’ He further says, ‘the real cadres are out there at vigils, meetings, community groups, doing their bit. The rest could not care what happens in Zimbabwe.’ He says some of these individuals do not know what is happening politically but are very aware when it comes to issues to do with jobs or the latest exchange rates.

Others interviewed, expressed disappointment with the way some of the protests were organised saying people leading some of these often tended to have strong ego’s which discouraged people from participating. Although some blamed poor organisation and advertising on the part of some of the pressure groups it was noted that events like the Zim Vigil every Saturday at the Zimbabwean embassy in London have been going on for over 4 years since being set up in October of 2002. This has however not translated into large numbers of people participating.

NB: For the full debate listen to the Behind the Headlines programme from last week on the archives (28/09/06) and the second part played on Thursday this week.