Page Nav

HIDE

Grid

GRID_STYLE

Classic Header

{fbt_classic_header}

Top Ad

Advertise Here

Breaking News:

latest

Zimbabwe Diaspora: ‘Send Your Money, Not Votes’ - Government

Harare – Zimbabweans in the diaspora are barred from voting – but amusingly, the government is enticing them to remit their cash in order...

Harare – Zimbabweans in the diaspora are barred from voting – but amusingly, the government is enticing them to remit their cash in order to help prop the waning economy.

Diaspora remittances have tumbled by 15 percent – from $457 million to $388 million in six months under preview.

By tinzwei.com 
And in a contradictory exercise, the Harare government recently launched the National Diaspora Directorate to ‘enhance engagement and the participation of Zimbabwean in the diaspora in the national development agenda.’
Zimbabweans Wait Patiently for their Turn to Cast their Votes 

“The Diaspora has a huge untapped potential which should be taken advantage of. Government in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) came up with a diaspora policy to create an enabling environment conducive for investment promotion,” mentioned Obert Mpofu, Economic Planning Minister.

But the Harare government maintains that this section will not participate in any plebiscite.

Eminent political scientist, Eldred Masunugure upholds that chances for the diaspora participation in Zimbabwe elections remain elusive.

“Their chances (of voting in 2018) are next to zero. Not that they do not qualify but because the policies in place do not favour their inclusion. Zanu-PF is not sympathetic to the diaspora voting.

“While setting up the infrastructure would be expensive, the valid reason is that Zanu-PF is not confident that the diaspora is their pool of voters…”

Estimates say four million of Zimbabweans are domiciled outside its borders and contribute a huge chunk to the country’s economy.

Other parties have instigated for the diaspora participation.

“Perhaps the greatest injustice of all time in Zimbabweans in the diaspora has been their denial of the right to vote in all elections…,” observed Silence Chihuri – an opposition politician.

However, there might be a flicker of optimism for Zimbabweans living outside the country.

“It is foreseen that the 2018 Election Budget will stem from government with additional support from donors.

“However, with inflation, changes in the electoral landscape, increases required in staffing allowances, diaspora voting and other such developments…,” says the “Identification of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Gaps: The Road to 2018” report released in December.

The new Zimbabwe constitution states that Diasporans can now exercise their right to vote subject to the alignment of the Electoral Act to the supreme law. - Additional Reporting from Online Sources 


Tinzwei Is A Worth Voyage For Those In Pursuit For Up-To-Date World Events.

Read More At The Online Coronavirus Portal Or Use The 24-Hour Public Hotline:
South Africa: 0800 029 999 or just Send Hie to 0600 123 456 on WhatsApp


No comments