Exploring the Level of Diaspora Remittances Flows in Zimbabwe

Abstract

International migration has increasingly been debated in various policy fora. Zimbabwe for the past decades, have seen many of its people moving out to other countries around the globe. In return, the migrants do send monies and goods back home for various reasons including altruistic purposes. There exist pessimistic views and optimistic views about migration and diaspora remittances. The study seeks to observe the trend of annual diaspora remittances flows into Zimbabwe from 2009 to June 2020, and trend of monthly diaspora remittances for January 2018 to July 2020. The study observed that there exist variability within the period, significant drops and rises worth to be examined. Diaspora remittances flows are not stable, making it difficult for planning around them. There is no match between volumes of migration and levels of diaspora remittances flows into the country. To activate a win-win situation for the nation and the migrant, the study recommends increased diaspora engagement, improving the investment climate for diaspora and other investors in general, working on the socio-political environment, and loosening remittances channels.

Keywords: Altruism, Diaspora, Migrants, Migration, Remittances, Zimbabwe

JEL Classification: D64, D85, E21, F22, F24, F66, J61, O15, O24