Diaspora citizens deserve right to vote
THE Zimbabwe Diaspora Vote Initiative has taken note of the inclusion by President Emmerson Mnangagwa of the Zimbabwean diaspora community on the list of potential donors to help to alleviate famine when he declared the El Niño-induced drought a state of disaster.
It is the right thing to do to reach out to the country’s citizens, wherever they are based, in times such as these, hence the call for diaspora based citizens to assist in the famine is not misplaced.
The Zimbabweans living in the diaspora have not been found wanting in that regard. An article by Ryan Lenora Brown of March 26 2019 titled: It has to be us: How a diaspora rushed to raise aid after Cyclone Idai chronicles how Zimbabweans living in the diaspora mobilised resources to assist during the disaster. Mnangagwa has acknowledged the support received from the diaspora in previous disasters.
An article by Farai Marapira posted on the Zanu PF website quotes Mnangagwa saying: “In view of the ongoing COVID-19 related national lockdown and following concerns from users of money transfer services, I have now directed the governor of Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to immediately address constraints around this essential financial service….
“The new environment arising from the national lockdown has increased our people’s dependence on remittances which also have the added advantage of reaching directly the most marginalised numbers of our Nation. Because of the necessary national lockdown, livelihoods in the informal sector have been disrupted thus forcing many households to depend on the support from their loved ones abroad. It is thus critical for our financial services institutions to adapt their operations to the new emergency situation.”
Mnangagwa has also appreciated diaspora citizens, describing them as an integral cog as the country drives towards the attainment of vision 2030, saluting and appreciating them for the contribution, hard work and sacrifice they continue to make in building our great nation. In an article published in the State-controlled paper, Mnangagwa described diaspora citizens as “equal to and just as important and as deserving” as citizens living in Zimbabwe.
We do not doubt that the diaspora community will be of great assistance in this famine, assisting both their families and vulnerable communities as in the past. We implore Mnangagwa to fulfil his 2018 promise by doing everything he can to ensure that the amended law allowing the diaspora vote is signed and have the diaspora vote implemented before he leaves office to leave a legacy for himself.