Zimbabwe faces a massive brain drain as thousands of skilled workers leave the country in search of better opportunities abroad. The economic meltdown, which has been worsened by the impact of illegal sanctions imposed by some Western countries, has eroded the living standards and incomes of many professionals, forcing them to seek greener pastures elsewhere.
According to the latest census data released by South Africa this week, the number of Zimbabwean immigrants in the neighboring country increased by an average of nearly 31,000 per year in 2018, a significant rise from the previous year. South Africa is the main destination for Zimbabwean migrants, who comprise about 10% of its foreign-born population.
Other countries that have attracted Zimbabwean workers include Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Mozambique, the UK, Australia, and Canada. The migrants include nurses, teachers, bankers, engineers, doctors, lawyers, and other highly qualified personnel. Their departure has left a huge gap in the country’s human capital and service delivery.
The government of Zimbabwe has acknowledged the challenge of retaining its skilled workforce and has adopted a National Labour Migration Policy in 2019 to improve the governance and management of labor migration. The policy aims to protect the rights and welfare of migrant workers, promote their skills development and recognition, facilitate their remittances and reintegration, and enhance regional and international cooperation.
However, the policy faces several constraints, such as the lack of reliable data on labor migration trends and patterns, the inadequate coordination among relevant stakeholders, the limited capacity of institutions and officials dealing with migration issues, and the persistent socio-economic challenges that push people to emigrate.
The government has also been working on a Draft National Migration Policy, awaiting the cabinet’s adoption. The policy seeks to address the broader aspects of migration, such as its causes and consequences, its linkages with development, its impact on human rights and security, and its implications for regional integration and global governance.
The government has also expressed its commitment to implement the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM), which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2018. The GCM is a non-binding framework providing a comprehensive and cooperative approach to managing migration in all dimensions.
The government hopes that by implementing these policies and frameworks, it will be able to harness the benefits of migration for national development and social cohesion while mitigating its negative effects. It also hopes that by improving the economic situation and creating more opportunities for its citizens, it will be able to reverse the brain drain and attract back some of its diaspora.
Source: Bloomberg
