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#DiasporaZimShutDown – Subscribers speak out

Kubatana asked our subscribers what they think of #DiasporaZimShutDown

Here is what they had to say:

  • We are now training doctors and nurses for unemployment – 200 per medical student class and there are no posts for them even in rural hospitals. When asked about this the government response is we need to train more doctors and nurses because they send the highest remittances back to Zimbabwe. But – travelling abroad for work benefits the doctor/nurse, their families and the country s/he goes to work for abroad, but it does not repay the costs of training that person, nor does it benefit the faculty that have to work twice as hard to teach the bigger classes.
  • NO, i don’t think diaspora money is funding government. From my (somewhat limited) understanding of remittances is that it is money injected into the economy when people send back money from the diaspora to their home country. The money is not given to the state, but to individuals, so these are the funds people receive through Mukuru, Western Union or Moneygram. It counts as growing the GDP because by getting this money, it means there is more money to spend on goods and services in Zimbabwe thus it has a positive impact on the economy. In my view this type of economic growth is not directly putting money in the states coffers, though it might mean an increase in the money available for taxing from local businesses. So in my view if the intention is to dry up the state coffers, the only way to do so, is if individuals and businesses stop paying their taxes. This would be an effective form of protest, but it would also be illegal.
  • There is no doubt that remittances serve a huge role in sustaining people in Zimbabwe. However, I am of the view that we need to put emotions aside and re-evaluate how we are propping up the Zanu PF Government through this Diaspora money. I will argue in support of the 10 day shutdown of remittances to Zimbabwe and propose one or two solutions for discussion. Please find my opinion on this link: Diaspora Remittances: To send money or not to Zimbabwe? – Tendai Chabvuta
  • Now thats just plain dumb! We are already suffering, why make us suffer more. We need money. Peaceful Protests, stay aways, people standing up for themselves thats what we need not some stupid idea that takes away the few food you have on the table.