By Lloyd Gideon Makonese: A public health and health systems development expert.

Across Europe and North America, long-established diaspora communities are increasingly questioning whether their futures abroad remain sustainable. Economic stagnation, tightening immigration laws and reduced earnings mobility have reshaped the opportunities that once defined diaspora life. A growing body of international evidence suggests that many Zimbabweans abroad are now reassessing their long-term strategies and reconsidering home as a viable and strategic centre for future investment.

The OECD’s latest International Migration Outlook shows that migrant workers in key industries such as care work, hospitality and logistics have experienced slower wage growth compared to native-born workers, even as inflation continues to undermine real incomes (OECD, 2024). For many diaspora families, the financial rewards of living abroad have diminished significantly.

In the United Kingdom, recent immigration reforms have compounded this pressure. Higher income thresholds for family visas, increased healthcare surcharges and rising visa fees have placed a heavier burden on migrant households. According to the Migration Observatory, these measures have sharply narrowed financial stability for immigrant workers, prompting many to question whether remaining in the UK is still economically viable in the long term (Vargas-Silva and Fernández-Reino, 2024).

The United States has seen similar developments. Research from the Brookings Institution notes that post-pandemic labour market restructuring has reduced upward mobility for immigrant workers, particularly those in sectors that traditionally offered progression opportunities (Gelatt, 2023). Combined with increasing living costs, many find themselves with fewer prospects than in previous decades.

These economic and policy pressures are affecting remittance behaviours as well. Findings from the African Centre for Migration and Society show that the cost of living abroad has constrained diaspora households’ ability to maintain the same level of financial support for families back home, even though commitments remain high (ACMS, 2023).

Within Zimbabwe, these global dynamics intersect closely with the developmental direction set out in the National Development Strategies. NDS1 emphasises modernising healthcare, increasing domestic investment, strengthening public services and improving economic participation. Early consultations around NDS2 suggest an even greater focus on innovation, skills transfer and structured diaspora engagement as mechanisms for accelerating national progress.

It is within this policy environment that renewed diaspora interest in investing home gains significance. Data from ZIMSTAT indicates that more Zimbabweans abroad are starting to diversify their investments, focusing on agriculture, housing, enterprise development and community-based initiatives (ZIMSTAT, 2024). Observers note that these shifts reflect pragmatic responses to international economic pressures, but also align with the national ambitions set out in NDS1 and the emerging policy direction of NDS2.

Supporting this momentum are new frameworks aimed at improving and simplifying diaspora participation. The writer of this article is developing a Diaspora Health Investment and Development (DHID) blueprint which seeks to bridge Zimbabwe’s global skills pool with domestic health system needs. Early indications suggest that the blueprint may complement government efforts to strengthen the public health sector by creating clear, accessible and simplified investment pathways. Notably, it caters not only to those with medical backgrounds, but also to diaspora members without prior health sector experience who wish to contribute financially or entrepreneurially. The model outlines structured entry points for capital investment, skills exchange, specialist placements and tele-expertise networks, aligning closely with NDS1 priorities and the anticipated focus of NDS2 on skills repatriation and research-based innovation.

International development institutions underscore the value of such frameworks. The World Bank’s Migration and Development Brief highlights that diaspora engagement remains one of Africa’s most underutilised development assets (World Bank, 2024). With appropriate mechanisms, returning citizens and diaspora investors can make significant contributions across health, agriculture, industry and education.

As global conditions tighten and opportunities abroad shift, many Zimbabweans are increasingly viewing home as a more secure foundation for long-term planning. The changing economic landscape abroad, combined with national policy efforts to create supportive investment environments, suggests that the movement towards reinvesting in Zimbabwe may accelerate in the years ahead.

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About the Writer
The writer is a public health expert, educationalist and health systems specialist with a long-standing interest in strengthening Zimbabwe’s health sector. His work focuses on developing sustainable models for health systems improvement, diaspora engagement and community-centred approaches that support the country’s development priorities under NDS1 and the forthcoming NDS2.