In an interview on Friday, Mines and Mining Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu said the growth of the mining sector in the last few years had attracted the interest of many professionals and business people based outside country.

 

“We are beginning to witness more returns of Zimbabweans who work outside the country. I think this is mainly due to the Zanu-PF economic policy of indigenisation and empowerment and especially the growth of the mining sector,” said Dr Mpofu.

“My ministry is receiving a lot of applications for mining claims by Zimbabwean in the diaspora. The most important thing to note is most of these people are coming with investors, which is a welcome development.”

Dr Mpofu said the participation of Zimbabweans in the diaspora was key towards achieving meaningful economic growth and community development in general.

“This is one area that we need to focus on as a Government. We have lost a lot of professionals and experts to other countries and we need to lure them back. Now that these young people are coming back it is a sign that they are confident of improvements at home.

“Diaspora support is critical for a country. Other countries such as India have achieved a lot through the diaspora contribution. Mining, tourism and agriculture are the key economic sectors and we urge our people to come back home in their large numbers,” said Dr Mpofu.

He said the on-going indigenisation and economic empowerment programme was a proper opportunity for Zimbabweans to own and run the economy.

“Our people must grab this opportunity and use it for their advantage. Our role as a Government is to ensure that when they come back we are able to accommodate them of which I think we are ready as a country,” said the Minister.

Thousands of Zimbabweans crossed the borders to neighbouring countries and overseas at the height of economic meltdown around 2008 in search of greener pastures.

A majority of them were professionals and experts in key sectors of the economy who were quickly absorbed by the receiving countries.

Meanwhile, Bubi MP Cde Clifford Sibanda said the indigenisation drive was the only permanent solution towards creating jobs for future generations.

Cde Sibanda said when Zimbabweans owned the means of production such as the land, they would not need anyone to employ them.

He scoffed the MDC formations who have criticised the indigenisation policy saying the parties lacked vision as they expected to get foreign funding from the West, which was also reeling under debt.

 

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