Association of Zimbabweans Based Abroad (AZBA)
Welcome to the official Website of the Association of Zimbabweans Based Abroad, (AZBA), USA.
The association is a think tank that is independent, and nonpartisan devoted to serve as a center for research and /or analysis on important public issues facing the nation of Zimbabwe. Special emphasis is given to issues on public policy, governance and education. We seek to devise and promote policies that shape the lives of everyday citizens. We also seek to bring together individuals to express their views publicy, openly debate public policy, petition and advise policy makers.
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The power-sharing government of President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has done well to stabilise Zimbabwe’s economy and end inflation that was estimated at more than a trillion percent at the height of the country’s economic meltdown last year. But unending squabbles between Mugabe’s ZANU PF party and the MDC of Tsvangirai as well as the coalition government’s inability to secure direct financial support from rich Western nations have held back the administration’s efforts to rebuild the economy. However, the uncertainty over the global political agreement is affecting the performance of the economy. Incessant squabbling over implementation of the global political agreement (GPA) that gave birth to the country’s coalition government and instability in the mainstay farming sector as the two main obstacles to achieving economic recovery. We urge all parties to the global political agreement (GPA) to honor the terms of the already signed agreement.
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The Zimbabwean Diaspora - Rebuilding the Country
The Diaspora—Zimbabwe’s brain trust and human resource reservoir—is the key to economic recovery. There are three categories of Zimbabwean exiles in the Diaspora: 1. Political – those who left because their lives were in danger; 2. Academic – those who left for further education; and 3. Economic – those who left for financial reasons. If consultation has occurred with only one out of the three groups of Diaspora citizens, especially those who left specifically to advance their education, there is a strong possibility that they can consider going back home to rebuild the country if the conducive environment is created for them to function.
The Diaspora constitutes a portion of Zimbabwean citizens who are 100% employed outside of the country. If conservative figures of 3 million exiled Zimbabweans are used, this constitutes a gold mine for economic development. The diaspora community needs to be consulted as a partner for the rebuilding of the country.
