Is it wise for diaspora to invest at home?

Indeed, the fact that Robert Mugabe is still at the helm of the nation gives them the creeps regarding risking their resources by investing in Zimbabwe at this stage. They are, however, aware that the international investors are closely watching the situation in this country with the intention to pounce on lucrative investment areas as soon as the political stability of the nation is assured. Is it therefore wise to invest at home now, or is it better to wait until the current squabbles are over?

Frankly, these are all very difficult questions to answer, and not even the key players in the inclusive government can venture to advise potential Diaspora investors one way or another. Then there is also the fear that the writing of a new and democratic constitution may be thwarted by Zanu (PF), which seems to be set on imposing the ludicrous Kariba Draft on the nation.

It is obvious that Zimbabweans will reject the Kariba Draft out of hand when a referendum is conducted. This will force the nation to remain where it is today, stuck with the much amended Lancaster House Constitution, complete with the draconian legislation that contributed to the devastation of the national economy in the first place. Diasporans who will have sunk their finances into the economy will therefore run the risk of losing everything.

The Mugabe regime has demonstrated in the past that the only investment that is sacred is that which belongs to their own number. Once upon a time, Mutumwa Mawere thought that his investment was safe in Zimbabwe. Well, the Mugabe regime surprised him, and now they have completely failed to run the SMM Company that they snatched from him.

Zimbabweans in the Diaspora are between the rock and the hard place. The majority of them desire to eventually comeback home. They need to invest in their own country, and yet they are fully aware that the situation in Zimbabwe is currently fragile and unpredictable. They read news about the resumption of war bases by the notorious Zanu (PF) militia and insecurity forces in various parts of the country.

They have seen very little demonstration of the capacity of the MDC to effectively take over the running of the country and the economy from the outgoing and expired liberation movement called Zanu (PF). They are, however, committed to this country and would do everything in their power to end the problems that this country is facing.

They need to be advised that one of the key investments they can make is to actively support those forces in this country that are progressive, whether they are civic groups or political parties. This will definitely help to speed up the demise of Zanu (PF) and allow this country to get back to the democratic path to development. Without them participating in the resolution of the current crisis their ambitions of investing in this country will be delayed.

In the next few weeks Zimbabwe is going to know whether there is going to be a resolution of the current stalemate or not. The SADC has amply demonstrated its impotence when it comes to the Zimbabwe question. What new ideas or measures will come from the MDC and what effect will they have on the direction in which this nation will move in 2010?