Zimbabwe’s Deputy Ministers Kudakwashe Mupamhanga and Benjamin Kabikira have arrived in the United Kingdom for a series of engagements with Zimbabweans abroad, bringing with them an invitation to participate in discussions about investment opportunities, land access and the country’s development priorities.
Mupamhanga, Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, and Kabikira, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works, are in Britain for the Diaspora Engagement for Youth (DEFY) programme, a ten-day initiative running from 14 to 23 November. The programme is designed to strengthen engagement between government and Zimbabweans living abroad, while creating opportunities for dialogue around investment, enterprise development, skills transfer and economic participation.
Convened by Sankofa Capital in partnership with The Southern African Times, the programme has Nyaradzo Group as its flagship sponsor, alongside CBZ Bank and EmpowerBank. The Zimbabwe Youth Council is also a key institutional participant, particularly in relation to the proposed registration framework for eligible diaspora youth.
The visit comes as Zimbabwe continues to recognise the importance of its diaspora to the national economy. According to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s 2025 Monetary Policy Statement, remittances reached approximately US$2.15bn in 2024, compared with US$1.80bn in 2023. These financial contributions support households, education, healthcare, housing and businesses, while providing an important source of foreign currency to the country.
DEFY seeks to build on this relationship by exploring opportunities for Zimbabweans abroad to participate more directly in domestic investment. A central component is a proposed land-access initiative known as Budiriro Kumaruva, also referred to as Ukuthuthuka Emapandleni.
The framework envisages opportunities for eligible diaspora participants to access residential and commercial land through Rural District Councils, either individually or through organised investment syndicates. Registration is proposed to take place through the Zimbabwe Youth Council, while participating financial institutions, including EmpowerBank, Myti Meats and CBZ Bank, are envisaged as providing escrow arrangements under which funds would be released against verified project milestones.
The initiative is intended to provide a more structured route for diaspora participation in land and property development, while encouraging collaboration between government institutions, financial institutions and Zimbabweans abroad.
Importantly, the engagements in Britain provide an opportunity for interested individuals to hear directly from the Deputy Ministers and other representatives involved in the process. Diaspora members will be able to seek clarification on the proposed arrangements, understand the available opportunities and contribute their perspectives to discussions about implementation.
The programme includes engagements across several British cities, beginning with a film screening at Nyaradzo House on Sunday, 15 November, at 3pm. On Monday, a government and investor roundtable will take place in central London from 2pm to 5pm, bringing together invited stakeholders for discussions on diaspora investment and development.
The delegation will subsequently travel to Belfast for a community engagement, followed by a working dinner at St George’s Church in Newtown, Birmingham, bringing together diaspora leaders, faith-based organisations and healthcare professionals. Further engagements in Glasgow will focus on healthcare, information and communications technology, education and opportunities for collaboration with student associations.
The programme will culminate in a formal launch at Zimbabwe House on Saturday, 21 November, where the Deputy Ministers are expected to address participants. A debrief and press conference will follow on Monday, 23 November.
Beyond the proposed land initiative, DEFY seeks to encourage a broader conversation about the role Zimbabweans abroad can play in the country’s development. This includes opportunities for professional collaboration, entrepreneurship, investment partnerships, knowledge exchange and the transfer of skills across sectors.
The organisers are encouraging Zimbabweans across the United Kingdom, including businesspeople, professionals, students, entrepreneurs, community organisations and prospective investors, to participate in the engagements.
Those interested in attending events in London, Belfast, Birmingham or Glasgow, or wishing to register their interest in residential and commercial land opportunities, are invited to contact the organisers by email at info@southernafricantimes.com.
With the two Deputy Ministers now in Britain, the programme offers diaspora communities an opportunity to engage directly with government, exchange ideas and take part in conversations about the country’s future.
The proposition is one of participation: bringing government and diaspora communities together to explore how the relationship between Zimbabwe and its citizens abroad can evolve from financial support towards wider economic and developmental partnerships.
