By Dr Masimba Mavaza | The Zimbabwean UK and Western World expatriates money sent for the upkeep of families in Zimbabwe regularly. This makes them the breadwinners for their families.
This expat community made up mainly of professionals in health & social care are on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic. To date almost 40 Zimbabweans are known to have died in the line of duty. These heroic unsung soldiers have died together with the help they give to their families in Zimbabwe and the nation at large.
There are a lot factors which will change the economic face of the economy. Coronavirus has caused an interruption of business and income and an inability to move around to access points of transactions (although cashless solutions are increasingly being put in Zimbabweans abroad sent home billions in cash every year. The Corona virus will reduce this drastically and half of those in the frontline and abroad will be incapacitated by death or long effects of the Corona virus.
If there is little or no impact in the economy of our key corridors (which is unlikely) and there is an impact on the economy of Zimbabwe due to slow down in business and resulting unemployment, then the demand for assistance would grow, but the source of this income will be as said dead or indeed incapacitated.
The money which has been sent to Zimbabwe has helped the nation in many ways. This cash is vital for local communities and economies. The disruption caused by coronavirus could have a significant impact on these remittance flows.
As the coronavirus pandemic hits jobs and wages in many sectors of the global economy that depend on migrants, a slowdown in the amount of money these workers send back home to their families looks increasingly likely.
These international remittances will be crucial in transmitting the unfolding economic crisis in richer countries to poorer countries. They will fundamentally shape how, and the pace at which, the world recovers from coronavirus.
Remittances shelter a large number of poor and vulnerable households, underpinning the survival strategies of over four million Zimbabweans surviving on them. While the majority of remittances are small sums of money, spent by recipients on everyday subsistence needs including food, education and health, this has lifted a heavy burden on the shoulders of the government and its social service department.
The World Bank has predicted that within five years, diaspora remittances will outstrip overseas aid and foreign direct investment combined, reflecting the extent to which global financial flows have been reshaped by migration. The deaths of Zimbabwean bread winners abroad will impact the nation more than they can imagine.
Again the social distancing and lockdown measures used to contain the spread of coronavirus have led to a global economic slump, with the International Monetary Fund predicting the global economy will contract by 3% in 2020. This means Zimbabwe’s economy will face a double edged sword. This will be the effect of the lockdown and the loss of the bread winners. The deaths of these Zimbabwean frontline soldiers in the foreign land is not only a loss to their relatives but a loss to Zimbabwe as a whole. These issues make this looming crisis particularly salient for the diasporas who generate remittances.
The greatest threat to Zimbabwe and its migrant breadwinners is that diasporan workers tend to work in sectors that are particularly vulnerable at times of an economic downturn and have less employee protections.
They are also more likely to be self-employed as they plunge themselves into the danger zone. This has resulted in such a high number of the deaths among the Zimbabwean health workers abroad. Those who have survived the virus and have lost their employment the access they have to public funds is with some exceptions specifically restricted as a condition of their visas. So it’s uncertain whether they will be able to access the already limited government interventions to mitigate the effects of the pandemic.
Some Zimbabweans who are registered as self employed do not pay taxes. So accessing public fund depends on their tax returns. This spells doom to the self employed and indeed all those who rely on them. In order to close the gap, the Zimbabwean workers abroad adopt a series of strategies or tactics to cope. They often continue to work in compromised circumstances, such as in jobs with lower wages, poor working conditions and, in the current crisis, exposure to infection. They also restrict their spending – and contemplate a return back home.
In the UK, some migrants are hyper-visible NHS doctors and nurses. Their labour has been somewhat belatedly acknowledged by the government, and their importance to the health service demonstrated by the Home Office’s decision to extend all visas of health workers coming up for renewal by a year.
But many some Zimbabwean migrants are hidden and largely unsung heroes who continue to work in so-called semi-skilled or unskilled jobs in sectors such as food manufacturing and delivery, social care and cleaning. High rates of infection among these sectors are partly attributable to their concentration in these “close-contact” professions where home working is not an option. This includes public transport drivers delivery drivers plumbers electricians housing managers shop keepers and many other jobs which requires brushing sides with the public.
Early predictions of the impact of coronavirus on remittances detail significant declines.
While there is a lot of money promised to the world by the IMF this money will not reach house holds. Most of it will fatten the pockets of the corrupt power holders and In contrast, remittances often reaches its destination and constitute a significant safety net for vulnerable households.
With African culture and the Zimbabwean spirit of Ubuntu as Hon Nyati, Shurugwi MP mentions that “remittances don’t just reach immediate household members but are also distributed among extended family and friends, and they also support local economies through family payments to shopkeepers and construction workers.”
Hon. Nyathi went on to say the remittances will pay maids herd boys, some have started small businesses which are supported by diaspora all these will fall down on the death of one diasporans who is behind such remittance”.
Another Member of Parliament and deputy minister of Defence who is the National Political Commissar Cde Victor Matemadanda said “Zimbabwe pays great respect to our diaspora. They are heroes and heroines in their way. They have sustained Zimbabwe for a long time and we salute each one of them.” Cde Matemadanda lamented the demise of many of these heroes particularly in the health sector.
He said “ our tears will never dry, we mourn these gallant heroes and heroines they have done well and we will bury them with owner they deserve. Zimbabwe has lost a lot in them and may it comfort their relatives that their relations did not die in vain.
“They have sustained the nation when the nation was set to fail by the sanctions our own children held fort for us. May their souls rest in peace”. Matemadanda said.
Zimbabwean households are heavily dependent upon remittances, any disruption in flows sent by these heroes further exacerbate food insecurity and poverty in our people.
Zimbabwe does not take pride in poverty it was therefore a sacrifice by these fallen nurses doctors and health and essential staff who perished in diaspora to leave the comfort of their country to be treated as second class in foreign land all for their national pride.
“We as a country will return the favour and we indeed honour these heroes. We thank them all across any political barriers they are Zimbabweans and Zimbabwe is the only country they can call theirs.”
Cde Ronald Robson Nyathi MP urged the richer nations to respond to the current crisis with the full knowledge that this will have significant economic ramifications for countries dependent on remittances. Richer nations must adopt inclusive economic policies which both protect the livelihoods of migrants and reduce the socio-economic impacts of the pandemic. Their jobs are linked to the survival of millions of others.
Cde Tapedza nhamo Kapfunde of United Kingdom said “ the Coronavirus will have long lasting impacts like loss of family income with a greater one on general family upkeep, rented housing eviction due to rent arrears despite the SI 96 2020. Again with the demise of these bread winners due to schoolfee non payment will be high and families will also struggle to pay for their health bills.
There will be an abrupt stop to residential building projects which were funded from UK. There are those who were buying properties by instalments this will be stopped with great loss to many. The Impact will be felt by wide community:
Shops, Schools, Transporters Hardware.”
So COVID is indeed horrible but its evil rage is left for all to see.