Why Diaspora is a key partner for Zanzibar’s socio-economic development

In today's globalized world, evidence shows people living abroad or the diaspora group is playing a key role in supporting sustainable development by helping in social services, transferring resources, knowledge, and creative ideas back to their homelands as well as connecting their native lands in the world economy through investment.

The UN statistics show that, in the year 2015, the number of people living outside their native countries has reached 3.3 per cent of the world population compared to 2.8 per cent in 2000.

According to researchers, financial remittance by African Diaspora to their continent of origin has contributed tangibly towards poverty alleviation, economic development, savings, mobilization, productive investment and emergency aid.

The African remittance to and within the continent reach $40 billion per year and the 30 million strong African diaspora fuels the continents’ budget to the tune of 5 per cent of its total GDP.

The World Bank’s latest statistics shows that, East African countries received $17.38 billion from their diaspora between 2013 and 2018.

According to the bank, Kenya topped the list receiving $10.74 billion followed by Uganda $ 6.28 billion, South Sudan $2.85 billion, Tanzania $2.39 billion, Rwanda $1.13 billion and Burundi ($257 million).

The migration report of the United Republic of Tanzania estimated that Tanzania Diaspora were 421,456 Tanzanians living abroad but the current estimate is between 500,000 and a million Tanzanians live abroad.

This is the reason why, regional and international bodies and governments are giving a great importance to diaspora in participating and contributing to the development of their native countries professionally, economically and socially.

The Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar through the Foreign Policy of Tanzania has seen great benefits in recognizing the Diaspora of Zanzibar and has set strategies and policies to address the issue of the Diaspora especially to support social projects including social services and investment in Zanzibar whereby both sides can benefit economically and socially.

During his leadership President of Zanzibar and Chairman of Revolutionary Council, Dr. Ali Mohamed Shein, has registered great achievements on Diaspora by implementing through various measures such as establishing a Diaspora Coordination Unit within the Department of International Cooperation under Office of the President and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council with the aim of involving diaspora in the social and economic development of Zanzibar.

Through the Diaspora unit, Zanzibar has achieved great success such as the holding of six international Diaspora conferences in Zanzibar, formulating the Zanzibar Diaspora Policy which is now available online, legislating passing of Diaspora Law entitled “the Diaspora Affairs Act of 2020”, linking and collaborating with Tanzanian Diaspora Communities and Zanzibaris and the Government of Zanzibar from various countries such as Zanzibar-Canadian Diaspora Association (ZACADIA).

Others are Zanzibar Welfare Association of the United Kingdom (ZAWA), Tanzanian Diaspora of Russian and CIS countries of Russia (TADRU-CIS) Zanzibari Community living in Denmark (AHAS GROUP), Zanzibar Diaspora in the Scandinavia (ZANDIAS).

 But the Zanzibar Government has also recognized and collaborated with the global Diaspora Communities such as; Tanzania Global Diaspora Council (TDC-Global), Zanzibar Global Diaspora Network (ZDN-Global).

The Diaspora communities of Zanzibaris in various countries have been actively involved in helping social development and providing their experience in educational and health issues to Zanzibar specifically their great contribution was seen in a difficult period Zanzibar faced the Corona Virus (COVID- 19).

 The issues at hand include investment in different sectors including blue economy and to achieve economic growth and reducing the rate of unemployment plus improving social services such as education and health.

ZIPA has identified areas where the Diaspora of Zanzibaris and Tanzanians can invest in terms of Blue Economy Sectors such as tourism, fishing, Oil and gas, fish and sea weed industries and marine transport.

Other potential sectors are; financial services such as banks, communication and agriculture. On the other hand, according to the diaspora law of Zanzibar, members shall not participate in political including right to join political parties, vote or voted.

Others are improving infrastructure and communication facilities, strengthening of peace and security, improving accountability as well as the support for idea of having legal status of diaspora to use driving license and security of the diaspora properties especially in investment.

Mohamed Mansour is an analyst in Economics, Politics and International Relations from Tanzania