Diaspora Investors Turn Attention To Bulawayo Opportunities
Judith Phiri [email protected]
THE Africa, USA and Diaspora Alliance (AUUDA) Africa is exploring investment opportunities in Bulawayo and other parts of Zimbabwe as it seeks to harness diaspora capital, expertise and networks to support economic growth and development. The initiative comes at a time when Bulawayo is positioning itself as a key investment destination, with stakeholders highlighting opportunities in tourism, manufacturing, infrastructure, agriculture and renewable energy as part of the city’s re-industrialisation drive. South African-American artiste, cultural ambassador and entrepreneur Mr Ronnie “Big Sbuda” Dunn is in Bulawayo as an international cultural guest and Global Ambassador for AUUDA Africa. Speaking after engagements in the city on Wednesday, Mr Dunn said discussions had focused on practical solutions to community challenges and ways of attracting diaspora investment. “We were talking about a way to get through some of the issues that Bulawayo is facing as a community. As a representative of the diaspora, we are trying to come in and invest with our brothers and sisters, we are trying to find a home within the community,” he said. Drawing comparisons with other African countries that have successfully engaged their diaspora communities, Mr Dunn said Zimbabwe could benefit from similar approaches. “If you look at countries like Ghana they embraced Americans and UK people, connecting with the global diaspora through targeted economic programmes and major partnership deals that assisted with economic growth,” he said. Mr Dunn said many people within the diaspora wanted to reconnect with their ancestral roots and contribute to development while learning more about African culture and traditions. ReadMore