Published by the government of Zimbabwe
26 June 2009
editorial
Harare — IT is disheartening to read that Zimbabweans in the Diaspora are so indifferent to the developments in their own country to the point of booing their own Prime Minister when he urged them to return home to help build the nation.
This past weekend, Prime Minister Tsvangirai was in the United Kingdom as part of his six-nation tour that took him to the USA and Western capitals to lobby for the removal of sanctions and sourcing financial assistance as tasked by President Mugabe and the Cabinet.
As part of that mission, the PM decided to meet with Zimbabweans based in the United Kingdom to try and plead with them to come back home and invest in developing their country.
Unfortunately, some plugged their ears and instead booed the PM for his entreaties.
While there will be many differing views on whether or not PM Tsvangirai should be spending time pleading with Western countries that are decidedly against the empowerment of Zimbabweans so that they lift their illegal sanctions, we all agree that it is in everyone's best interests for Zimbabweans abroad to come home and build their nation.
As such, we cannot look at the actions of the people in the crowd that PM Tsvangirai was addressing with anything but distaste.
It is no big secret that many of the people who left the country over the past decade did so on the back of fallacious claims that they were facing political persecution in Zimbabwe and hence they needed asylum.
Many of these people used blatant propaganda to secure their right of stay in the United Kingdom and other Western countries.
Consequently, they feel aggrieved that the people back home have agreed to put aside their political differences and form an inclusive Government, and in so doing take away the excuse for asylum.
This inclusive Government has been formed with the express purpose of seeking to alleviate the suffering of the people ahead of fresh elections that will be held once a new constitution has been agreed on by the generality of the electorate.
The very notion of the inclusive Government, therefore, flies in the face of the claims that many Diasporans made when they were seeking the right to stay in Western countries.
Let us not mince our words here.
The actions of some of these economic refugees are no different from those of the Western governments that are hosting them and are refusing to support the inclusive Government and remove the diabolical sanctions that they have slapped on our beloved Zimbabwe.
What we expect of all Zimbabweans is unity of purpose in rebuilding our motherland. It is an expectation that was there before the sanctions were slapped on us and it is an expectation that will be there long after the sanctions have been removed.
This is an expectation that goes beyond petty party politics and sectarian interests.
It supersedes all our selfish desires.
We will continue to call on those Zimbabweans in the Diaspora to return home and develop their nation.
But if they decide that booing people who want them to be part of the nation-building agenda is the best thing to do, then we have no choice but to tell them that perhaps it is better that they stay in the UK or wherever else they are because their mentality is not the kind that develops countries.
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This is an ignorant article and very misleading If you havent watched the video of what happend and what the PM said to be booed.Mugabe and his thugs killed and raped innocent people in 2008 and not to mention the 20k he killed in the 80s. We can not forget these things as nothing happened. Justice must be served and Mugabe and his cronies have to pay and tried in the court of law. In the diaspora people get to see more news and truly know whats happening in Zimbabwe aside from the lies the Herald blatantly prints with no shame. So you my friend without true human freedom and a real rule of law there is no way that these enlightened Zimbabweans can return home. Expose yourself to the truth before making uninformed comments . there is more to democracy than just land. In light of this, analogy The PM deserves to be booed. Until Justice has been served.
You are right, let people in the diaspora make their choices as to where they want to stay. Bush and Obama must face trial for the thousands of innocent Iraqis and afghanistans they butchered. Some members of the Smith Regime must also be brought to trial for the innocent people they killed during the liberation struggle of Gt Zimbabwe and whoever else has crimes against humanity. Propeople, do not have a short memory that seeks selective justice.
Generally you are right: residents or "dual" citizens in the United States, for example, must pay taxes on all income earned in any all tax jurisdictions outside the United States, according to the US IRS Tax Code. The Code is draconian: extreme violations can send a violator to the big house---money matters, everywhere.
There is a problem, however, for Zimbabwean residents or "Zimbabwean-Americans": if the the Zimbabwean Government were to tax income they earn in Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe could, tax---assuming the tag "Zimbabwean-Americans" holds for Zimbabweans---in fact, any income earned by these 'diaporeans' anywhere in the world, pinching them with the thorns of the tax code.
Under both projections, they would be taxed twice, by the US and Zimbabwe.
Under this scenario, one wonders how quickly rhodists would toss their Zimbawean passports into the river of oblivion? One must wonder, for according to one of the dogmas of rhodism, "Zimbabwe is a pathetic piece of crap."
Just following the money, African Patriots.
Unfortunately, AK47 is holding his rifle under the wrong side of his shoulder! As always! What a poor bootlicker of criminal Mugabe!
The thing AK47 must ask for first is for criminal Mugabe himself to pay his taxes! This bloodstained monster Mugabe has never paid any taxes during the time of his rule. On the contrary, he has stolen major portions of taxes other Zimbos have paid. He is today the richest man in Africa.
Zimbos diaspora will be happy to pay taxes when Mugabe and his thugs and cronies can show they pay or otherwise promise to pay back all taxes due.
It's not healthy to criticize the diaspora who send billions back home. It's criminal Mugabe who is misusing all the hard currency coming in. Otherwise, how could Grace buy a US$ 4 million luxury apartment for her daughter in Hong Kong?
The diaspora are not fools! They have to see the crooks paying their share first before going the extra mile.
AK47 and likes are cowards who do not wish to condemn Mugabe and his criminals and cronies!
Prem.....please do not allow your racism and colonial cum settlerism cloud your thinking. Why do you not dwell on the issues and points my post raised instead of discussing my person. Come on, my son, you can do better than this. Just come out of the hole.
Ak, you seem a little confused. First of all you say to all the diasporians to go and live well because they have chosen where to live and leave them alone, then you go onto say that with the diasporians who have houses, land or bussiness'in Zimbabwe to pay for the privaledge of living abroad. Thes diasporians are already giving more money to the country through their donations to their families here which in turn goes to the govt in a form of tax one way or the other. Or the people here are using the foreign currency to be able to buy items in the shops when they weren't able to do just a few months ago. So not are they supporting their families, they are supporting the bussiness' and the people who work in these bussiness'. So to tax them a 2nd time is really beyond the pale. It would be better for all diasporians to come back just in time to register themselves for the next elections, because with all those extra votes for the MDC will be against Bob. That i am sure is why you want them to stay abroad so Bob can use their votes for himself.
Akapfunde, your "Mabwes in the diaspora" should be given the right to vote when the general elections take place. Right?
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Please leave alone those Mabwes in the diaspora who choose to live outside Great Zimbabwe. Respect their wishes and wish them well. Period. But make it plain and clear to them, to every one of these people, that they cannot eat their cake and have it. Confused??!! The Gvt should start tax levies on all properties owned by the diaspora. Actually, no one living in the diaspora should be allowed to own land, speculative or otherwise, without paying taxes to the CHIEF, councils of district or town or provincial or national. Give powers to their departments which are responsible for the collection of taxes and revenue to start applying a modern approach to sourcing revenue. The major difference between a modern 1st world state and one from the 3rd world is the ability to tax and collect revenue. Lets do it ... NOW. The diaspora are currently having the bread buttered on both sides. Most of these people have tenants in all major urban areas. Let them give 25%-50% of their takings to the local council and national coffers. Please, prime minister Tsvangirai, leave them to live wherever they like but diaspora should pay taxes for the wealth which they are generating in Zimbabwe. In 1973, when l went to the UK, it did not take long before l received a taxreturn form from Rhodesia. The management at CAPS had passed my UK address to the tax people. I was proud of the efficiency of my gvt. The USA, UK, Australia, Canada etc send annual taxreturn forms to their citizens all the time. A modern state cannot exist without effective taxation. Go for it minister BITI !