ACUTELY aware of the need for skilled staff to drive the economic recovery process, the government and international community have begun engaging the Zimbabwean Diaspora in South Africa for their role in the socio-economic reconstruction and development of the country. A meeting organised by the government and International Office on Migration (IOM) took place in Johannesburg last week to establish approaches on engaging the Zimbabweans living in South Africa for their input in Zimbabwe's socio-economic reconstruction and development.

An estimated 3 million Zimbabweans are believed to be living in the Diaspora and South Africa is a major destination for Zimbabwean migrants although the country has also experienced significant outflows of its nationals to other countries.

Although many of these migrants contribute in some way to the economy by sending home remittances, which represented 7.2% of the Gross Domestic Product in 2007, Zimbabwean emigration has had serious implications for the country's economic growth and development as it has led to significant human resource shortages in key sectors.

Funded by the European Union (EU), the Johannesburg meeting was attended by senior Zimbabwean government officials, representatives from the country's private and civil society sectors, donors and IOM officials. The meeting was a follow-up to initial consultations that IOM held with Zimbabwean Diaspora representatives in South Africa.

The IOM said the meeting was the first of several that the Zimbabwean government and IOM intend to host in countries that have significant numbers of the Zimbabwean migrants such as Botswana, Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia.

"As well as finding ways to engage the Diaspora, the meetings will create a platform for dialogue between the Zimbabwean government and Zimbabwean Diaspora," IOM said.

The initiative also builds on earlier IOM efforts to engage the Diaspora in contributing to the future development of Zimbabwe. This includes a programme launched earlier aimed at helping redress some of the health shortages in the country by getting Zimbabwean health professionals living abroad to return for short periods of time to pass on their knowledge and expertise.

A website, www.zimbabwehumancapital.org.zw , has been developed advertising employment and investment opportunities that skilled workers, professionals as well as investors, both local and abroad, can take advantage of.

The Zimbabwean Diaspora in the UK said it welcomed the initiative although it had not heard of it.

"It appears that the statement referred mainly to the SA Zimbabwean Diaspora although there is an indication that similar meetings will take place in countries that host a significant number of Zimbabweans such as Botswana, Canada, and the UK. We hope there will be due notice and proper consultation with other Diaspora groups in advance," said Msekiwa Makwanya, one of the co-ordinators of other Zimbabwe Diaspora meetings in the UK.

The IOM-back initiative comes as the UK government announced an Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) scheme for Zimbabweans living in Britain. The scheme will be extended until December 31, after which its progress will undergo a review process.

The AVR has a component on vocational training, assistance in setting up a business and covers the cost of returning flights. The IOM office in Harare will be involved.