Maravi

(TALKZIMBABWE) Diaspora organisations should do more

Diaspora organisations should do more
By: Tellmore Mutsengi
Posted: Monday, January 17, 2011 5:15 am

DEAR EDITOR - I have been following up a lot of initiatives that have been going on in the Diaspora, but have to express my disappointment. There was a Diaspora conference held in Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe last year by an organisation called the Development Foundation for Zimbabwe.

There have been other initiatives in the United Kingdom, including events by an organisation formerly called Zimbabwe Gentleman's Club (or ZG Club), which has now been renamed Zimbabwe Growth Club.

We always hear that there are events taking place and most of them have never consulted the public.

ZG Club was charging £25 for an audience with Affirmative Action Group President Supa Mandiwanzira. Such prices are beyond the reach of many, so it would benefit us if they could publish reports of their conferences.

We wonder who exactly some of these organisations represent and what their role in the larger Zimbabwean Diaspora society is.

There was a report in the Financial Gazette which was very critical of the December DFZ conference in Victoria Falls.

The Fingaz reporter said the organisation was full of academics who seemed to lack the business acumen that is needed at such fora, and who enjoyed hypothesizing about a new Zimbabwe, without giving concrete solutions.

There are a lot of Zimbabweans in the Diaspora with the business wherewithall to get involved and make vital contribution.

Why are these organisations fronted by the same old faces that have not delivered for so long?

Are they simply "Boys' Clubs" where certain characters seek to massage each others' egos?

We would be grateful if these organisations could start making headway into reaching out to the general public, rather than remain closed door and unreachable.

Also they should publish the outcomes of their conferences for the benefit of the public.

*Tellmore Mutsengi writes from the United Kingdom.

Labels: AAG, DIASPORA

posted by MrK @ 5:53 PM