FOR far too many Zimbabweans’ hopes and dreams, whether for themselves or for their children, were to emigrate in search of a nation that can provide them with better economic opportunities and an assurance of civil liberties.
In various countries across the globe, utilising opportunities to secure one’s financial future and contribute to the economy of your nation is a trademark dream.
In America you will hear of the coveted American dream or if you land yourself in a conversation with a soon-to-be university graduate from South Africa, you will hear of their enthusiasm to either settle in Cape Town or experience life in Johannesburg’s economic hub of Sandton.
However, in Zimbabwe making it within the country has ironically increasingly become a pipe dream.
This is true especially for young Zimbabweans who are seeing the economy fail to provide them a stable professional career of their choice.
There is no doubt that a large proportion of Zimbabwean parents dream of seeing their children receiving tertiary education outside the country where their qualifications will truly be put to good use.
When speaking to my fellow countrymen, the conversation about where we planned to go after completing our education rarely included Zimbabwe.
The likes of Canada or America were the places of choice.
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Maybe the mention of Zimbabwe only gained traction when speaking about one’s post-retirement plans.
This dream is not anything new and is complemented by the large diaspora populations our country boasts about.
From Botswana to Australia, Ireland and all the way to Zambia — these are just some of the countries Zimbabweans have settled in the hope of fulfilling their dream of living a stable life where you make enough money to send to your family members back home.
This dream, though, reflects a nightmare.
As Zimbabweans we are lauded across the globe as hardworking people wherever we are in foreign lands.
I have always thought the motivating factor has been how high the stakes are for us.
The recent findings by Hanke’s Annual Misery Index concluding that Zimbabwe is the most miserable country to live in sheds light on the nightmare many of those living in our country face.
I do not need to go into the nitty-gritties of our economic history and depressing quality of governance that has left us in the position we are in today.
Investigations by scholars have shown that if Zimbabwe had somewhat continued the economic growth it experienced in the early 1980s, we would have been an upper-middle-income nation by now.
We went from having the fourth strongest economy in the world during the 1970s to being the fastest shrinking economy by 2003.
The political instability and crackdown on citizens who wanted change in 2008 did not help our situation.
Fast forward to 2023 and the vicious cycle of hyper-inflation we experience makes for a financially unstable life for millions of Zimbabweans.
Therefore, the only feasible option for many is to escape this, resulting in large-scale emigration that acts as a mirror to Zimbabwe’s human capital flight.
I’m sure the current Zimbabwean dream is one that many would rather not impose upon themselves.
The issue is several people have been left with no choice but to line up at visa application centres and borders.
If their wishes were to come true, they would want to stay and see a Zimbabwe where they are allowed to make a genuine contribution in its reconstruction.
I am reminded of a man I spoke to who was applying for a British visa.
He said if he had his way, he would not go ahead with the plan, but the situation in the country fluctuates so much that he must make sure he has to provide for his children.
Here is a man left with no choice but to leave.
I am reminded of an increasing number of Zimbabweans whose years of hard work and dedication to obtain degrees at Zimbabwean institutions, which have fallen on international rankings, have to resort to care-work in Western countries as a way out.
Unfortunately, as long as corruption is rampant and nepotism and violence due to differing political views continue unabated, Zimbabweans will never live their dreams.
The genuine contribution that those in Zimbabwe and many who have left can make, will eventually be ineffective. That is the sad truth, like it or not.
Upon closer analysis, the Zimbabwean dream plays itself out in the wider context of our continent as the dream is internalised by countless Africans.
This is true for the Sudanese and was compounded by the recent ongoing conflict there.
One can also look at the desperate and life-threatening attempts made by west Africans ranging from Senegalese to Nigerians trying to illegally cross the seas into Europe or get to north Africa.
Economic crises, political turmoil and societal tensions across the continent are forcing millions to flee and pursue their life dreams outside their land of origin.
Bongai Kanyemba is a third year bachelor of arts international studies student at Stellenbosch University in Western Cape, South Africa
