Why Zimbabweans Shine Abroad but Struggle at Home

Zimbabweans consistently excel abroad, not because their talent changes, but because systems work (image source)

It is a story many Zimbabweans recognise instantly. A nurse leaves and soon manages a ward in the United Kingdom. A footballer crosses borders and signs for a competitive European league. An engineer relocates and finds themselves working on major infrastructure projects. The talent did not change — the environment did.

Zimbabweans do not suddenly become smarter the moment they cross Beitbridge or pass through Heathrow. What changes are the systems around them. In functional economies, effort is rewarded, skills are utilised, and professional growth follows predictable rules. At home, the same potential often collides with fragile institutions, limited resources, and an economy that shifts direction without warning.

In critical sectors such as health, sport and engineering, the constraints are well known. Public hospitals struggle with equipment shortages and staff retention. Local footballers battle underfunded structures and inconsistent pathways to professional growth. Across the public and private sectors, recruitment and promotion too often hinge on personal connections rather than competence. Over time, ambition gives way to survival.

The result is not a lack of patriotism, but a rational response to structural frustration. For many Zimbabweans, leaving is less about chasing luxury and more about securing dignity, stability and professional recognition.

If the country is serious about retaining talent — and even attracting back those already abroad — three shifts are unavoidable.

First, economic stability must become non-negotiable. Professionals cannot plan careers, invest in skills or commit long-term when wages lose value and policy reversals are frequent.

Second, meritocracy must be more than a slogan. Recruitment, promotion and opportunity must consistently reward ability and performance rather than familiarity or lineage. When skills are valued, people stay.

Third, the diaspora must be engaged meaningfully. Many Zimbabweans abroad are willing to contribute skills, capital and networks, but bureaucratic hurdles and unclear channels often discourage genuine engagement. Simple, transparent pathways would turn goodwill into impact.

None of this is radical. It requires political will, institutional reform and a commitment to long-term thinking. Without these, Zimbabwe will continue exporting its brightest minds while applauding their success from a distance.

Zimbabweans have proven they can thrive anywhere. The unresolved question is whether their own country will ever allow them to do so at home.

Simbarashe Namusi is a peace, leadership and governance scholar as well as media expert. He writes in his personal capacity.