Former AU Ambassador To U.S. Urges Africans In Diaspora To Invest In Africa

African Union (AU)’s former ambassador to the United States of America, Ambassador Arikana Chihombori-Quao, has said Africans in the diaspora have to invest in Africa.

Chihombori-Quao who is the founder and President of the African Diaspora Development Institute says her organisation strives to revive the spirit of Pan-Africanism. She said:

We want to mobilise African diaspora to invest in Africa and find solutions to African problems. We want to continue to wake up the spirit of pan-Africanism which is important in Africa’s development.

She made the remarks after paying a courtesy call on Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Ambassador Fredrick Shava this Friday.

Zimbabwe is this year expected to host a major conference for the African diaspora community in Victoria Falls to deliberate on strategies for inclusive and sustainable economic development in line with Agenda 2063.

Diaspora remittances have been among the top foreign currency earners for Zimbabwe in the past decade, according to reports by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ).

Some Africans in the diaspora have, however, been choosing to invest elsewhere citing a choking business environment in their home countries.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has since 2017 been saying Zimbabwe is open for business after poor policies chased investors away. Analysts still believe a lot needs to be done to ensure the environment is conducive for business.

More: Pindula News; ZBC News (By Oleen Ndori)