Zambia Diaspora E-conference 2008 - Preliminary Report

Zambia Diaspora E-Conference Preliminary 2008 Workshop Report*

Visioning Diaspora involvement in Zambia’s Development

Prepared by Paul Lupunga, Tchiyiwe Chihana, Chola Mukanga, Chasaya Sichilima, Bright Chinganya and Musaba Chailunga

*Final report will follow a round of responses from participants to the conference and other parties expected beginning of 2009.

Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction……………………………….…...…

3

2.0 Conference Outline……...……….…………….…

4

2.1. Conference Structure……………………...

4

2.2. Thematic discussion………………………

5

2.3. Participation……..……………………...…

5

3.0 Thematic Deliberations…………………………..

5

3.1 Human Capital……………………………..

5

3.2 Commercial Investment……………………

6

3.3 Land and Housing………………………….

8

3.4 Culture and Identity………………………..

9

4.0. Recommendations………………………………...

12

4.1 Defining Zambia’s Diaspora………………

12

4.2 Diaspora Remittances……………………..

12

4.3 Diaspora policy and strategy………………

12

4.4 Development Partner involvement…………

12

5.0 Conference Next Steps...………………………….

13

5.1. Report Dissemination to Diaspora………....

13

5.2. Developing Rapport with Government…….

13

5.3. Partnering Migration Specialist Agencies….

13

5.4. 2009 Diaspora E-Conference Preparation.…

13

6.0 Process Management…...…………………………

14

Feed back may be directed to [email protected]

2

1.0 Introduction The first Zambia Diaspora E-Conference was held between 14th and 24th October 2008 with a view to setting the frame for Zambia’s citizens abroad holding collective dialogue with ‘Home’. The main theme for the conference was to explore the Diaspora’s collective aspirations for Zambia through ‘Visioning’ and ‘Prioritization’ of actions. It is hoped that the next steps following the conference will facilitate the development of government policy on the welfare of its citizens abroad and fill the policy gap required to compliment the existing National Vision 2030, which only constitutes the development aspirations of Zambia’s domiciled citizens in keeping with the African Unions urge to all its member countries to take ownership of their citizens away from home as respective country’s members of constituencies abroad. Inspiration to hold the conference was drawn from the off shoot of the Ministry of Finance and National Planning’s attempt to gauge Diaspora interest in participating in national development through a draft document called the Project Diaspora Citizenry (2008). This interest has invariably been made evident in national commitment indicated in Diaspora led email group discussions concerning Dual Citizenship as is being considered by the National Constitutional Conference at the time writing of this report. Additionally during the illness and consequent demise of the late President Mwanawasa, the Diaspora joined together in writing messages of encouragement and condolences, and in holding memorial services in many of the world’s capitals, showing a strong sense of belonging. A Diaspora tribute program dedicated to the late President was even held on Radio Phoenix’s "Let the People Talk” on August 29th . Zambians across the world phoned or emailed to express their condolences and also make the case that they could contribute to the development of their motherland. It was the first time on Zambian radio that Diaspora Zambians had engaged in such a process in real-time. It is this same strong sentiment of citizenry that the conference sought to focus on under the themes, Land and Housing, Commercial Investments, Human Capital and Culture and Identity. The selection of themes is on the assumption that those in the Diaspora are looking to Zambia to return. This assumption can only have its fulfillment through enhanced Diaspora access to land for development and housing, facilitation of investment for income, and thirdly, an improved policy and institutional Feed back may be directed to [email protected]

3

environment or framework for applying intellectual capital for the mutual benefit of the Diaspora and the nation. The conference’s approach also recognized the principle role that culture has in influencing national allegiance of individuals and drew participants to activities and situations that could promote this. Overall, the conference set a platform for the needs of the Zambian Diaspora regarding the four thematic areas to be articulated. 2.0. Conference Outline 2.1. Workshop Structure: The conference ran for eleven days from 14-24 November 2008. It was coordinated by moderators drawn from the steering-committee, which was formed following e-group discussions on dual citizenship and consultations on the Project Diaspora Citizenry proposal. The conference was conducted on the internet through yahoo group discussion forums representing each thematic group. The primary drive of the conference was to assess Diaspora demand for government intervention in the various thematic areas chosen. To do this the generic conference questions whose answers were being sought were: 1. How can Zambians living abroad participate in Zambia’s development in the areas of commercial investment, land and housing, and the development of human-capital? 2. How can government facilitate investment in commerce, land and housing development, and human-capital transfer to Zambia, by Zambians living abroad? 3. How can government and Zambian’s living abroad, together strengthen the Diaspora’s sense of identity, citizenry and commitment to Zambia? 2.2. Thematic Group Discussions: To facilitate answering Workshop questions participants were led through a series of sub questions to ascertain what the Diaspora want in relation to each theme, which institutions provide what they want, what hinders the provision of what the Diaspora want/need, what government could do to facilitate the provision of Diaspora need/want and finally what the Diaspora themselves could do to get what they require. Hence Conference delegates were asked to give their perspective of what material, financial and knowledge resources flows to Zambia in the areas of investment, human capital, housing and cultural identity. The groups then reflected on what the obstacles to resource and capital flows are and how Feed back may be directed to [email protected]

4

these flows could be enhanced through possible policy and strategy perspectives government could introduce to overcome difficulties. The discussions were topped by reflections on what were viewed as appropriate Diaspora-self-organized arrangements needed to compliment any policies reform that may take place as well as give capacity and legitimacy to Diaspora collective actions, in the form of regional, professional and interest groups. 2.3. Participation: Conference delegates were invited through email invitations circulated by embassies to Zambians in their respective jurisdictions with an introductory letter and invitation card attached (Appendix 3). Also invited were members of Associations of Zambians Abroad and networks to which the moderators belonged. All in all the expected participation for the survey had been 120 people set into groups of 30 each for the four thematic groups. However, a cumulative total of 40 people attended. 3.0. Thematic Deliberations Following are summary contents of each thematic report. The full thematic reports will be attached as appendices in the Final Conference Report. 3.1. Human Capital thematic group observations: There are significant benefits both to the people of Zambia and the Diaspora from closer collaborative working. The Zambian Diaspora brought significant advantage, primarily derived from their influence in organisations / institutions, and informal relationships they have developed abroad which they can use to Zambia’s advantage. Their access to information abroad would provide a development conduit for Zambians at home, for example in helping identify marketing opportunities for domestic firms in foreign markets. Crucially, they would bring both material support through charitable acts and direct leverage of their skills where shortage of expertise exists, at little cost to the Zambian tax payer, as many of them are keen to offer their services for free, recognising the many advantages helping one’s nation brings to the helper. However, a number of constraints still exist, which government needs to address in order to facilitate development. The four main constraints identified were social

Feed back may be directed to [email protected]

5

constraints in form of Zambians abroad have been viewed in a very negative way; economic constraints sometimes prevent many Zambians abroad from helping, as they were often at the mercy of prevailing economic conditions in their host countries; lack of proper coordination among themselves, with several previous forums for engagement having faltered through lack of coherent vision and leadership and correct engagement with government; and finally, poor institutional framework in Zambia, with many noting that lack of dual citizenship coupled with an absence of government policy on the Diaspora sent wrong signals to them. To help work together, a number of solutions were proposed. These principally fell into two categories: short term and long term. The short term solutions included Creation of more opportunities for volunteering, beyond the very few that exist through NGOs ; creation of a government driven Diaspora skills network linked to universities in Zambia and other areas where government saw fit; establishment of collaborative programmes between the Diaspora and key institutions;

reform of

Zambian foreign missions so that they become tools that engage more actively with the Diaspora; and introduction of a desk for Diaspora affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with sole focus on Diaspora affairs. The long term solutions focused on legislative solutions such as the push for Dual Citizenship and the possibility of government introducing a Diaspora bill in Parliament that would send a strong signal that government is serious with engaging with the Diaspora. It was also noted that government cannot bring change alone; the Zambian Diaspora should also do more. In particular, the Diaspora needed to signal more effectively to the government and Zambians at home that they are ready and willing partners of development. This could be either through a small education project that the Diaspora could adopt a school in an area of Zambia where most value can be demonstrated. If such a project proved successful, it can signal that the Diaspora is a positive force to be reckoned with.

3.2. Commercial Investments Thematic Group observations: For Zambians living abroad who possess the economic means, their level of demand to invest in Zambia, is primarily a factor of their distance from Zambia and the degree of networking they have for implementing their investment processes. Broken down, these investment processes are denoted by business registration, access to finance, Feed back may be directed to [email protected]

6

availability of information on sectoral regulatory frameworks and the prevailing tax environment, presence of intermediary institutions such as brokers and access to market competitiveness information, (eg production levels, substitute products, prices, wage ranges, number of other producers or service providers). It was noted that the organizations that would attend to administering or providing information about these factors are the Zambia Revenue Authority/Ministry of Finance, Bank of Zambia and the Institute of Bankers, Institute of Marketing, Central Statistics Office, Company Registry, Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry, Zambia Development Agency, Embassies abroad, Zambia Association of Manufacturers and the Economics Association of Zambia, amongst others. The thematic discussions also noted that Diaspora remittances to Zambia, that go towards raising Gross National Income (ie income accruing to Zambians whether in Zambia or abroad) tend to take the form of finance capital, knowledge transfer, externally hired experts, machinery and materials. The combination of these in various ways together with the investors own entrepreneurial abilities go to making Diaspora investment successful. Given this setting the investor however faces the choice of investing in their respective countries of settlement or investing in Zambia. Other than nostalgia for Zambia and historical linkages, the major element of consideration to invest or not is the level of risk. Is information asymmetrical, such that there are some in the market with better information than others? Are the intermediary institutions trust-worthy? Are investment incentives known and provided? How reliable are logistic providers? etc. The answers to these questions and many others help the Zambian abroad to determine whether she would or would not invest in Zambia. The delegates to the Investment thematic group discussions felt that to diminish the level of risk, two sets of actions are needed, first make investment information available through e-government and secondly incentivise the investment process for Zambians abroad through tax breaks, concessions for land and other statutory provisions. It was also observed as important for government to keep track of remittances through Bank of Zambia mechanisms. Given such government initiatives members of the Zambian Diaspora with resources would be highly attracted to invest. Feed back may be directed to [email protected]

7

On the hand, it was observed that the Diaspora themselves, in order to compliment government actions would need to make known their collective interests. As government cannot form its mind on the basis of a few individual interests, a Diaspora based chamber of commerce should be formed to speak to government concerning the areas of interest amongst its members. This should be coupled with the development of a website that would comprise directories of service and product providers relevant or anticipative of Diaspora investments. As such even non-government entities such as consultants, raw material suppliers, contractors and other service and product providers would be easily contacted to complement e-government provided information to fill the current information gap. 3.3. Land and Housing Thematic Group observations: Land and its development for housing or commercial us is amongst one of the highest priorities Zambians abroad have in facilitating their engagement with ‘Home’. To execute this engagement, whilst abroad, the process of identifying land, acquiring it, ensuring the provision of surveying, road-access, water supply, sanitation, telecommunication, electricity, architectural, construction and mortgage services, all requiring a physical presence in Zambia. However Zambians abroad find that it is their being abroad that actually provides them the resource to acquire and develop any land they may own, hence the need for the establishment of formidable agencies that would provide Diaspora intermediation with the range of institutions that facilitate this engagement. It was noted that in the current land market, distribution of first title land is predominantly by government through Ministry of Lands, local councils and chiefs in the case of traditional land. Private sales were covered individually, through brokers such as banks (from land acquired as part of receivership) or estate agents. The stakeholders in land development are multiple, ranging from real estate agents, architects, land and quantity surveyors, landscapers, contractors/tradesmen and transporters. Each of the three stages of acquisition, development and use, necessitate maximizing opportunity and minimizing risk to the Diaspora. This can be achieved by government Feed back may be directed to [email protected]

8

availing information using the internet. In addition, government can deliberately set up programs incorporating Diaspora engagement with a view to increasing Zambia’s housing stock. With regards to risk, matters of certainty of land acquisition when applied for or facilitated applications for land should become part of government policy. Part of this should accommodate land for the erection of housing estates, farming blocks and industrial complexes such as the economic zones that are being announced for foreign investors. The members of the group noted with concern that there was an acute shortage of utility services for land that was being distributed by government. In addition there appears to be a major shortage of certain building materials particularly cement. As such at a macro level the group called for stronger incentives to manufacturers of building materials to open up new investments as well as increase supply. Amongst the Diaspora themselves it was observed that in order to ascertain the demand for Land and housing amongst the Diaspora and where most government services were a priority, estimates of areas of interest with regard to developing housing or land, need to be compiled and reviewed in order that they may cluster into groups that would share common areas. Thus estate developers, house purchasers, farmers and intending farmers etc require clustering in order for them to target for advocacy the institutions that relate to the land and housing issues they would seek to pursue resulting in them partnering institutions such as the National Housing Bond Trust or Zambia National Building Society, amongst others. 3.4. Culture and Identity thematic group observations: The Culture and Identity group recognised the broadness of their theme noting that the elements that picture culture and identity are matters of shared history and norms. The values that arise out of this shared history tend to elevate Zambians’ sense of belonging even when they are away from Zambia. Evidence of this belonging is often visible in how literature, music, food, spoken languages and Internet media (to mention but a few) are sought by Zambians abroad. These remind them of their origins and the people they belong to. The discussions established that the Ministries of Community Development, of Tourism, of Foreign Affairs (through Zambian embassies), Broadcasting and Feed back may be directed to [email protected]

9

Information, and of Home Affairs are cardinal to the instrumentation of Zambians abroad growing in their commitment to participating in the development of Zambia. Other institutions that fulfil this are the media, Zambian churches, traditional ceremonies, entertainment sector and the national emblems of the Zambian flag. Groups such as the National Arts Council, Zambia cultural associations and others are stakeholders from a non-government perspective. When Zambians abroad grow in their cultural attachment to Zambia, they tend to draw individual investment to Zambia, through commerce, intellect and possible return and settlement in Zambia. In addition foreigners interacted with abroad, gain interest and good will towards Zambia resulting in increased foreign investments, tourism and other economic activities that grow national income. So when musicians, movies, paintings, crafts etc are appreciated abroad they provide opportunity to increase tourism as well. The group’s discussion felt that part of the problems stalling the processes of promoting culture to the ends mentioned above is the poor clarity by the government on taking ownership of its citizens. A matter of urgency in this regard is the haphazard information on the process of renewing one’s passport. If one is living abroad, passports are the legitimate indications of identity. Both in countries with or without Zambian embassies there is little to no formal protocol for the orderly renewal of passports, thus Zambians abroad face uncertainty as to government’s perspective of their nationality. This affects the commitment of Zambians abroad to things Zambian. Another critical point concerning identity rests with the fact that there is no place for dual citizenship, disqualifying Zambians in the Diaspora from taking up positions in foreign countries that welcome dual citizens in high office. If adopted dual citizenship would accrue benefit both to the country of settlement as well as to Zambia. With regard to government policy changes needed, the group felt the Government should offer incentives to Diaspora Zambians investing in culture and related equipment and products. The group also group noted the need for members of the Zambian community abroad to be designated by government in honorary status as focal persons in promoting culture and identity among Zambians abroad as well as to

Feed back may be directed to [email protected]

10

the nations they have settled in. There are for example a number of artists that play Zambian music at various fora in their countries of settlement. Government should also develop e-governance systems that would help cope with administratively managing the identities of Zambians abroad. To facilitate this in the long term the Central Statistic Office should also be mandated to extend the national census through the embassies and through the Internet to collect vital statistics that would impact on national development including as may be projected through this Diaspora forum consultative process. One of the activities the Diaspora tend to assimilate in their countries of residence is that of visiting museums, parks, zoos, tourist and historical sites to mention but a few. The Ministry of Tourism and related players can tap into this by designing special tour packages and other packages tailor-made for the Diaspora. Second-generation Zambian Diaspora can especially be targeted for visits to Zambia. The Diaspora can also be utilized to complement efforts in promoting Zambia as “the Real Africa”. Huge travel costs incurred through tourism promotion initiatives could be greatly reduced by engaging and employing the skills of Diaspora based in target markets abroad. This is especially so because Zambians living in different countries understand better the cultures and language of the host countries than officials from the tourism board based at home. Anyone moving to a new country does not have localized knowledge of that community. There is usually a learning curve of the culture and the norms. Zambian Diaspora residing in these communities already have that knowledge. The Diaspora should be considered for appointments to diplomatic positions in their countries of foreign residence. There would be savings too in terms of transfer costs. Amongst the ways in which it was recognized that the Diaspora should organize to work amongst themselves and with government was through the development of a master-plan that integrates Diaspora aspirations in culture with Ministry of Community Development and the Ministry of Tourism in order to promote Zambia’s rich culture abroad.

Feed back may be directed to [email protected]

11

4.0. Primary Recommendations: This report recognises the overarching nature of some of the issues raised in theme specific discussions and makes broad recommendations below to government, concerning Government’s definition of Diaspora identity, Diaspora Remittances and Government leadership. 4.1. Defining Zambia’s Diaspora: 4.1.1. Statistics: Government through the Central Statistical Office’s execution of the Census 2010 should include the enumeration of its citizens abroad, in order to ascertain the number of Zambians abroad for a more informed understanding of their demographic composition and the effects on national development to facilitate policy. 4.1.2. Passports: Government through the combined coordination of the Ministry of Home Affair’s Passport Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affair’s consular services, should formulate a strategy not only of new passport issuance facilitated by the embassies and the internet, but also expeditiously informs the Diaspora of the procedures on how to do so, using a government internet site. 4.1.3. Dual Citizenship: The National Constitutional Conference and Parliament should endorse an amendment to the Zambian Constitution to allow dual citizenship of Zambians who are granted citizenship by a second country, a position that has become an international norm. 4.2. Remittances: The Government through the Bank of Zambia and the Central Statistics Office, should establish systems that indicate the levels of remittances by the Diaspora in view of their significant economic importance. 4.3. Government Leadership of Diaspora policy and strategy: The Zambia Development Agency in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and National Planning’s Policy Department, should facilitate a policy formulation platform which incorporates the Ministries mandated to coordinate Labour, Housing, Community Development, Culture, Tourism, Commerce, Home and Foreign Affairs for Diaspora inclusion in the National Vision 2030 and the Sixth National Development Plan. 4.4 Development Partner involvement: The International Organisation on Migration should facilitate Government engagement of development partners with expertise in emigration, remittances and reversing brain drain, to optimize governments perspectives and options in the development of Diaspora policy and strategies.

Feed back may be directed to [email protected]

12

5.0. Conference Next Steps 5.1. Report Dissemination to Diaspora: The conference output, which is primarily this report, will be disseminated first to conference participants and other members of the Diaspora using Zambian Embassies, Associations of Zambians Abroad and the networks of Zambians abroad known to the conference steering committee. Another follow up output will be discussion forums using Blog Talk Radio at DiasporaConnect, an internet tool to record discussions for internet broadcasts. It is hoped that this will help increase the conference resolves legitimacy and if received with broad affirmation from Zambia’s Diaspora. This process is anticipated to be complete by the end of January 2009. 5.2. Forming Rapport with Government: The report contents will then be used to engage various Government Ministries to assess the compatibility of the visioning the Diaspora has made to existing and prospective policy frames especially within the bounds of the Vision 2030. Principal Ministries to be considered are Foreign Affairs, Local Government and Housing, Labor and Social Security, Commerce, Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Culture and Social Welfare, among others, under the auspices of the Ministry of Finance and National Planning. Derivatives of these Ministries including the Bank of Zambia, Zambia Development Agency, the Housing Development Trust Board and others are already in discussion with the conference steering committee. This stage of activities will cover the first quarter of 2009. 5.3. Partnering Migration Specialist Agencies: Coupled with the consultations with government, other partners in development including the World Bank, the United Nations Development Program, the International Labor Organization and the International Organization for Migration (who have already been liaising with government on the Diaspora) will also be engaged to map an action plan that unites the conference aspirations and resolutions with their institutional specializations. First quarter 2009. 5.4. 2009 Diaspora E-Conference Preparations: The theme of the Diaspora Conference from 2008 to 2009 was to develop a collective Diaspora vision for meeting Diaspora needs in participating in National development. Indications are that 2009 into 2010 the conference will focus on developing institutional capacity amongst Feed back may be directed to [email protected]

13

the Diaspora and government institutions to meet recommendations of the 2008 conference. As such the preparatory phase to the 2009 Diaspora E-conference will bring together the Steering committee of the conference, government and migration specialist agencies that will see the development of tentative elements of a draft action plan. This plan may amongst other actions see the Central Statistical Office extending the census 2010 to cover Zambians living abroad through Internet registration verified by the embassies, in order to gain a clear description of anticipated Diaspora demand for government services in Zambia and anticipated Diaspora supply of resources to Zambia. This preparatory stage will after weighing the tentative action plan formulate an agenda to form the platform of discussions and the format to follow for Diaspora E-Conference 2009. Second Quarter 2009. 6.0. Process Management: Processes to manage the recommendations of this paper will be managed by the steering committee, which hopes by mid 2009 to be subsumed by a wider group to include representation from the government and specialist migration organizations. Currently Mr. Paul Lupunga (Canberra-Australia), Ms. Tchiyiwe Chihana (Sheffield-UK), Mr. Chola Mukanga (London-UK), Mr. Chasaya Sichilima (London-Canada), Mr. Bright Chinganya (Melbourne-Australia) and Mr. Musaba Chailunga (Toronto-Canada), who are the drafters of this report are also the coordinators of the follow-up actions in meeting the reports objectives and will temporarily use the web-log at http://diasporaConnect.Blogspot.com to communicate further actions. The group is in the process of developing a data enabled website that will through relatively advanced features enable interactive engagement to promote Diaspora linkages to Home. 2008 fourth quarter on-wards.

Appendices Appendix 1. Conference Invitation brochure. Appendix 2. Invitation letters to Embassies and Associations of Zambians Abroad. Appendix 3. Thematic reports in full.

Feed back may be directed to [email protected]

14