Zimbabwe: Study Belies `Myth` Country is Kept Afloat By Diaspora Cash

2 July, 2009 in Zimbabwe

source: allAfrica
Business Day (Johannesburg)
Wilson Johwa
1 July 2009

Johannesburg — AGAINST the general belief that Zimbabweans in exile were keeping their country afloat, a study in the southern Matabeleland region has found that most families with members living outside the country received no money and barely any meaningful food items last year.

Conducted earlier this year, the study by Solidarity Peace Trust (SPT), says 76% of those with family in the diaspora did not get any money sent to them last year.

The little money sent home failed to alleviate the already dire food situation, especially among the rural poor.

Many of those who sent any money at all remitted less than R100. “Goodies” sent home were as little as 2kg of sugar – often only at Christmas time. Only 18% of the families with a member in the diaspora received the [continue reading]