After what seemed to an eternity and a comedy of gaffes, the DPM and other speakers turned up for the 10 am event at 2:30pm so you could forgive me for being sceptical before and up to the time the DPM started speaking. It was a stereotypical Zimbabwean experience of unapologetic lateness, add to that the soundman who had been drafted in to provide audio did not turn up on time, he actually arrived after the DPM had started his presentation and was rightly dressed down for it. Some things never change!!

But, once in a while there are surprises and my initial scepticism turned into optimism as the DPM’s presentation wore on, here was a different man with different thoughts that are not too unlike my own in terms the problems in Zimbabwe and the possible solutions to those problems. He spoke as a person who has seen that things can be done differently with success, He acknowledged the faults and challenges of a coalition government and eloquently pointed out that even here in the UK coalition government are notoriously difficult when it comes to speaking with one voice, making consistent policies and building confidence to those observing from a distance.

So what I learned was that there is a part for the diaspora to play in the rebuilding of Zimbabwe but that will be difficult because our expectations are unknown to those at home, somethings we go through in the diaspora are alien to them so there is need to educate either sides of the people on how to work together. There are plenty of opportunities because the period between 2000 and 2009 saw all production grinding to a halt, farming fell to 40% in not even lower , there are now more minerals to mine, the universities have closed many faculties, hospitals are operating below optimum level so surely there is a a role to play for everyone. But as the DPM said “we still need people to stay in the diaspora so that they can learn and transfer knowledge, technology and investments home”

Oh, and there is a woman selling a grinding mill!, during the question and answer session the DPM asked for women to be given a chance to ask questions because up to that time only men had been asking questions at which point one lady got the microphone and said “before I ask a question can I let everyone one know that I am selling a grinding mill, due to the electricity shortages I haven’t used it for a while so I have decided to sell it” Another lady got her chance and said “DPM I need a tractor, I have been to all banks in Zimbabwe and none of them are willing to lend me money because I live in the UK, I have a farm and contracts to supply veggies to M&S and Tesco but I can’t do it without a tractor”. But it wasn’t only women with the clever questions, one chap got up and said “DPM  we need an MP for the diaspora?” good idea but that would mean one person will represent 2 million Zimbabweans making the diaspora the biggest single seat in parliament!!

I am going into politics!