For many years, discussions about Zambia’s development have largely focused on domestic policies, investment, agriculture and mining.
However, an equally important contributor to the country’s growth has been quietly making a difference from beyond its borders—the Zambian diaspora.
Over the past decade, the Zambian government has increasingly recognised that citizens living abroad are not only ambassadors of the country but also valuable partners in national development.
Through financial remittances, investment, skills transfer and professional expertise, the diaspora has become an important pillar supporting Zambia’s economic and social progress.
Official figures show that remittance inflows have grown considerably over the years despite periods of fluctuation. According to data from the World Bank and the Global Knowledge Partnership on Migration and Development (KNOMAD), remittances increased from US$36 million in 2003 to an estimated US$135 million in 2020.
While inflows rose steadily between 2003 and 2008 before experiencing fluctuations between 2009 and 2019, the overall trend demonstrates the growing importance of Zambians abroad in supporting families and contributing to the national economy.
These funds have become a lifeline for many households, helping families pay for education, healthcare, housing and small business investments.
Beyond easing poverty, remittances also stimulate local economic activity and contribute to national financial stability.
Recognising this contribution, the government adopted the Diaspora Policy in 2019 to promote, facilitate and leverage remittances while strengthening engagement with Zambians living abroad.
The policy also seeks to encourage investment, entrepreneurship and knowledge sharing between the diaspora and local communities.
Government efforts to harness diaspora expertise are not new. Between 1983 and 1999, Zambia operated a voluntary return and integration programme for skilled citizens who had emigrated, assisting with travel arrangements and offering employment in the public sector.
Later, the 2005 National Employment and Labour Market Policy introduced measures aimed at encouraging professionals to return, while the Bonding System required beneficiaries of government scholarships to serve the country after completing their studies.
These initiatives were designed to address the loss of highly qualified professionals, particularly doctors, nurses and teachers, whose migration created shortages in critical sectors such as healthcare and education.
Today, government continues to encourage members of the diaspora to return permanently or temporarily, invest in businesses, purchase land and participate in national development projects. The 2019 Diaspora Policy also calls for establishing a comprehensive database of skilled Zambians abroad to match their expertise with opportunities available at home.
Although reliable data on voluntary returnees remains limited, the International Organization for Migration recorded a rise in involuntary returnees between 2013 and 2016 before numbers declined in 2017.
The importance of diaspora engagement became particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. Working through the Zambian High Commission in South Africa, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation successfully facilitated the return of 106 stranded Zambian nationals, along with six additional citizens and 30 resident permit holders.
As Zambia pursues sustainable economic transformation, the country’s diaspora remains an invaluable national asset. By strengthening policies that encourage investment, skills transfer and stronger engagement with citizens abroad, Zambia can continue transforming migration into a powerful engine for inclusive national development.