Zimbabwes diaspora influences countrys real estate and farming investments

Two Zimbabwean digital influencers, Kundai Chitima and Kelvin Birioti, have gained significant followings on social media platforms such as YouTube and Instagram. Their content focuses on real estate, agriculture, and market trends in Zimbabwe.

Chitima, 31, and Birioti, 20, share short videos and posts about opportunities in Zimbabwe, which appear to be influencing the decisions of some Zimbabweans abroad who are considering returning or investing in the country. One such individual is Catherine Mutisi, a UK-based accountant who had been living abroad for 17 years.

Mutisi stated that she began investing in Zimbabwe before her return but changed her plans after coming across Birioti’s content during construction. She said that official narratives about Zimbabwe had made her cautious, but online content presented a different perspective.

Nguwo, a UK-based adviser on Africa market entry and global expansion, noted that many people like Mutisi are relocating to Zimbabwe due to emotional and lifestyle-driven factors. He stated that the lower cost of living and the opportunity to build something impactful at home outweigh concerns about economic instability.

Birioti’s platform focuses on real estate, rural development, and farming projects, often working with diaspora Zimbabweans who grant access to their properties for documentation. Chitima, who worked as a teacher in South Africa before returning to Zimbabwe, aims to provide educational content that replaces uncertainty with grounded information about the realities and opportunities in Zimbabwe.

Both creators report hearing similar accounts from the Zimbabwean diaspora reassessing their long-term plans.

Source: Al Jazeera