Brain Drain or Brain Gain? Leveraging Zambia’s Diaspora Dividend

Abstract

This chapter discusses the brain drain phenomenon in Zambia and contends that it is actually the main contributor to what is now referred to as the Zambian diaspora. The chapter traces the origins of this trend and then examines the manner in which it unfolded in the last three decades. It also proffers an overview of the historical and present nature of state–diaspora relations vis-à-vis the Zambian government and the Zambian community living abroad. The chapter’s main contention is that Zambia’s drain brain can actually be turned into a “brain gain” if the many potentials of Zambians living abroad can be leveraged for Zambia’s development by the Zambian government. The discussion also puts forward what it terms as a “diaspora dividend” whereby, inter alia, the expertise, skills, world-view, exposure, business and entrepreneurial talents, and other networks of Zambia’s diaspora, can actually be harnessed in order to develop Zambia. Suggestions are also made as to how the present positive developments in this area can be emboldened.