2 minute read
The Journey of the Zimbabwean Canadian. 20 years in Perspective from early 2000’s to 2020.
from ZimCan263 Magazine
Letter from the editor -
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The first decade of the past twenty years saw a large influx of Zimbabweans migrate into Canada. Many thanks to the then immigration policies that saw Canada grant asylum and permanent residency applications to Zimbabweans among others. Though quite a number of Zimbabweans had already migrated to Canada before that, this period saw an influx of many USA based Zimbabweans who didn’t have US documents that allowed them to either work and/or stay in the US. Some of them had overstayed in the U.S. and were afraid of returning to Zimbabwe for political reasons, whilst others who were on student and visitors visa preferred the idea of having Canadian permanent residency or citizenship respectively. Obtaining the green card (U.S.A’s P.R. Card equivalent) proved to be harder than it was to get the Canadian P.R. Card. News quickly spread that Zimbabweans were being allowed to seek asylum at the US/Canada boarders. A few fearless risk takers took a chance in the early 2000’s, left all they had in the states, some leaving directly from Zimbabwe, boarded their planes and those in the USA drove their U-hauls and vehicles to the north towards Canada. By 2010, immigration policies began to tighten up and it was no longer as easy, however many US based Zimbabweans had migrated to Canada in large numbers. This meant that in 10years the Zim-Canadian community had just experienced a major boost and almost doubled if not tripled in population. However,being a fresh knitted community, trust and relationships took time to build and solidify. But in the course of the past 20 years, Zim-Canadian have by now found their collective community footing and have created valuable networks and relationships among each other. Collectively we continue to grow and flourish by the day. The former rhetoric that suggested “Zimbabweans are not untied” is proving to be a thing of the past. Across the nation we now see Zimbabwean churches work together, community influencers forming various kinds of community based initiatives, associations and programs such as the Zimbabwean association of Canada (Z.A.C), Zimbabwe Ontario Information & Networking Association (Z.O.I.N.A), Pachedu, Tariro formerly Vision 2020 group, and many more. Most of these groups are constructive in nature, some being cooperatives purchasing homes/houses, others have created funeral and emergency support plans, some are investment & savings cooperatives, some are support groups, and others are simply networking & information platforms. All by the Zimbabweans for the Zimbabweans. Most are succeeding in executing their goals and objectives. The moral of the story is that Zimbabweans in Canada have grown closer, stronger, and wiser over the past two decades. The future for Zimbabweans based in Canada is surely bright and what a time to be part of such an amazing community. Though we face a few hiccups here and there, the general view of a Zimbabwean by a non Zimbabwean in Canada is that of a positive outlook. We are generally known by employers as hard working, efficient people who are very dependable, by teachers we are known to be an intelligent, eloquent group that strives to excel, by authorities we are known to be law abiding citizens. United we continue to grow, united we continue to spread brotherly love, united we continue to lift each other up and celebrate one another.
