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400
super-brains leave Zimbabwe
Charles Rukuni,
The Financial Gazette
February 01, 2007
http://www.fingaz.co.zw/story.aspx?stid=2366
SOME 400 highly skilled
Zimbabweans have settled in the United Kingdom over the past five
years under a special scheme allowing highly skilled professionals
to stay in Britain.
Britain's Home
Affairs secretary Liam Byrne said 399 Zimbabweans had settled in
the United Kingdom between January 2002 and September last year.
He, however, pointed out that the figure was based on the country
of origin stated on individual applications. This, therefore, did
not necessarily reflect the nationality of the applicant.
Only the three African
economic powerhouses - Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt - have
higher numbers, according to recent statistics made available by
the British Home Office. Nigeria lost 3 058 workers, followed by
South Africa with 2 527 and Egypt with 444.
Foreign skilled people
are allowed to settle in the UK under a special programme called
the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP). It is designed to allow
individuals with exceptional skills and experience to work in the
UK without having a prior offer of employment, or to take up self-employment
opportunities. Zimbabwe suffered its biggest loss in 2005 when 105
highly skilled nationals were allowed to settle in the UK. Last
year's figure could surpass that of 2005, as 101 highly skilled
Zimbabweans had settled in the UK in the first nine months of the
year.
A quarter of
the country's population is reported to have left Zimbabwe
because of increasing economic hardships. Last year, South Africa
and Botswana deported more than 140 000 Zimbabweans. However, South
Africa is courting Zimbabwean science and mathematics teachers,
while a flurry of advertisements for engineering and construction
work in South Africa has appeared in the local press.
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