Non-resident Zimbabweans respond to Homelink

There have been a huge number of e-mails sent to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe directly and via the Homelink web site (www.homelinkzimbabwe.co.zw), following the Reserve Bank team’s visit to the United States, United Kingdom and South Africa.
Here is a random sample of some of the messages received:

We witnessed the attempt by the Governor to launch Homelink on Saturday in South Africa. Coincidentally, we have been working on a similar project for the past three months.

We believe it was a patriotic move by the Governor but due to the stigma attached to our Zimbabwean Government, it is difficult to hook the loyalty of Zimbabwean immigrants in
other countries.

My partner and I believe we have a valuable contribution to make. You may contact us via e?mail or phone.

I am a Zimbabwean studying in South Africa.

Do you have head offices in the UK, coz I would like to send some money to Zimbabwe? Reply as soon as possible.

I wish to congratulate Mr Gono for his vision, efforts and the imminent rewards that will follow. He is a hardworking man. I hope his sweat will not bankroll political parties against the wishes of the Zimbabweans abroad.

I can tell you that people are looking for investment opportunities in Zimbabwe but they are held back by fears that President Mugabe could override Gono's promises any time for his political gains.

Here in UK, however, people are confused since there are no Homelink branches people can go to and send money through. People ask me every day about how Homelink works. What is clear are the MTAs in Zimbabwe but here abroad where should people go?

I wish you the best in this recovery process. Give us the opportunity to contribute to the economy, not only with forex but with ideas and business investments opportunities.

The President should publicly acknowledge that things went wrong and that he will fully support Mr Gono in his reconstruction efforts. He should also invite us to participate not to take us as enemies. We want to go back home soon but after we have seen the restoration of the economy and human dignity.

I wish to commend you and the Governor for the efforts you have undertaken in redressing the economic woes of our economy through the Homelink initiative.

We played a major role in the distribution of your pamphlets to the Zimbabwean community in conjunction with HMD Appointments.

However, according to our distribution reports the brochures were not distributed as widely as possible to reach out to the entire Zimbabwean market in the UK and Ireland due to the time factor and financial restrictions.

With this in mind we are offering a brochure distribution service which can assist in further enhancing the Homelink awareness campaign in the UK so as to achieve maximum benefits.

We have received several enquiries for brochures listing the transfer service providers in the UK. Our recommendation is to design an additional brochure with the Homelink brief and contact details of registered agents.

We can then target the brochure to reach the UK Zimbabwean population using our database. We also offer an in-house brochure printing service. Please browse through our web site for our full company profile and the services we offer.

I hope we can work together to create maximum awareness of the Homelink exercise.

I am based in Swaziland. I want to know how I can use Homelink.

Can we have the details, like account name, bank, town/city and account number for us to deposit the money so that our relatives can benefit as was explained by Dr G. Gono here in UK, Birmingham.

I attended the lecturer/presentation. We are very happy that the system we were waiting for has finally come, in order to promote our country economically. Quote the rate in both US dollars and pounds to our ZW$.

I picked up a flyer in London regarding money transfer to Zimbabwe. Please can you explain the modalities. Who are your appointed agencies in the UK who can safely and effectively deliver money to our loved ones in Zimbabwe.

Your urgent response will be greatly appreciated.

I am currently in USA. I am interested in buying a house or getting a mortgage for a house in Gweru. Could you please let me know if you have expanded your operations to Gweru or know of any companies doing that.

I would like details regarding the Homelink cash transfer facility.

When carrying out a transaction, say with Western Union, does one have to mention that they want to use the Homelink function. Does this affect the commission I have to pay and, if yes, in what way ? Thank you.

Please send me information on the UK agents for Homelink, i.e. address, contact telephone/fax numbers etc.

How can someone in Pretoria, South Africa, send money to Zimbabwe using Homelink?

Where are your agents in the UK? Could l send through my bank in the UK? Thank you.

I need to know what to do when sending money from the UK to Zimbabwe.

Where do we deposit money for the Homelink transfer in the UK? I live in Coventry in the West Midlands. Please advise as to which agencies receive the money here?

I would like to send money to Zimbabwe from England. I would like the money deposited in the account of the recipient, who banks with Kingdom Bank, or collected from your offices in Harare. Please furnish me with the details of how I should go about it and how long it takes for the money to get there.

As a Zimbabwean currently living in the Diaspora my wish is to return home one day, hence my wish to send money home for development and/or investment purposes.

I recently bought a residential stand in Harare which I now would like to develop but my biggest problem is how to go about this project given the high costs of building materials.

Family members back home are usually not trustworthy these days. To raise money out here (UK) in one chunk is almost impossible. Given the above scenario, has your organisation explored ways of assisting Zimbabweans living abroad in securing roofs above their heads back home? Mortgage facilities? Share investments and/or pensions? Please oblige. Best regards.

Which are the nearest agents for someone in Walsall, West Midlands, UK.

Please advise on details of how I can contact authorised agents in the UK to make use of the money transfer facility?

I have heard about Homelink. It’s a good idea. The problem is in Namibia there is no money transfer agent linked to the Zimbabwean ones and we are many Zimbabweans here. Is there any which I am not aware of? May you please assist, as we intend to send our money through this safe route.

Please clarify whether commission is paid by a sender of forex living in he Diaspora to the foreign representative of the MTA. This is a question most people are unclear about?

How do I send money from Botswana? Whom do I contact?

I am living in the UK. What should I do if I want to send money home? Can you send me some details please?