IN Zimbabwe, as across much of Africa, young people face a tough reality — an unemployment rate that persists at over 90% for those between the ages of 16 and 24. While the global digital economy surges, local opportunities often remain limited, leaving youth searching for avenues that can offer growth, income, and recognition.
However, there is a silver lining: many young Zimbabweans are turning to online work for international organisations, contributing to the fast-growing digital workforce that spans continents.
This emerging trend of remote work is not only reshaping the job market in Zimbabwe but also offering a viable escape from the continent’s unemployment crisis.
Connectivity, digital opportunity
Africa is undergoing digital transformation. Across the continent, internet access has grown rapidly in recent years, and today, more than 600 million Africans are online, largely through mobile connections.
This rising connectivity is opening new opportunities for the continent’s youth, offering a gateway into the global workforce. Remote work for foreign companies, a sector that exploded during the Covid -19 pandemic, has become a long-term solution for many.
Young Zimbabweans are no exception. With a reliable internet connection and the right skill set, it is now possible for anyone in Harare, Bulawayo, or even rural Zimbabwe to work for companies halfway across the world.
Platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, and Toptal, as well as local talent accelerators like Andela and TalentQL, are providing avenues for talented Zimbabweans to offer services globally.
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Success amidst challenges
One such example is Tawanda Mutasa, a software developer from Harare who works remotely for a Canadian tech company. Tawanda began his freelance career by building websites for small local businesses. However, after gaining experience and up-skilling through online courses, he started applying for international gigs. Today, Tawanda works on high-profile projects, handling everything from back end development to cloud solutions.
While his journey wasn’t without challenges, Tawanda’s success story is emblematic of the changing landscape of work in Zimbabwe.
His ability to work remotely for a foreign company has not only helped him secure a steady income in a challenging economic environment but has also allowed him to expand his skills in ways that traditional employment might not have. “Tawanda’s story is not unique,” says Chipo Nyemba, a tech policy expert.
“What we are seeing is a huge shift in the way Zimbabweans approach work. The internet is providing access to jobs that were once out of reach.”
The rise of remote work
African free-lancers now account for more than 10% of the global freelance workforce. The Payoneer 2023 Freelancer Insights Report highlights that more than 46% of freelancers have seen increased demand for their services, and rates have gone up for nearly 38% of them. While African freelancers tend to earn less than their Western counterparts, the lower cost of living makes these earnings significantly more valuable. This creates a scenario where talent-rich countries can compete on a global scale, offering quality services at competitive prices.
But it is not just about individual success stories. Africa’s digital economy is projected to contribute nearly US$180 billion to the continent’s GDP this year.
While Zimbabwe currently faces significant barriers such as unstable internet connections, these challenges are not insurmountable. With the right policy interventions and infrastructure improvements, remote work could become a significant driver of economic recovery and growth for Zimbabwe.
Challenges on the path to success
However, the road to becoming part of the global digital workforce is not without its hurdles. One major challenge remains the accessibility of reliable and affordable internet. While urban centres have relatively good internet coverage, connectivity in smaller towns and villages is often patchy or prohibitively expensive. This disparity creates an uneven playing field, where only those in urban areas can fully benefit from opportunities that online work provides.
Another obstacle is the financial barrier: many Zimbabweans face challenges with cross-border payments. International platforms like PayPal are not as accessible in Zimbabwe due to restrictions, which make it harder for digital workers to receive payments. Fortunately, services such as Payoneer and Stripe offer alternatives, though high fees and complex processes can still discourage some from pursuing remote work.
Skills mismatch is another concern. While many young Zimbabweans possess basic digital literacy, global clients often demand more advanced skills, such as software development, graphic design, and data analysis. Programmes that include CodeCamp Africa, which provides free coding courses to Zimbabwean youth, are helping bridge this skills gap, but there is still much work to be done.
Finally, digital workers in Zimbabwe face a lack of legal protections. Unlike their counterparts in traditional employment, freelancers often lack access to health insurance, retirement benefits, and job security. The lack of a clear legal framework for freelancers leaves many vulnerable to exploitation.
Recommendations
Despite these challenges, the potential of remote work for Zimbabwe’s youth is undeniable. To fully harness this potential, several actions must be taken.
The government must prioritise expanding internet infrastructure across the country, ensuring that all Zimbabweans have access to reliable and affordable connectivity. This could involve partnering with private tech companies or international donors to build the necessary infrastructure in underserved areas.
Zimbabwe must modernise its financial systems to facilitate seamless cross-border payments. The creation of a more flexible financial ecosystem, including mobile payment systems and digital wallets, would enable digital workers to receive international payments without the high fees and delays that currently plague the system.
Finally, Zimbabwe’s education and training systems need to adapt to the changing nature of work.
More investment should be made in digital literacy and technical skills, particularly in areas such as web development, data science, and artificial intelligence.
