Indians in Zimbabwe
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 9,500 (2016, est.) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Harare | |
| Languages | |
| English, Gujarati, Hindi | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism, Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Indian diaspora |
There are currently over hundred thousand Indians in Zimbabwe, mostly businessmen. Indians started arriving at the end of the 19th century when the territory was still known as Southern Rhodesia. The Indian presence in Zimbabwe dates back to 1890, when Indian plantation workers in apartheid South Africa crossed the border into Southern Rhodesia.
Their further immigration were restricted in 1924 when the colony became a self-administered territory of United Kingdom. The restrictions remained in force until the independence of Zimbabwe in 1980. Similar to Black Zimbabweans, Indian Zimbabweans also faced discrimination during colonial rule. Although, most stayed out of active politics, some Indian Zimbabweans discretely channeled funds to anti-colonial movements. Many Indian Zimbabweans emigrated to South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, as well as Australia and the United Kingdom, following the economic downturn in Zimbabwe that began in 1999.
As of October 2016, an estimated 9,000 Zimbabwean citizens are of Indian origin, mostly Gujarati. Indian Zimbabwean Senator K.G. Patel served as member of the Politburo and Central Committee of the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front. Patel died in 2011, and was declared a national hero in 2012. Indian Zimbabweans Bharat Patel and Ahmed Ebrahim have served as justices of the Supreme Court.
Around 500 Indian citizens were resident in Zimbabwe as of October 2016. Most of them are professionals working in computer software, accounting and banking.
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Wikipedia