Zimbabweans in the United Kingdom

The International Organization for Migration has characterised Zimbabwean migration to the UK as divided into three waves. The initial wave of significant Zimbabwean migration consisted of White Zimbabweans who migrated after the country's transition to Black majority rule in 1980, due to uncertainty about their future after losing their privileges. The second major wave lasted from 1990–97, caused by the economic hardship that resulted from Zimbabwe's application of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund's Structural Adjustment Programme. The third wave began in 1998 and has resulted from political and social unrest in Zimbabwe, owing to Mugabeist policies focused on land reform, race relations and persecution of political opponents. Prior to November 2002, Zimbabweans were free to travel to the UK without a visa and this provided a route to political asylum. In November 2002, the UK Government introduced the requirement for Zimbabweans to apply for visas in order to travel to the UK, making it more difficult for them to apply for asylum.[1] The number of Zimbabweans applying for asylum has fallen, and increasing numbers have sought refuge in neighbouring South Africa instead.[3]

In contrast, wealthier Zimbabweans tend to have an easier route to the UK, with many having family or ancestral ties to the country, while others are able to arrive as skilled professionals, investors or students, making the community wealthier than arrivals from other countries in Africa and more comparable to South African or Australian Britons.[4]

Beginning as early as 1965, after the Rhodesian Unilateral Declaration of Independence, Zimbabweans began move to Britain permanently, settling in places that offered greater access to employment, establishing significant communities in Greater London; Berkshire; Buckinghamshire; Hertfordshire, as well as the cities of Reading; Luton; Slough and Milton Keynes.[5] There are also smaller communities of Zimbabwean Britons in Leeds, Greater Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Oxford, Cambridge and Bristol. Overall Zimbabweans Britons tend to be more present in Southern England and metropolitan regions than the British population as a whole.[5]

While white Zimbabweans were the first to migrate to the UK in large numbers, the majority of Zimbabweans in the UK today are of Shona descent, with significant minorities of Ndebele, European, Asian and mixed-race descent. Additionally, a disproportionate number of Jewish Zimbabweans are represented in the UK compared to similar communities in Australia and South Africa.[6]

Zimbabwean immigrants and their children tend to adapt quickly to British society due to the long ties between the two countries, near identical education systems[11] and high levels of education and English fluency compared to most immigrants to the UK.[12] Studies have pointed to the higher rate of English use among Zimbabweans, their willingness to marry non-Zimbabweans, and their eagerness to become naturalised citizens as factors that contribute to their rapid assimilation, as well as their interactions with the greater British-born community.[4] In addition, Zimbabwe has also been a melting pot of many cultures and languages, making assimilating to a more multicultural Britain easier. A minority of Zimbabweans on the other hand, particularly those who arrived as asylum seekers or with less resources, tended to struggle upon arriving in the UK and would find themselves overrepresented in high demand but less prestigious sectors such as nursing and childcare.[12]

Many Britons tend to confuse Zimbabweans and South Africans, based on their accents and history, despite the rejection that they feel toward the behaviour of many South Africans, regarded by Zimbabweans as less tolerant and cosmopolitan, they have often been lumped together with them and face the same challenges and discrimination that South African immigrants have faced in United Kingdom.[5] Despite this, both communities have adapted well to British society with over 15% of settled Zimbabweans ranked as high earners, more than twice the national average of nearly 7%.[13][5] As with South African Britons, Zimbabwean Britons tend to live individually rather than in large groups and are thus spread across much of the UK, albeit with a larger concentration in Greater London and South East England.

• Don Armand – England and Exeter Chiefs rugby player
• Percelle Ascott – actor
• Garry Ballance - English cricketer & captain of Yorkshire CCC
• Heston Blumenthal – Michelin star chef and television host[14]
• Maggie Chapman – Co-convener, Scottish Green Party; Rector, University of Aberdeen
• Adam Chicksen - Zimbabwe and Notts County football player.[15]
• Brian Chikwava – writer and musician
• Derek Chisora – World Heavyweight boxing champion
• Kenny Chitsvatsva – drummer for Bhundu Boys
• Nick Compton – former England cricketer.[16]
• John Collins – former Chief Executive of Shell
• Tom Curran - English cricketer
• Sam Curran - English cricketer
• Daniel Dumile – rapper and producer
• Duncan Fletcher – former coach of the English cricket team
• Norman Geras – academic and authority on Marxism
• Bruce Grobbelaar – former footballer and Liverpool FC Goalkeeper
• Graeme Hick – English cricketer
• Kubi Indi – development activist, businesswoman and actress
• Tendayi Jembere – actor
• Rise Kagona - musician
• Miles Maclagan – professional tennis player and coach
• Chris Martin - lead singer of Coldplay, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and philanthropist.[17]
• Alexander McCall Smith – author and expert on medical law and bioethics
• Masimba Musodza – novelist
• Benjani Mwaruwari – footballer for Portsmouth FC, Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland
• Ian Napa – bantamweight boxing champion
• Reiss Nelson – Arsenal footballer.[18]
• Thandiwe Newton – actress[19]
• Lewin Nyatanga – footballer of Zimbabwean and Welsh descent
• Regé-Jean Page – actor
• Nico Parker - actress [19]
• Callum Paterson – Scotland and Sheffield Wednesday football player.[20]
• Rozalla – house musician and singer
• Shingai Shoniwa – singer/musician
• Ryan Watson - Scottish cricketer
• Andy Rinomhota
• Macauley Bonne
• Munya Chawawa - actor and comedian

• United Kingdom-Zimbabwe relations
• Foreign-born population of the United Kingdom
• Zimbabwean diaspora
• Zimbabwean Australian
• Zimbabwean Americans
• South African British
• Zimbabwean Canadians
• Zimbabwean New Zealanders