Diaspora Investment in Bulawayo Property Market Surges 40%

Zimbabweans living abroad are increasingly turning to property investment back home as a way to maintain financial ties and build long-term wealth. Bulawayo in particular has seen a 40 percent increase in diaspora-funded property purchases over the past two years.

Real estate agents report that diaspora buyers typically seek three-to-four bedroom homes in established suburbs such as Hillside, Suburbs, and Kumalo — often as rental investments managed by local agencies.

The Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency has recently streamlined the process for non-residents to purchase property, removing several bureaucratic hurdles that previously discouraged overseas buyers.

Bulawayo property remains undervalued compared to Harare. For diaspora investors, this represents excellent value in a city with strong fundamentals.

Sibongile Ncube, Prime Properties

With rental yields averaging 8–12% per annum and a stable if modest appreciation curve, analysts see Bulawayo as one of the most undervalued property markets on the continent for patient investors.