Zimbabweans in the United Kingdom
Zimbabweans in the United Kingdom are people who have migrated from Zimbabwe to the UK and their descendants. The Zimbabwean community in the UK is diverse, consisting of individuals of differing racial, ethnic, class, and political groups.[1] There are asylum seekers, refugees, labour migrants, students, undocumented migrants, and others who have gained British citizenship.[1]
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| UK residents born in Zimbabwe 128,000 (2019 ONS estimate) Population of Zimbabwean origin 200,000–500,000 (2006 community leader estimates) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| London · Luton · Leeds · Slough · Milton Keynes · Manchester · Birmingham | |
| Languages | |
| English · Shona · Ndebele | |
| Religion | |
| Protestantism · Catholicism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Black British · White people in Zimbabwe |
History and settlement
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. 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. 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 South Africa instead.[2]
Demographics
Population
The majority of Zimbabweans in the UK are first-generation immigrants.[1] According to Census figures, in 1971 some 7,905 people born in what is now Zimbabwe were living in the UK. This figure rose to 16,330 in 1981 and to 21,252 in 1991.[1] The 2001 UK Census recorded 49,524 people residing in the UK who had been born in Zimbabwe.[3] The Office for National Statistics estimates that in 2019 there were 128,000 people resident in the UK who had been born in Zimbabwe.[4]
Unofficial estimates of the total Zimbabwean British population, including those born in the UK of Zimbabwean origin, vary significantly.[1] Numerous newspapers have speculated that the population might be as large as one million, including an estimate of 600,000 by The Observer in 2003,[1] but community organisations and leaders put the population in the range of 200,000 to 500,000.[1]
Spread and distribution
The Zimbabwean population is widely dispersed across the UK.[1] The largest communities can be found in the UK's larger cities and towns. The table below shows the geographic spread of Zimbabwean people in the UK in 2006, based on estimates by community leaders.[1]
| Estimated Zimbabwean population |
Location(s) |
|---|---|
| 40,000 | London |
| 20,000 each | Leeds, Luton |
| 10,000 each | Birmingham, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Sheffield, Slough |
| 5,000 each | Coventry, Glasgow, Leicester, Wolverhampton |
| 3,000 each | Edinburgh, Liverpool |
| 2,000 | Bristol |
| 1,000 each | Cardiff, Oxford |
Culture and community
Business
Community groups
Media
Music
Sport
Notable people
- Maggie Chapman – Co-convener, Scottish Green Party; Rector, University of Aberdeen
- Brian Chikwava – writer and musician
- John Collins – former Chief Executive of Shell
- Daniel Dumile – rapper
- Duncan Fletcher – former coach of the English cricket team
- Norman Geras – academic and authority on Marxism
- Bruce Grobbelaar – former footballer and Liverpool FC Goalkeeper
- Kubi Indi – development activist, businesswoman and actress
- Jamelia – singer
- Rise Kagona – guitarist for Bhundu Boys
- Kenny Chitsvatsva – drummer for Bhundu Boys
- Miles Maclagan – professional tennis player and coach
- Kuda Matimba – keyboardist/singer
- Alexander McCall Smith – author and expert on medical law and bioethics
- Benjani Mwaruwari – footballer for Portsmouth FC, Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland
- Thandie Newton – actress
- Lewin Nyatanga – footballer of Zimbabwean and Welsh descent
- Rozalla – house musician and singer
- Shingai Shoniwa – singer/musician
- Ian Napa – bantamweight boxing champion
- Tendayi Jembere – actor
- Graeme Hick – cricketer
- Dereck Chisora – World Heavyweight boxing champion
- Masimba Musodza – novelist
- Percelle Ascott – actor
- Chiedza Dawn Ziyambe – entrepreneur
- Kazz aka Mr Boomslang – artist
See also
- Foreign-born population of the United Kingdom
- Zimbabwean diaspora
- Zimbabwean Australian
- White Rhodesians
References
- "Zimbabwe: Mapping Exercise" (PDF). London: International Organization for Migration. December 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2010.
- Cooley, Laurence; Rutter, Jill (2007). "Turned away? Towards better protection for refugees fleeing violent conflict". Public Policy Research. 14 (3): 176–180. doi:10.1111/j.1744-540X.2007.00485.x.
- "Country-of-birth database". Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Archived from the original on 11 May 2005. Retrieved 4 October 2008.
- "Table 1.3: Overseas-born population in the United Kingdom, excluding some residents in communal establishments, by sex, by country of birth, January 2019 to December 2019". Office for National Statistics. 21 May 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020. Figure given is the central estimate. See the source for 95% confidence intervals.
