PEOPLE who left Zimbabwe could not be forced to return, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said on Thursday.

He was speaking at a conference in Johannesburg on the future of Zimbabwe, hosted by the British publication The Economist.

"We can create an enabling environment for people so that they can see the opportunities ... that's all we can do," Tsvangirai said.

Those who formed the vast Zimbabwean diaspora could stay where they were if they wished, but should contribute to the well-being of the country.

"Maybe they can make a contribution to the economy by buying a type of bond," Tsvangirai said.

The skills gap in Zimbabwe could only be filled by training taking place inside the country and not by the diaspora.

"Professionals take a long time to make decisions to move and the participation of people in national development only really appeals to a few people."

However, the reality was that Zimbabweans were returning to their country "anyway", Tsvangirai said.

"You can see the number of Zimbabweans living in Botswana has declined and the same applies to SA."

The government was at an "advanced stage" when it came to the formulation of a diaspora policy, and dual citizenship - presently banned in Zimbabwe - was being studied.

Tsvangirai said some of the media were creating a negative impression of the country.

"You in the media have a responsibility to create an enabling environment ... but you give the impression that the country is collapsing when you have no foundation to say so."

Zimbabwean-born Mail&Guardian executive deputy chairman Trevor Ncube told the conference while "sunshine journalism" was not required, a reliable media was needed "to tell it like it is".

According to Ncube it had to be ascertained exactly why people had left Zimbabwe.

"And then you have to ask, have these issues been addressed?"

Ncube said some Zimbabweans had been living out of the country for over 10 years.

"They have set up home, they have had children and they feel secure."

He said before they returned, they would be concerned that the change in Zimbabwe was not sustainable.

"It's a very personal decision and going back would be based on emotion not reason."

The issue of citizenship would also complicate matters.

"A Zimbabwean might now have a daughter who is American."

Ncube said there had to be a drive by the Zimbabwean government to reach out to those in the diaspora.

Turning to the number of Zimbabweans in SA, he estimated that there were "more like two million" Zimbabweans in the country, Ncube said. - Sapa