GOVERNMENT and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), have joined hands in addressing the multifaceted challenges of migration within the southern Africa region and globally.
Speaking during a meeting on the sidelines of the Sadc Heads of State and Government Summit, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare minister July Moyo said there was need for regional co-operation, citing the cross-border nature of migration.
“We receive a number of migrants who come to Zimbabwe and we send out migrants to other countries, both regionally and internationally. We have legal instruments that can protect our people who are migrants and the people who are also migrants coming to Zimbabwe,” Moyo said.
“We have set up centres so that we can educate our people about the dangers and theadvantages of migration and these centres are now operating in Bulawayo. With their co-operation, we are collaborating at the border posts in Beitbridge and in Plumtree. We want to deepen that collaboration.
“Over and above that collaboration, we need to do (something) about policies, migration policies, the legal instruments . . .”
He added that the government was committed to combating human trafficking, which it considers an abhorrent practice.
“We don’t like human trafficking and migration that involves human trafficking is abominable. We want to work with them [centres] to make sure that we reduce this and where there is such human trafficking, we want to bring back our people, as we have done from the Middle East,” Moyo said.
IOM chief of staff Mohammed Abdiker said it was important to work with member States to develop and implement effective legal frameworks for migration.
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“We are focusing on creating legal pathways for migration. This means facilitating the movement of individuals from one country to another legally whether they are doctors, nurses or professionals in other fields,” Abdiker said.
“By promoting legal migration we aim to reduce irregular migration and combat the smuggling and trafficking of individuals within the continent and globally.
“IOM is committed to promoting safe, orderly and humane migration and is expected to play a significant role in assisting Zimbabwe in addressing these challenges.”
