By Rodney Ruwende
The International Organisation on Migration (IOM) has reaffirmed its continued support to the Government on migration management in Zimbabwe.
In his remarks at the quarterly Inter-Ministerial Committee Meeting on Migration (IMCM) held in Harare recently, Mr. Mario Lito Malanca the IOM Zimbabwe Chief of Mission expressed his organisation’s commitment to strengthening the operational capacities of the National Migration Coordination Directorate (NMCD).
The IOM through the Promoting Migration Governance in Zimbabwe (PMGZ) project contributes to the strengthening of migration governance in Zimbabwe.
“The project supported the IMCM to hold its quarterly coordination meeting, which provides an opportunity for various Government stakeholders to deliberate and provide updates on matters related to migration management in Zimbabwe” said Mr Malanca.
The Chairperson of IMCM and Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Mr Melusi Matshiya applauded the meeting for addressing the various migration challenges in the country in a coherent and coordinated manner.
“This meeting will go a long way in assisting us as Government and cooperating partners to review the progress attained to date on migration management.” He said.
Mr Matshiya expressed gratitude to the IOM for supporting and strengthening migration related institutions in the country adding that government is committed to migration management.
At the meeting various updates were made by key government Ministries on the progress in the development of the Zimbabwe Migration Policy (ZMP). The Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage reported that the draft policy had been validated by the Government and key stakeholders.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) working under the auspices of the Prosecution Pillar of the Anti-Trafficking Ministerial Committee (ATMIC) reported on progress in combating trafficking in the country. The meeting heard that four Trafficking in Persons (TiP) cases are currently being investigated by the department while ten are pending trial.
Meanwhile the IOM has handed over furniture to the National Migration Coordination Directorate of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage to strengthen its operational capacity.