Yvonne Mutambwa
Zimbabwe which faces multi-faceted migration challenges that include skills flight; trafficking in persons; migrant smuggling; mixed migration flows; and irregular labour migration has approved a National Migration Policy that will provide a basis for effectively harnessing migration for the development of the country.
The policy seeks to include Diasporans in the process of national development by developing a national migrant remittances framework and strengthening the capacity of Zimbabwe’s Diplomatic Missions to promote tourism.
In a post-cabinet briefing on Tuesday, Acting Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere said the National Migration Policy comprises twenty thematic areas which are in line with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS 1).
“The policy aims to achieve the following: strengthen legal and institutional frameworks to derive maximum benefit from migration as well as aiding the socio-economic support systems of migrants and society; develop a Labour Migration Information System that will gather reliable and accurate data on labour migrants abroad by gender, profession, duration of stay, wages and salaries and working conditions.
“It will include Diasporans in the process of national development by developing a national migrant remittances framework, and strengthening the capacity of Zimbabwe Diplomatic Missions to promote tourism,” he said.
He said the policy is informed by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Global Compact for Migration (GCM), the Migration Governance Framework, the African Union Migration Framework and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Policy Frameworks which are aimed at promoting safe, orderly and humane migration.
“Cabinet noted that discrimination, xenophobia and racism are increasingly becoming issues of great concern to both sending, transit and receiving countries.
“Zimbabwe has already promulgated the Prevention of Discrimination Act which prohibits and criminalises discrimination.
“Therefore combating discrimination, xenophobia and racism is an essential element of a comprehensive National Migration Policy,” he said.
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