Story by Peter Chivhima
Government is collaborating closely with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to address migration challenges and facilitate the successful reintegration of returnees.
This came the to fore when the Chief of Mission of United Agency on Migration, Ms Diana Cartier paid a courtesy call on Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Cde Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri in Harare this Friday.
With the nation grappling with a myriad of migration challenges including brain drain, refugee influx, irregular migration and human trafficking, it has raised the need for collaborations with other organisations to address these complexities.
Briefing journalists after meeting the Chief of Mission of United Agency on Migration, Ms Diana Cartier, the Minister of Defence, Honourable Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri who is the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, revealed the country’s expectations from the International Organisation for migration.
“For us, she is coming in at a time when the Second Republic is championing the issue of migration. And we are happy that already her predecessor was working with Home Affairs. Because of Home Affairs, there are a lot of migration issues. She is also working with the Ministry of Health. She is also working with the Ministry of Health, as I have indicated. Obviously, she will touch Women Affairs, she will touch local government because of climate change issues, since they had the issue of civil protection of migration. Migration affects quite a number of people, nationally, regionally and internationally. We have a policy already, which was launched by the President, and it is already in operation, migration policy. We addressed the areas of statistical or data collection, the issues of mapping, in terms of data collection of Zimbabweans that are in the diaspora,” said Hon Kashiri.
United Agency on Migration Chief of Mission, Ms Diana Cartier, reaffirmed her organisation’s unwavering commitment towards supporting Zimbabwe in addressing the complex migration challenges.
“We are going to work closely with Zimbabwe so that we can together address the challenges it is facing on migration. We understand that the issue of climate change is contributing to what the nation is facing I terms of migration so we will work together,” she said.
Government is capacitating critical arms including the Department of Immigration, which recently received 36 new vehicles to boost operations.
