Sinokubonga Nkala
Mukudzei Chingwere, Harare Bureau
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa’s role as Chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has received global commendation for bringing peace and stability in the region.
Visiting Director General of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Ms Amy Pope, who paid a courtesy call on the President at State House in Harare yesterday, said the IOM acknowledges the role of President Mnangagwa as chair of SADC and the important part he plays in fostering peace in the region.
The IOM is part of the United Nations system, and is the leading intergovernmental organisation in the field of migration, committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society’s development. Ms Pope is the first ever Director General of the IOM to visit Zimbabwe since the organisation’s inception in 1951, and they discussed issues around migration in her meeting with the President.
She said climate change and conflicts are among the major drivers of migration.
“I am the first Director General of the International Organisation for Migration to visit Zimbabwe in our 73-year history and I am here because of the importance of the country and the government in responding to the issue of migration, whether it’s here in the region or in the country itself,” said Ms Pope.
“There are a number of issues that we discussed, first and foremost is to acknowledge the role of the President as the chair of SADC and the importance of that in bringing peace and stability to the people that live here.”
Key topics discussed include the necessity for regular migration pathways that enable individuals to seek opportunities abroad while contributing to their home communities through remittances and skills transfer.
“We also spoke about opportunities for people to migrate through regular pathways so that we can take advantage of the opportunities that exist regionally and globally for people to go and live, work, make money, send remittances back home and bring the skills acquired back home,” Ms Pope said.
Among other issues discussed was the importance of engaging the diaspora as has been President Mnangagwa’s custom whenever he visits foreign countries, leveraging not only on their financial resources but their skills and networks which will help benefit the people of Zimbabwe as well.
“We spoke about the leadership of the Government here in responding to the many crises and conflicts that exist around the world including the plight of the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo,” said Ms Pope.
The IOM Director General’s visit is expected to see an increase in support for Zimbabwe’s several initiatives towards migration which could see the country benefitting significantly from enhanced partnerships.
The IOM is expected to facilitate access to funding for various development projects in Zimbabwe, which could lead to improvements in healthcare, education and infrastructure, benefitting local communities.
Zimbabwe’s collaboration with the IOM will strengthen its role in regional migration issues, fostering co-operation with neighbouring countries to address shared challenges.
The meeting between President Mnangagwa and the IOM Director General is set to open new avenues for collaboration, positioning Zimbabwe as a proactive player in the global migration landscape.
mbulelo smpofu
