Zimbabwe’s Home Affairs Minister, Kazembe Kazembe, recently addressed a workshop on International Migration Day, emphasizing the importance of protecting the dignity and human rights of migrants. Kazembe stated that while detention may sometimes be necessary for specific cases, it should be used as a last resort, especially for migrants who commit administrative offenses.
Kazembe highlighted the growing complexity of migration, with many migrants being stranded, undocumented, or vulnerable, such as women and children. He stressed the need for a case management approach to address these issues. The Home Affairs Ministry has been working with the Attorney General’s office to align legal frameworks with Zimbabwe’s Constitution, ensuring that both Zimbabweans and migrants are protected.
Kazembe also mentioned key initiatives like the Gender-Based Violence Call Centre (GBCC) at Immigration Headquarters, which offers support to migrants in vulnerable situations. The Zimbabwe Immigration Act ensures that detained migrants have the right to contest their detention, and the judicial system oversees all migrant detentions, with no reports of arbitrary detentions.
Furthermore, Zimbabwe remains committed to the Global Compact on Migration (GCM), incorporating its principles into the National Migration Policy. The government is also enhancing its border management capabilities through the Online Border Management System, which helps monitor irregular migration.
Kazembe concluded that while progress has been made, there is still more to be done to advance migrant rights in Zimbabwe. The workshop, attended by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Director General, Amy Pope, provided a platform for sharing best practices from other countries to improve Zimbabwe’s migration policies.