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Thupeyo Muleya,
Beitbridge Bureau
More resources to complement the Government’s efforts in promoting safe migration and addressing related challenges among Zimbabweans have come from the European Union.
The bloc is channelling the funds through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) to support 33 000 beneficiaries through the mobility monitoring and border coordination project.
Under the initiative, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Zimbabwe works in partnership with the Ministries of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage and of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare.
It also works with other relevant line ministries to ensure Government meets the needs of migrants.
The project which was launched this week will run for the next 12 months.
IOM Zimbabwe chief of mission, Mr Mario Lito Malanca said the project’s continued partnership and commitment will ensure that migration was managed in an effective way. He emphasised the importance of coordination between national and local authorities as well as with humanitarian development partners in this project.
“It is important to continue to support the member states in mapping and studying how migration affects development and vice versa at the community level to mainstream migration into community development through supporting the development of local migration profiles,” said MrMalanca said.
He said the project will help to strengthen protection services and post-arrival assistance to migrants and flow monitoring at points of entry, border communities, and congregation points through data collection and analysis on migration trends for a more comprehensive understanding of mobility dynamics.
The initiative, he added builds upon the work that IOM has been doing for several years to collect data on flows of people across Southern Africa. Through its displacement tracking matrix, IOM has been actively working with national and local authorities to gain a better understanding of population movements in the country and in the region.
“Quantifying migration and mobility patterns is essential for the development of adequate migration policies, disaster preparedness and humanitarian programming.
Activities will also take place at inland mobility corridors including Masvingo, Bulawayo, Chimanimani, Mutasa, Chipinge, Kariba and Karoi where IOM has a presence. In addition, IOM will conduct data collection activities to identify and prioritise areas with limited capacities for emergency preparedness and response and produce regular updates, national flow monitoring monthly datasets, maps, and dashboards to be disseminated to government, and the humanitarian and development community.
Online Reporter