Online Reporter
Lindokuhle Mdlongwa
MIGRATION has long been part of Zimbabwe’s social fabric. It features in family conversations, in the stories of those abroad, and in the memories of those who have returned home after difficult journeys. For many Zimbabweans, migration is not an abstract geopolitical concept but a lived reality woven into household economies, personal aspirations, and community identities. The adoption of Zimbabwe’s National Migration Policy (NMP) in August 2023 marked an important milestone in formally recognising this reality. The policy represents a shift from viewing migration primarily through the lens of crisis to understanding it within a broader development framework.
This review examines the NMP through a community-centred and psychosocial lens, assessing its strengths, the opportunities it creates, and areas where implementation — once fully operationalised — could enhance its reach.
Rather than evaluating the policy against political expectations, this review considers how effectively the NMP aligns with its own stated goals, regional frameworks, and the lived experiences of migrants. It uses imagined case scenarios to illustrate possible real-world implications of the policy while maintaining neutrality and respect for state processes.
The NMP is aligned with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which recognises diaspora engagement, skills circulation, and inclusive growth as essential for national transformation. This alignment positions migration not as an external pressure to be managed, but as a source of resilience and development potential. It also links the policy to continental and international frameworks such as the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and the African union Migration Policy Framework. In this regard, the NMP reflects Zimbabwe’s intention to manage mobility in a co-ordinated, human-centred, and development-driven manner.
One of the notable strengths of the policy is its comprehensive scope. It addresses labour migration, irregular migration, climate-induced mobility, trafficking in persons, migrant rights, documentation, reintegration, and diaspora engagement. This breadth is important because migration in Zimbabwe is multidimensional. For example, labour migration remains a significant livelihood strategy, with many households depending on remittances from family members working abroad. The policy acknowledges this contribution and frames the diaspora not as a loss but as an important partner in national development. This recognition creates opportunities for structured engagement, skills transfer, and investment pathways.
To illustrate how the policy could function in everyday scenarios, imagine a young woman returning to Zimbabwe after a failed economically motivated migration. She arrives at a border post fatigued, emotionally strained, and uncertain of what awaits her. Under the NMP framework, she is recognised not only as a returnee but as an individual requiring access to psychosocial support, reintegration services, and information on available assistance.
The policy’s language signals the importance of dignity and safety in such processes. While implementation will take time and collaboration across institutions, the policy sets the tone for improved support systems for returnees in similar circumstances.
Another imagined scenario involves a young man considering irregular migration due to financial pressures at home. He weighs the risks — exploitation, unsafe routes, and legal vulnerabilities — against the perceived impossibility of obtaining affordable documentation. His dilemma illustrates the significance of the NMP’s focus on safe and orderly migration pathways, awareness raising, and the need for accessible information. While the policy does not prescribe specific economic measures, its emphasis on addressing drivers of irregular migration acknowledges the complexities that shape individual decisions. The scenario highlights the importance of information dissemination, community dialogue, and awareness of safer alternatives.
A community psychology perspective offers useful insights into how the NMP’s implementation might strengthen empowerment, prevention, and belonging. Empowerment, in this context, refers to migrants being active participants in shaping the policies and programmes that affect them. The NMP explicitly recognises the role of migrant voices in policy dialogue, hinting at future opportunities for participatory mechanisms such as consultative forums or stakeholder advisory groups. Engaging migrants meaningfully can bridge gaps between policy intentions and lived experiences.
Prevention involves addressing factors that increase vulnerability: lack of information, limited livelihood opportunities, misinformation, stigma, or environmental pressures. The NMP’s acknowledgement of climate change as a driver of migration is particularly forward-looking. Zimbabwe, like many Southern African countries, faces climate-induced challenges such as droughts and cyclones that affect livelihoods. The policy identifies the need for climate-responsive strategies, demonstrating awareness of emerging mobility patterns. Linking migration governance to environmental resilience ensures that prevention is understood holistically.
Belonging speaks to the role of communities in receiving migrants, supporting reintegration, and fostering social cohesion. Language is a powerful part of this. Across the region, terms such as “border jumper” or “deportee” have sometimes been used informally to describe returnees. While not explicitly addressed in the policy, the NMP’s emphasis on dignity and social cohesion suggests the importance of sensitisation efforts. Stigma can hinder reintegration by creating environments of shame or exclusion. A supportive community environment, by contrast, helps returnees rebuild their lives, connect with services, and contribute meaningfully to society.
Diaspora engagement is another important area explored in the NMP. Zimbabwe’s diaspora contributes significantly through remittances, skills, innovation, and transnational networks. Consider an imagined nurse living abroad who dreams of establishing a clinic in her home community, or an engineer hoping to share technical expertise with local youth. These scenarios illustrate the potential of structured engagement channels. The NMP’s vision of strengthening diaspora relations offers opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and investment initiatives that benefit both the diaspora and local communities. By framing the diaspora as development partners, the policy creates space for long-term national strengthening.
However, a policy’s effectiveness depends on its visibility and accessibility. Many migrants make decisions based on information shared through informal networks, social media groups, family connections, or community discussions.
The NMP acknowledges the importance of communication and awareness raising, but effective implementation will require ensuring that key messages reach those most affected.
Platforms such as WhatsApp groups, community radio programmes, and social media can play significant roles in translating technical policy language into practical guidance. In this sense, communication is not supplementary — it is central to empowering migrants.
Frontline officers, including border officials and labour officers, also play an essential role in bringing the NMP to life. If officers understand the policy’s human-centred principles, migrants can experience more consistent, fair, and dignified interactions.
Training and capacity development are highlighted in the policy as important aspects of implementation. A well-informed frontline workforce not only strengthens migration governance but also builds public trust.
Migration governance is a shared responsibility. The NMP alone cannot address every socio-economic factor influencing mobility decisions. However, it provides a structured framework that identifies priorities, outlines commitments, and sets the tone for collaboration across sectors.
As the policy progresses from adoption to implementation, there will be opportunities for civil society, communities, diaspora groups, and institutions to contribute to its success. Implementation is a gradual, long-term process requiring consistent engagement.
Migration in Zimbabwe is not simply about those who leave. It is also about those who stay, those who return, and those who contribute from afar. The NMP captures this complexity by recognising multiple dimensions of mobility and acknowledging that migration can present both challenges and opportunities. Its emphasis on dignity, empowerment, community participation, and development-oriented approaches reflects a holistic vision for the future.
The National Migration Policy provides a comprehensive and forward-looking framework aligned with national aspirations and global standards. Its strength lies in recognising migration as a human story — one shaped by resilience, necessity, hope, and contribution. As implementation unfolds, collaboration will be key in ensuring that migrants are supported with dignity, information, and opportunities.
The NMP offers a strong foundation for a migration system grounded in empowerment, prevention, belonging, and shared progress.
*Lindokuhle Mdlongwa is a migrants counsellor at International Organisation Of Migration (IOM) and a registered intern community psychologist with the Allied Health Practitioners Council of zimbabwe. She writes in her personal capacity.
Sidumisile Mabena