Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve in Victoria Falls
ZIMBABWE has positioned itself as a regional leader in promoting sustainable, safe, and orderly migration through the introduction of pioneering policy, technological, and infrastructural reforms aimed at deepening regional integration within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
These bold developments were unveiled by the Chief Director of Immigration, Ms Respect Gono, during the Technical Committee Meeting of the 8th Session of the Migration Dialogue for Southern Africa (Midsa) Ministerial and Technical Conference held in Victoria Falls on Friday.
The high-level meeting, which brought together distinguished delegates, colleagues, and technical experts from across the region, was convened under the theme: Promoting Regional Integration through Sustaining Safe, Regular, and Orderly Migration in the Southern African Region.
Ms Gono outlined how Zimbabwe is turning this theme into concrete action, highlighting a whole-of-Government and whole-of-society approach that is transforming the country’s migration landscape.
“Since the launch of the National Migration Policy in August 2023, and in line with the Migration Governance pillar, we are spearheading policy and legislative reforms. We are now fully engaged in amending key legislation, including the Zimbabwe
Immigration Act, Refugees Act, and Citizenship Act,” said Ms Gono.
She said that this legislative overhaul is complemented by the revision of Standard Operating Procedures to ensure efficient and standardised service delivery across all ports of entry, in line with global trends and regional best practices.
A key element of Zimbabwe’s modernisation efforts is the strategic deployment of technology. Under the Border Governance pillar, the Government has introduced a cutting-edge Online Border Management System (OBMS), featuring advanced equipment such as e-gates.
Ms Gono also highlighted the success of the e-passport system, which has been rapidly decentralised through bio-enrolment centres across the country.
“Since 2022, approximately 1.6 million e-passports have been issued nationwide,” she said.
This initiative promotes inclusive documentation, ensuring that every Zimbabwean, regardless of location, has access to travel documents.
Ms Gono also spoke of ambitious infrastructural upgrades designed to facilitate the smooth movement of people and goods.
The Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport now features e-gates for biometric clearance and is adopting Advance Passenger Information (API) systems to enhance security. Notably, the Beitbridge Border Post has been transformed into a world-class facility.
“We are proud to be the first SADC country to exempt all SADC Member States from visa requirements, in line with the Facilitation of Movement of Persons Protocol,” Ms Gono said, underscoring Zimbabwe’s commitment to regional integration.
Beyond borders and policy, Zimbabwe is investing in institutional capacity to support future migration governance.
Ms Gono announced plans for a Migration School of Excellence, envisioned as a leading institution for capacity building and research, alongside a dedicated Migration Data Centre, aligned with the forthcoming National Migration Data Strategy.
“This will serve as the foundation for evidence-based migration governance, essential for sound policy development,” she said.
The human-centred nature of Zimbabwe’s strategy was also evident in her remarks. With support from UNDP, a gender-based violence call centre has been established at immigration headquarters to assist vulnerable migrants. Additionally, the department is collaborating with the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services to establish modern migrant referral centres, promoting Alternatives to Detention (ATD) for migrants with administrative violations.
Ms Gono also highlighted Zimbabwe’s involvement in regional pilot projects, including the SADC UNIVISA, and its recognition as a Global Compact on Migration Champion Country.
“These achievements are not merely departmental milestones. They are the result of a whole-of-Government and whole-of-society approach, embodied by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration (IMCM), which shares a unified vision of safe, regular, and orderly migration as the cornerstone of true regional integration,” she said.
As the Midsa technical meeting continues, Zimbabwe’s delegation, guided by these national achievements, is poised to contribute meaningfully to discussions aimed at turning regional solidarity into practical outcomes for a more integrated and prosperous Southern Africa.
