Harare – IOM, the UN Migration Agency, supported the Government of Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare to develop the National Referral Mechanism for Vulnerable Migrants (NRM).The NRM  was launched on 16 December in Harare at a ceremony which attracted various stakeholders including government officials, academics and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).

The NRM in Zimbabwe seeks to strengthen first line officials’ awareness of international, regional and national legal instruments for the protection of migrants in need of protection assistance in the country. It supports frontline officials in the identification, protection and referral of vulnerable migrants in a manner that secures the full enjoyment of migrants’ rights as enshrined in international, regional and national frameworks.

In launching the NRM, the Director of Human Resources in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Mr. Erasmus Gapara said, “the document provides useful information for first-line officials in the provision of services towards the vulnerable migrants as it stipulates  guidelines for effective identification, referral and service provision for different categories of migrants. The document seeks  to maximize efficiency and effectiveness of measures put in place at the local and national levels to address challenges faced by vulnerable migrants by preventing duplication of works, promoting  interdepartmental and inter-agency cooperation  and improving the speed of service provision to intended recipients.”

IOM Zimbabwe Chief of Mission, Mario Lito Malanca added, “the NRM links together the different stakeholders involved in identification, referral, assistance, repatriation and monitoring,  and defines clear roles for each, along with the procedures to follow, to ensure the protection of vulnerable migrants’ humans rights.”

“Considering it as an important tool, the full implementation of the NRM for vulnerable migrants calls for the strong involvement and participation of multiple stakeholders with different role allocations and obligations and cross-institutional cooperation on migration management in Zimbabwe.”

The NRM incorporates views and aspirations of all stakeholders involved in, and concerned with migration, childcare and protection at district, provincial and national level. It was developed through funding support from the European Union under the 11th EDF under the project Promoting Migration Governance in Zimbabwe and a regional project, the African Regional Migration Program (ARMP) with support from the US Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM).

For more information please contact Varaidzo Mudombi at IOM Zimbabwe – telephone +263242704285 email: vmudombi@iom.int